THE BIG INTERVIEW
READY TO ROLL
Inset: Offering 50 different designs, Le Toy Van’s Classic Cars range will launch in February.
With 30 years of heritage behind it and a new Classic Cars range set to hit the road, Le Toy Van is steering confidently into its fourth decade, focusing on strengthening its UK retail relationships, expanding its global footprint and continuing to set the standard for design-led, responsibly made wooden toys. PPS finds out more.
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uiding Le Toy Van into its next phase are owners Steven and Marie Le Van, who took over the running of the company 15 years ago from Steven’s father (and company founder) George Le Van. “We describe ourselves as a small, proudly family-orientated company with a big heart,” says Marie. “We’re privately owned so don’t have investors backing us, but what we do have is a small team of people who are really, really good at what they do.” It may be a close-knit, independent concern, but Le
Above: The Grand Natural Wood Dolls House is popular with parenting influencers.
Toy Van is an internationally recognised name in the toy industry, with products sold in over 100 countries worldwide. A pioneer of responsible manufacturing, it embraced sustainability long before it was a buzz word or a set of legal requirements. “We’re proud of the fact that all of our wood is FSC Certified,” Marie states. “The majority of our products are plastic-free as well, and we were delighted to achieve B-Corp certification this year – a milestone in our sustainability journey. On top of that, we are known for the quality of our products and our design flair, with every range devised in-house here in the UK.” The company has a core range of 150 or so popular products, spanning vehicles, animals, dolls’ houses and role-play sets, all with a timeless, Scandi-style aesthetic that ensures they are as stylish as they are fun to play with. Unsurprisingly, the company is the recipient of countless design awards. Le Toy Van’s Le Grand Garage was recently spotlighted in The Wall Street Journal in a feature entitled ‘Gifts for Kids That Double as Works of Art’, while its new Barista Café Shop, which launched in May 2025 and is already a bestseller, has been shortlisted for the Sustainability Award at this year’s Spielwarenmesse. Premium design doesn’t mean these products are out of reach, Marie is keen to point out. “Our products are aspirational but accessible,” she explains. “We design to a range of price points.” At the top end are heirloom pieces such as the Palace Dolls House, which retails close to £500. “We’ve also launched a natural wood version, which is
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05/01/2026 14:55