Toys

Ravensburg, January 30, 2024 - The Ravensburger Group has achieved one of its most successful years despite the subdued consumer climate worldwide. The company’s turnover rose by 11.6% to EUR 669 million last year, with an investment in the trading card industry being a key contributing factor. The innovation "Disney Lorca-na" accomplished the largest product launch in the company's history. Ravensburger was equally innovative in its sustainability strategy: with "GraviTrax Junior", the company released its first product with materials made from bio-plastic. Ravensburger is optimistic about 2024: the blue triangle, widely recognized as a trusted brand, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a year-round campaign.

"Given the global economic situation, we can be very pleased with the results seen in the past year," said CEO Clemens Maier on the eve of the Nuremberg Toy Fair. "We have made long-term investments in innovation and into our future viability and this is paying off." The company also significantly improved its profitability and cash flow in the past financial year. Ravensburger CFO Hanspeter Mürle explained: "Our efficient cost management successfully counteracted the tougher market conditions in the past year.”

Queuing up for "Disney Lorcana"

The introduction of “Disney Lorcana” trading card game was the most successful product launch in the company’s history. Developed in-house, the game was released in August 2023 in close cooperation with licensor Disney. It fascinated seasoned trading card players and Disney fans alike, who queued up for it at international toy fairs and games conventions. This new business was the main contributor to an increase in sales for Ravensburger last year. It also provided a stronger presence for the company in specialist games and hobby stores.

Over the past three years, Ravensburger has invested considerable resources in ensuring a successful entry into the trading card market. This market is highly community driven, with dedicated fan groups and tournament programs. The response to "Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter" clearly exceeded expectations: Within a few days the card sets were sold out in all retailers. Supply bottlenecks have now been resolved. New sets are being released every three months, and the dedicated tournaments and events hotly anticipated by fans will begin in April. “Disney Lorcana TCG”, which was launched in 2023 in North America, France, the UK and Germany among other countries, will also be rolled out in nine other European markets as well as Mexico.

Product brands hold their own in declining markets

Due to economic uncertainty and declining purchasing power, all major international toy markets - when sales in the trading card segment are excluded - saw a decline in 2023. Under those same terms, Ravensburger performed slightly better than the market. Among the factors contributing to the company’s performance was the development of Ravensburger’s established product brands. For example, the international brand relaunch of the classic “Painting by Numbers” under the new “CreArt” banner had a positive impact on sales. Similarly, the "tiptoi®" pen, which has sold millions of copies in the 14 years since launch, generated strong demand after a design upgrade. "memory®", one of Ravensburger's longest-standing product brands, also delivered strong results. It saw a significant increase in sales thanks to a strong lineup of licenses and the "Collector's Edition" expansion for families and adults.

New developments also stimulated business. Among these, the party card game "That's not a hat", proved a strong success story, winning the "German Toy Award 2023", and the family game "Mycelia", which immerses players into the world of mushrooms and dewdrops. Although sales of puzzles declined, having risen sharply during Covid lockdowns, results remained well above pre-pandemic levels.

On course for sustainability with bioplastics

Ravensburger has been acting sustainably for many years: The majority of Ravensburger products are produced in company-owned factories in Europe, and each and every product is manufactured with longevity in mind. The company ensures a high proportion of recycled materials are used and it has been using FSC®-certified paper and wood for over a decade. In 2019, Ravensburger issued a climate report, set itself ambitious sustainability targets, and established a new sustainability department. These measures are continuing to have a positive impact.

Almost all of the company's sites became CO2 -neutral by the end of last year, and most products are produced with renewable energies. Since 2023, Ravensburger has also almost completely dispensed with foil as packaging protection, saving around 100 tons of non-recyclable plastic foil per year. Currently, it is releasing the first products on the market with bags made of paper instead of plastic. Furthermore, 2024 will see a complete relaunch rolling out across the majority of puzzles. More compact box sizes will require 200 tons less cardboard each year.

Future plans for Ravensburger include the use of predominantly sustainable plastics in all product categories. The first step came in 2023 with the “GraviTrax Junior” marble run. The components of this set consist mainly of renewable raw materials, a blend of bio-based plastic and wood fibers, which are a by-product of wood processing. Due to its commitment to sustainability, Ravensburger was among the finalists for the German Sustainability Award 2023.

Celebrating 50 years of the Ravensburger blue triangle

Following its foundation in 1883 Ravensburger used a variety of different trademarks for its books and games. But on August 14, 1974, a triangle with Ravensburger lettering was registered at the German Patent Office and the Ravensburger brand we know today was born. From that day, the company's products have displayed the protected blue triangle trademark at the bottom right and are instantly recognizable.

Throughout the decades following its registration, the blue triangle has risen to become one of the most popular and best-known German brands. In consumer surveys, it is regarded as a trusted brand and a guarantee of the high-quality content and materials of Ravensburger products. And it represents even more than this: "The blue triangle embodies values such as enjoyment, education and togetherness," says CEO Clemens Maier, "and is therefore highly relevant in today's world and can make a positive contribution to society.”

In 2024, a year-round campaign will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Blue Triangle. The campaign message “Moments that connect” reflects the togetherness and connection that playing and reading together can create. The anniversary will be marked throughout the year including a selection of limited-edition products, retail promotions and competitions in digital media.