Press release -
Schleich GmbH Fact Sheet January 2025
- Founded in 1935 Schleich is today the leading international supplier of play figurines and one of the biggest German toy manufacturers.
- Schleich sells around 35 million figures in 60 countries, among them for example 2 million dinosaurs.
- Schleich has more than 40.000 points of sales all around the globe – both stationary and online.
- Schleich generates more than 60 % of its turnover outside the German home marketand has a strong focus on international growth.
- France and the US are the most important international focus markets.
- Today, e-commerce accounts for more than 20 % of the business.
- Schleich operates directly in 15 countrieswith offices from Charlotte (USA) to Tokyo (Japan) and in many more through distributors.
- Schleich has around 350 employeesall around the world.
- The company is headquartered in Munich since 2025.
- Schleich has over 750 figurines as well as playsets from nine product lines plus two licenses in its portfolio (Harry Potter™ and „Die Schule der magischen Tiere“).
- In 2023, ELDRADOR® CREATURESwas the fastest-growing Schleich product line worldwide.
- A study by Schleich and the University of Koblenz in 2023 confirms that schleich® toys are well suited for free play: 75% of the children use the figurines frequently or very frequently during free play and 89% of the parents surveyed rated them as particularly good for fostering imagination.
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Sustainability is a core commitment for Schleich: After intensive research, Schleich launched the first recyclable figurines based on the Cradle to Cradle® design principles in 2024. They are the world's first ever Cradle to Cradle Certified® play figurines. By the end of 2027, the majority of the figurines will be recyclable to ensure that resources are reused.
As well as recyclability, the certification requires material health, production processes that protect the air and climate, responsibility for clean water and soil, and social accountability in the company and the entire supply chain. The same applies to suppliers and strategic partners, with whom Schleich has been working on the sustainability of its value creation chain for many years. For instance, Schleich is shortening transport routes by increasingly moving production to markets where the toys are sold. Schleich is also increasing the amount of renewable energy in the supply chain and commits itself and all partners to the highest standards in the area of occupational safety and working conditions. - The company received the ‘German Awards for Sustainability Projects 2023’ in the product recycling category. Schleich was a finalist in the ‘Toys and Leisure Articles’ category at the 2024 German Sustainability Award and in the ‘Products that Conserve Resources’ category in 2025. In Italy, Schleich received the ‘Gioco X Sempre’ Award 2023 for its sustainability strategy.
- Schleich produces its figurines and playsets in Europe, Asia and South America.
- Schleich has been owned by private equity since 2006. Since 2019 Schleich is owned by the Swiss investor Partners Group.
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About Schleich
Schleich is one of Germany’s largest toy manufacturers and a leading international brand of authentic play figurines, igniting the joy of storytelling in children. Friedrich Schleich founded Schleich in Schwäbisch Gmünd in 1935. Today, the famous figurines and sets made by the brand schleich®, are sold in more than 60 countries and have become a beloved feature in children’s rooms around the world, letting kids’ imagination run wild. The suitability of Schleich products for free play has been confirmed in a study by the University of Koblenz. 89% of the surveyed parents rated Schleich's play figurines as particularly good for fostering imagination. As a global player with Swabian roots, Schleich now generates more than 60% of its turnover outside of its core market Germany. Sustainability is a core commitment: As a first step, the majority of figurines will be recyclable by 2027. Schleich is also intensively researching recycled materials for the future production of its toys. In addition, Schleich will be optimizing and certifying its figurines and packaging to the standards of the Cradle to Cradle® circular economy by the end of 2027 to ensure that resources are reused. The company is owned by Partners Group and Schleich employees.
