Mastermind Toys preparing to expand through franchised stores: post

TORONTO - Mastermind Toys is about to move into the franchise business. Bazely Consulting says on LinkedIn that it's been hired to prepare the toy shop chain for franchising in new markets.  The consulting firm and several Mastermind Toys executives did not respond to requests for comment, but the retailer replied to the LinkedIn post saying it "cannot wait to have franchisees coast to coast." Mastermind urged followers to stay tuned for updates later this week. Mastermind filed for creditor protection in 2023 but was eventually bought by Unity Brands, which also owns Kit and Ace and Casca Footwear.  Since the deal closed, Unity has brought back products from manufacturers like Melissa & Doug, experimented with pop-ups and partnered with 7-Eleven to sell toys in convenience stores. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2025.