Toy Recovery Service
Did you know that 90% of adults in the United Kingdom have lost their child's favourite toy? Shocking isn't it? You can imagine the palaver that British parents have to go through when losing their son’s favourite cuddly bear or their daughter’s favourite toy.
That’s why, this Christmas, Roadchef is launching the Toy Recovery Service - your little festive elves on the motorway.
From our most northerly motorway service at Bothwell to the most southerly at Taunton Deane, Roadchef is ensuring that, during the most wonderful time of the year, mums, dads and kids alike can remain merry and bright without the stress.
During a time when getting back together for a chat and coffee is already pencilled into the festive schedule and celebrating life’s Little Wins is a Christmas constant; Roadchef wanted to take the stress out of reuniting your little one with their favourite cuddly.
It couldn’t be easier, just make sure you email toyrecoveryservice@roadchef.com with a full description of your missing friend and we’ll do our best to get you back together before the festive season begins.
How does the Toy Recovery Service Work?
Step One: Report the Lost Toy
If a toy is left behind at a Roadchef service station, parents can report the missing item via hitting the button below and submitting your details
Report your lost toy now
Step Two: Quick Identification and Tracking
From Bears to Zebras, Lions to Cows - Roadchef will actively search and track down any reported lost toys within the service area network and publicise any lost toys found at its service stations across our social media channels and its dedicated landing page.
Step Three: Reuniting Families with Their Toys
Once a toy is found, Roadchef will arrange for its safe return, either through pickup from the service station or via a convenient delivery option directly to the family's home address.
See toys that have been reunitedWhy has Roadchef launched the Toy Recovery Service now?
Our team - being parents, siblings, uncles, aunties and grandparents - have felt the stress, panic, fear and drama of hunting for a favourite toy when it unexpectedly goes missing on a day out.
We set up our ‘Toy Recovery Service’ at each site to make sure you don’t have to suffer the same feelings that our teams have had - both during their work hours and on their days off with loved ones.
During a recent survey of 500 parents, 40% revealed that they would travel outside their town or city to get their child’s toy back whilst nearly a quarter (24.8%) would pay hundreds of pounds to retrieve a lost toy. With Roadchef’s Toy Recovery Service, there’s no need for lottery wins to get their little darlings favourite toy back in their arms.
It’s not just motorways that Roadchef’s surveyed parents would travel on either, with 5% willing to cross the country, while a hugely dedicated 1% would travel abroad. Are you one of those in the incredible minority?
What's more, nearly half of parents surveyed admitted to telling creative tales when their child’s toy went missing, to soften the blow. We’ve heard stories of “the fairy took it,” “it went on holiday,” and “it’s off to help Father Christmas.” This Christmas, Roadchef is ensuring Santa Claus making sure the job for his elves is to deliver the toys, not the toys going to help Father’s Christmas’ helpers.
A quote from our CEO and Chief Toy Recoverer, Mark Fox, on the launch of the Toy Recovery Service
"Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but not one that doesn’t come without its stresses. All parents will know the dread of losing their child’s beloved toy and it can quickly turn a happy journey into a difficult one. With our Toy Recovery Service, we hope to bring peace of mind to parents using our services during the Christmas period and ensure no toy is left behind.”
Read the full storyHave Roadchef managed to get a special toy back to you?
Email us at toyrecoveryservice@roadchef.com - we’d love to hear your special stories!
What else is happening at Roadchef this Christmas?
Christmas at Roadchef
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