Hasbro Q2 earnings rise but miss expectations

Toymaker Hasbro - which has a major plant in Co Waterford - has announced increased earnings for the second quarter of the year, with net income rising to $18.8m (€28.2m).

This was up from $11.4m (€17.1m) but was below expectations of analysts.

The chief executive of Hasbro, Alfred Verrecchia said he still expects the toy gian to meet full year goals for revenue and earnings.

Hasbro Ireland was established in 1977 and, as the larger of the two Hasbro European manufacturing sites, the Waterford plant is of prime importance to its parent company. It has about 550 employees.

The Irish plant comprises of five separate, but linked, factories that produce a wide range of board games, Playdoh playsets and also numerous adult, children and novelty jigsaw puzzles.

Hasbro Ireland manufactures over 15 million products per year for export. The Waterford plant produces top-selling board games including Trivial Pursuit, Operation, Connect 4, Game of Life and Battleship.