Harry & David

Harry & David
Subsidiary
Industry Food and gifts
Founded 1910
Founder Samuel Rosenberg
Headquarters Medford, Oregon, United States
Number of locations
 Approximately 50 retail locations
Two operational locations:
Medford, Oregon (headquarters, orchards, manufacturing and distribution);
Hebron, Ohio (distribution center)
Area served
 United States
Key people
 Steven Lightman, President[1]
Products Gift baskets, holiday and special occasions gifts, pears and fruit, flowers and plants, chocolates and sweets
Number of employees
 8,000 including seasonal employees (2013)
Parent 1-800-Flowers.com Inc.
Website harryanddavid.com

Harry & David Holdings, Inc. (Harry & David) is an American-based premium food and gift producer and retailer. The company sells its products through direct mail, online and in retail stores nationwide, and operates the brands Harry & David, Wolferman's and Cushman's. Harry & David was founded in 1910 by Samuel Rosenberg as Bear Creek Orchards in Medford, Oregon, as a premium fruit company. As of 2014, it is owned by 1-800-Flowers.

History

Bear Creek Orchards

The company first began operations in 1910, when Samuel Rosenberg purchased Comice pear orchards in Southern Oregon after encountering the orchard's pears at the previous year's Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition. Located in Medford, Oregon, the pear orchards themselves dated to 1885, and were named Bear Creek Orchards after Bear Creek, which ran through the property.[2][3][4]

In 1914, Rosenberg's sons Harry and David Rosenberg took over the management of the property, after their father's death and the completion of their agricultural degrees at Cornell University.[3][5] The brothers named the pears "Royal Riviera,"[6] and focused on selling them to customers in Europe. As their business continued to grow in the 1920s, the brothers built a packing house and a pre-cooling plant to prepare the pears to be shipped long distances.[3] When the Great Depression reduced the European demand for their pears,[3][7] the brothers began instead to market to customers in the United States, first to businessmen in Seattle, and by 1934 in San Francisco and New York City.[3][7][8]

The company officially began to sell via mail order in 1934.[6][7] The brothers advertised in magazines and newspapers, with their first ad appearing in Fortune in 1936.[3] Other ads appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times and Time.[7][9] In 1937, the company introduced its "Box of the Month" plan. This was later renamed the "Rare Fruit Club" and eventually the "Fruit of the Month" club.[3][10] In the late 1930s, Harry and David adopted their stepfather's last name, Holmes, due to concerns about rising anti-semitism as World War II approached.[3][11]

Harry and David

In 1946, the name Bear Creek Orchards was replaced, when the company incorporated under the name Harry and David.[3][7][12] Following David Holmes Sr.'s death in 1950, the company was handed down to his son, David H. Holmes Jr., who served as president of Harry & David from 1955 to 1970. Harry Holmes died in 1959.[3][13][14] While David H. Holmes Jr. was president, Harry & David acquired the rose company Jackson & Perkins.[13][14][15] After 9 years, David H. Holmes Jr. (son of David Sr.) passed the business to his cousin, John R. H. Holmes (son of Harry Holmes).[16]

In 1972, David H. Holmes Jr. created Bear Creek Corporation (a name similar to the original 1885/1914 names) as a parent company to Harry & David, as well as other subsidiaries.[13][17] Bear Creek Corporation went public in 1976, and remained public until its purchase by RJR Nabisco in 1984.[3][17] Two years later, the company was acquired by the Shaklee corporation. Shaklee was then purchased in 1989 (along with its newly-acquired subsidiary Bear Creek) by the Japanese firm Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical.[2][3][18] During the 1990s, Harry & David expanded its retail locations, opening more than 119 stores.[19] Bear Creek Corporation launched its website in 1996 to sell all of its product lines, including Harry & David.[20][21]

In June 2004, approximately 97% ownership of Harry & David was acquired by two investment firms in the United States: Wasserstein & Co. of New York, which purchased 63% of the company's stock; and Highfields Capital Management of Boston, which acquired 34%.[22][23][24] In 2007, Harry & David sold the rose business Jackson & Perkins, to focus solely on its gift and premium food business.[15][25] The next year the company acquired two online and catalog retailers: Wolferman's, which specializes in English muffins and breakfast foods; and Cushman's, a Florida-based fruit company specializing in a tangerine-grapefruit hybrid.[26][27][28]

After the private-equity buyout in 2004, and the efforts at diversification through acquisitions, the financial downturn of the late 2000s hurt Harry & David's revenues and sales. The company's debt from its 2004 acquisition was part of the reason the recession hurt the company.[29][30] In March 2011, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[30][1] Harry & David remained operational while in bankruptcy[29][30] and, in May 2011, filed a reorganization plan in bankruptcy court.[31] The company emerged from bankruptcy in September 2011.[32] Following its exit from bankruptcy, Harry & David increased its profitability and revenue and, in September 2012, was named the "large company turnaround of the year" by the Turnaround Management Association.[33][34]

In November 2012, the company established a winery using Oregon grapes; the white and red wines were developed in partnership with a local winemaker.[35] The company began selling its winery wines through its website that same year.[36][37] Harry & David was sold in August 2014 to internet retailer 1-800-Flowers for $142.5 million.[38] Harry & David is a wholly owned subsidiary of 1-800-Flowers.com Inc.[38][39] and Harry & David Operations, Inc.[40][41] The company's CEO from October 2011 through February 2015 was Craig Johnson.[35][1] Steven Lightman (briefly CEO of The Sharper Image from 2007-2008[42]) became CEO of Harry & David in March 2015.[1]

Operations

Harry & David produces and sells premium food and gifts under three brands: Harry & David; Wolferman's; and Cushman's.[43] Harry & David's product lines include gift baskets, flowers and plants, fresh fruit, chocolate and sweets, and wine.[29][30][35] Wolferman's main products include English muffins and other breakfast foods, and Cushman's is primarily known for selling Honeybells, a tangerine-grapefruit hybrid.[44]

The company operates three individual websites for its brands, HarryAndDavid.com, Wolfermans.com and HoneyBell.com.[45] In addition to selling online and through mail order,[19] Harry & David's brands are sold in its retail stores nationwide. As of 2013, there were approximately fifty permanent retail locations and thirty temporary stores open for the holiday season.[34][43] Cashflow is highly cyclical;[33] Harry & David earns the majority of its profits in the fall and winter as a result of holiday-related orders.[25][46]

Harry & David is headquartered in Medford, Oregon, where as of 2015 the company is the Rogue Valley's largest non-medical employer.[47] As of 2007, the company operated 2,000 acres of orchards, manufacturing facilities and a distribution center in Medford.[25] In 1997, Harry & David opened a second office in Hebron, Ohio, called the Hopewell Campus, which handles distribution.[26][48][49] The company employed more than 8,000 employees in 2013, including temporary seasonal workers.[34] As of 2015, the company has begun planting orchards as part of their long-term corporate strategy.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150410/NEWS/150419973/0/SEARCH
  2. 1 2 Nathaniel Popper (28 September 2010). "Harry & David is in turmoil". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "A brief history of Bear Creek Corp.". Mail Tribune. 3 April 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 13.
  5. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 20.
  6. 1 2 Snyder 2009, p. 23.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 John Kennedy (15 December 1981). "Harry and David would be proud". Associated Press. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Snyder 2009, pp. 22–23.
  9. ↑ Snyder 2009, pp. 28–30.
  10. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 31.
  11. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 33.
  12. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 37.
  13. 1 2 3 "Son of Harry and David founder Holmes dies at 79". Mail Tribune. 21 August 2002. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  14. 1 2 Snyder 2009, p. 45.
  15. 1 2 "Harry & David sells Jackson & Perkins". Portland Business Journal. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  16. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 47.
  17. 1 2 Snyder 2009, p. 51.
  18. ↑ Jay P. Pederson (2001). International Directory of Company Histories. St. James Press. p. 38. ISBN 1-55862-445-7.
  19. 1 2 Merri Rosenberg (12 May 2002). "Harry and David Comes to a Mall Near You". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  20. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 57.
  21. ↑ David Preszler (9 March 2000). "Company expects online sales to rise 150 percent a year". Mail Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  22. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 74.
  23. ↑ Desilver, Drew (5 August 2005). "Oregon's Harry & David decides to go public again". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  24. ↑ Ovide, Shira (28 March 2011). "Harry & David Bankruptcy: Everything You Need to Know". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 Greg Stiles (15 May 2007). "Loss reflects gain for Harry & David". Mail Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  26. 1 2 Greg Stiles (16 January 2008). "Harry and David branches out with muffin business". Mail Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  27. ↑ "Harry & David reports year-end loss of nearly $20 million as sales decline more than 10 percent". Portland Business Journal. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  28. ↑ "Harry & David acquires Cushman Fruit Co.". Direct Marketing News. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  29. 1 2 3 Bruce Horovitz (28 March 2011). "Harry & David needs image upgrade, experts say". USA Today. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  30. 1 2 3 4 Nathaniel Popper (29 March 2011). "Harry & David files for bankruptcy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  31. ↑ Greg Stiles (23 May 2011). "Harry and David eyes late summer exit from bankruptcy". Mail Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  32. ↑ Robert Goldfield (14 September 2011). "Harry & David emerges from bankruptcy". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  33. 1 2 "Harry & David gets $100 million credit line". Mail Tribune. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  34. 1 2 3 Nicole Friedman (4 October 2013). "Harry & David reports higher incomes, fewer year-round stores post-bankruptcy". The Oregonian. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  35. 1 2 3 Suzanne Stevens (2 November 2012). "Harry & David launches winery". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  36. ↑ "Harry & David Introduces New Signature Wines for 2013" (Press release). Marketwired. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  37. ↑ Peter Mitham (19 December 2012). "Oregon Wines Expand Reach". Wines & Vines. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  38. 1 2 Giegerich, Andy (September 2, 2014). "Harry & David sold to Internet retailing giant". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  39. ↑ "Company Overview of Bear Creek Orchards, Inc.". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  40. ↑ "Company Overview of Harry & David Operations Corp.". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  41. ↑ "Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements" (PDF). Harry & David Holdings, Inc. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  42. ↑ Michael Liedtke (14 February 2008). "Troubled Sharper Image Replaces CEO". USA Today. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  43. 1 2 "Court approves Harry and David reorganization plan". Associated Press. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  44. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 81.
  45. ↑ Katie Evans (18 September 2009). "Harry and David’s annual web sales decline, but not as fast as total sales". InternetRetailer.com. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  46. ↑ Greg Stiles (9 May 2008). "Harry and David loses $21 million in quarter". Mail Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  47. ↑ Randa Gore (19 September 2013). "Harry and David’s Sees Success". KDRV. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  48. ↑ Snyder 2009, p. 55.
  49. ↑ Greg Stiles (8 May 2012). "Getting Moose Munch to mom, but how?". Mail Tribune. Retrieved 8 April 2014.

Bibliography

External links

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