The Yankee Candle® Story
One December, a 16-year-old student was looking for gift inspiration with Christmas just around the corner. He decided to make a candle for his Mum because it would be a completely unique and personal gift.
Using everyday materials he found in the kitchen: household wax, a red crayon, string and a milk carton, he produced his very first candle. A neighbour saw the candle and offered to buy it, leaving the student with enough money to buy more materials to create more – one to gift and one to sell! That was the start of the Yankee Candle® journey…
From this point Yankee Candle® has grown in to a worldwide brand, expanding in to Europe...
The
Yankee Candle®
journey so far...
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1969
Following his Christmas success, a 16-year-old Mike Kittredge begins to design and handcraft candles in his family's kitchen.
With his Dad's help, he opens a small retail shop.
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1974
Our first scented apothecary style jar candle hits the market.
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1983-1984
We move our store and factory to South Deerfield, Mass.
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1987
We introduce full colour printing to our labels. Previously every illustration had been filled in by hand with coloured pencils.
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1994
Our factory moves to a larger home in Whately, Mass.
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1996
We launch our first website, yankeecandle.com, welcoming a new generation of customers and giving long-time fans a new way to shop.
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1998
Across the ocean we go, to Bristol, England, where Yankee Candle International now serves customers in 24 countries.
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2000
We produce more than 80 million candles.
Car Jar® Air Fresheners make their debut. Allowing customers to take their favourite fragrance on the go.
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2002
We opened our first ever UK retail store.
Worthing, England. -
2009
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2010
We become the #1 scented candle in the United Kingdom.
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2012
Launched the UK website www.yankeecandle.co.uk
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2014
We launch our first Advent Calendar, selling out Europe wide.
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2015
Scenterpiece(TM) Easy MeltCup systems debuts, and is shortlisted for Gift of the Year 2016.
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2016
To keep up with growing demand, we open our first overseas production plant in the Czech Republic, producing candles for the first time ever in Europe.
In the first 30 weeks of opening the Manufacturing facility produced 5 million jar candles, 7 million votive candles and 1 million tea light candles!
We relaunch our UK site and launch translated websites for France, Italy and Germany.
The Jarden Corporation who owns Yankee Candle is acquired by Newell Rubbermaid to become part of Newell Brands.
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2017
We launch a new look retail concept in Cheltenham, England and go on to open two more permanent locations this year and transform 4 reseller locations.
We launch personalised candles in the UK on yankeecandle.co.uk and in selected retail stores in time for Christmas.
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2019
As we celebrate over five decades as the experts in home fragrance, we've introduced a reinvigorated new look Yankee Candle label. It still has the wide Yankee Candle label design we know and love, featuring beautifully imagery that is the inspiration behind the fragrance as well as introducing the new Yankee Candle logo. The fragrance family seal has been updated with our heritage seal to highlight the quality craftmanship that's been established since 1969. We hope you love the new Yankee Candle label as much as we do!
19771980's1995200620072019
We employ more than 6,000 skilled, dedicated workers around the world. You can find our Stores, stockists and authorised retailers in more than 575 locations, and our popular candles, fragrances and accessories are available at over 35,000 locations. Chances are there's one near you.
Unlike many brands, our story is your story, too. We share your passion around making each day a little brighter, a little better, a little more enjoyable with your favourite fragrance. We're honoured to be part of that, and it's a responsibility we've never taken lightly. We are proud to be part of Newell Brands, a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands.
