Yankee Candle Names Chris Kelly General Manager of Canada
Experienced Business Development Professional to Accelerate Growth and Build the Canadian Yankee Candle Brand Franchise
SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass., July 17, 2013 /CNW/ - The Yankee Candle Company, Inc., the leading designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of premium scented candles, announced today that Chris Kelly joined the company as General Manager, Canada.
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Kelly will oversee all aspects of the Yankee Candle business in Canada. The Company currently operates 6 company-owned retail stores in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and also sells products at select independent gift and specialty stores. As part of planned global expansion efforts, this new business unit will focus on building out the gift and specialty business as well as invest in building the retail store base to over 50 stores in the next five years across the country.
"We are very pleased to have Chris join our leadership team," said Harlan Kent, president and chief executive officer of Yankee Candle. "Chris brings to Yankee Candle a proven track record of brand development in the Canadian market, as well as relevant category and consumer product experience. His experience working within the Canadian marketplace, together with his solid business acumen, general management, sales and strategy development make Chris a perfect fit for Yankee Candle during this exciting time."
Prior to joining Yankee Candle, Kelly was part of the executive team at Hallmark Canada, where he most recently served as the Vice President of Consumer Solutions & Brand Experience. Previously he served as General Manager, Hallmark Gold Crown Stores and Director of Marketing & Sales Operations, also with Hallmark Canada. Kelly has also held sales & marketing leadership positions focused on the Canadian marketplace with companies such Timberland and Champion Athletic Apparel.
"Yankee Candle is the industry leader and a highly recognized brand both in the United States and internationally," says Kelly. "I look forward to working with and building the Yankee Candle team in Canada, in order to continue our expansion into new Canadian markets and channels, while continuing to develop and grow our existing markets."
About Yankee Candle
Yankee Candle is the leading designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of premium scented candles, based on sales, in the giftware industry. Yankee Candle has a 43-year history of offering distinctive products and marketing them as affordable luxuries and consumable gifts. Yankee Candle sells its products through a North American wholesale customer network of approximately 35,000 store locations, a growing base of Yankee Candle owned and operated retail stores (557 Yankee Candle stores located in 46 states and 1 province in Canada as of March 30, 2013), direct mail catalogs, and its Internet website (www.yankeecandle.com). Outside of North America, Yankee Candle sells its products primarily through its subsidiary, Yankee Candle Company (Europe), Ltd., which has an international wholesale customer network of approximately 6,100 store locations and distributors covering a combined 56 countries.
SOURCE: The Yankee Candle Company, Inc.
Karen M. Woods Director of Public Relations, The Yankee Candle Company, Inc., (413) 665.8306 x4391, [email protected]
http://www.yankeecandle.com
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