Harry & David

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 from 1885, and were named Bear Creek Orchards after Bear Creek, which ran through the property.{{cite news |title=A brief history of Bear Creek Corp. |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040403/BIZ/304039997 |work=Mail Tribune |date=3 April 2004 |access-date=19 November 2013}}{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=13}}

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.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=20}} The brothers named the pears "Royal Riviera,"{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=23}} 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.

When the Great Depression reduced the demand for their pears in Europe, the brothers began to market their products to customers in the United States, first to businessmen in Seattle, and by 1934, to customers in San Francisco and New York City.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|pp=22–23}}

The company officially began to sell its products to customers via mail order in 1934.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=23}} The brothers advertised in magazines and newspapers, with their first ad appearing in Fortune in 1936. Other ads appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times and Time.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|pp=28–30}}

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.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=31}}

In the late 1930s, Harry and David adopted their stepfather's last name, Holmes, due to concerns about rising antisemitism as World War II approached.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=33}}

In 1946, the name Bear Creek Orchards was replaced, when the company incorporated under the name Harry and David.{{cite news |title=Harry and David would be proud |author=John Kennedy |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=okFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4362,4429280&dq=harry-and-david&hl=en |agency=Associated Press |date=15 December 1981 |access-date=19 November 2013}}{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=37}} 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.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=45}} While David H. Holmes Jr. was president, Harry & David acquired the rose company Jackson & Perkins.{{cite news |title=Son of Harry and David founder Holmes dies at 79 |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020821/BIZ/308219997 |work=Mail Tribune |date=21 August 2002 |access-date=19 November 2013}}{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=45}} 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).{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=47}}

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.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=51}} Bear Creek Corporation went public in 1976, and remained public until its purchase by RJR Nabisco in 1984.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=51}} 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.{{cite news |title=Harry & David is in turmoil |author=Nathaniel Popper |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2013020684_harrydavid29.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=28 September 2010 |access-date=19 November 2013}}{{cite book |title=International Directory of Company Histories |author=Jay P. Pederson |year=2001 |publisher=St. James Press |isbn=1-55862-445-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0040unse/page/38 38] |url=https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0040unse/page/38 }} During the 1990s, Harry & David expanded its retail locations, opening more than 119 stores.{{cite news |title=Harry and David Comes to a Mall Near You |author=Merri Rosenberg |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/12/nyregion/in-business-harry-and-david-comes-to-a-mall-near-you.html |work=The New York Times |date=12 May 2002 |access-date=6 March 2014}} Bear Creek Corporation launched its website in 1996 to sell all of its product lines, including Harry & David.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=57}}{{cite news |title=Company expects online sales to rise 150 percent a year |author=David Preszler |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20000309/NEWS/303099991&cid=sitesearch |work=Mail Tribune |date=9 March 2000 |access-date=19 November 2013}}

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%.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=74}}{{cite news |title=Oregon's Harry & David decides to go public again |last1=Desilver |first1=Drew |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2002421590_harrydavid05.html |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=5 August 2005 |access-date=14 February 2014}}{{cite news |title=Harry & David Bankruptcy: Everything You Need to Know |last1=Ovide |first1=Shira |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2011/03/28/harry-david-bankruptcy-everything-you-need-to-know/ |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=28 March 2011 |access-date=14 February 2014}} In 2007, Harry & David sold the rose business Jackson & Perkins, to focus solely on its gift and premium food business.{{cite news |title=Harry & David sells Jackson & Perkins |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/04/02/daily4.html |work=Portland Business Journal |date=2 April 2007 |access-date=19 November 2013}} 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.{{cite news |title=Harry and David branches out with muffin business |author=Greg Stiles |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/BIZ/801160311 |work=Mail Tribune |date=16 January 2008 |access-date=19 November 2013}}{{cite news |title=Harry & David reports year-end loss of nearly $20 million as sales decline more than 10 percent |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/09/14/daily42.html |work=Portland Business Journal |date=17 September 2009 |access-date=20 November 2013}}{{cite news |title=Harry & David acquires Cushman Fruit Co. |url=http://www.dmnews.com/harry-david-acquires-cushman-fruit-co/article/113740/ |work=Direct Marketing News |date=12 August 2008 |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423061438/http://www.dmnews.com/harry-david-acquires-cushman-fruit-co/article/113740/ |url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite news |title=Harry & David needs image upgrade, experts say |author=Bruce Horovitz |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2011-03-28-harry-david-bankruptcy.htm |work=USA Today |date=28 March 2011 |access-date=19 November 2013}}{{cite news |title=Harry & David files for bankruptcy |author=Nathaniel Popper |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-mar-29-la-fi-harry-and-david-20110329-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=29 March 2011 |access-date=19 November 2013}} In March 2011, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Harry & David remained operational while in bankruptcy and, in May 2011, filed a reorganization plan in bankruptcy court.{{cite news |title=Harry and David eyes late summer exit from bankruptcy |author=Greg Stiles |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110523/NEWS07/110529992/-1/NEWSMAP |work=Mail Tribune |date=23 May 2011 |access-date=19 November 2013 |archive-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423040200/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110523/NEWS07/110529992/-1/NEWSMAP |url-status=dead }} The company emerged from bankruptcy in September 2011.{{cite news |title=Harry & David emerges from bankruptcy |author=Robert Goldfield |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2011/09/14/harry-david-emerges-from-bankruptcy.html |work=Portland Business Journal |date=14 September 2011 |access-date=19 November 2013}} 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.{{cite news |title=Harry & David gets $100 million credit line |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131005/BIZ/310050301 |work=Mail Tribune |date=5 October 2013 |access-date=19 November 2013}}{{cite news |title=Harry & David reports higher incomes, fewer year-round stores post-bankruptcy |author=Nicole Friedman |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/window-shop/index.ssf/2013/10/harry_david_reports_higher_inc.html |work=The Oregonian |date=4 October 2013 |access-date=19 November 2013}}

In November 2012, the company established a winery using Oregon grapes; the white and red wines were developed in partnership with a local winemaker.{{cite news |title=Harry & David launches winery |author=Suzanne Stevens |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2012/11/harry-david-launches-winery.html |work=Portland Business Journal |date=2 November 2012 |access-date=19 November 2013}} The company began selling its winery wines through its website that same year.{{cite press release |title=Harry & David Introduces New Signature Wines for 2013 |url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/harry-david-introduces-new-signature-wines-for-2013-1841636.htm |publisher=Marketwired |date=16 October 2013 |access-date=6 March 2014}}{{cite news |title=Oregon Wines Expand Reach |author=Peter Mitham |url=http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=109165 |newspaper=Wines & Vines |date=19 December 2012 |access-date=24 March 2014}} Harry & David was sold in August 2014 to internet retailer 1-800-Flowers for $142.5 million.{{cite news|last1=Giegerich|first1=Andy|title=Harry & David sold to Internet retailing giant|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2014/09/harry-david-sold-to-internet-retailing-giant.html|access-date=4 September 2014|work=Portland Business Journal|date=September 2, 2014}} Harry & David is a wholly owned subsidiary of 1-800-Flowers.com Inc.{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=29978116 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140415182038/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=29978116 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2014 |title=Company Overview of Bear Creek Orchards, Inc. |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=6 March 2014}} and Harry & David Operations, Inc.{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4205225 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140415182131/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4205225 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2014 |title=Company Overview of Harry & David Operations Corp. |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=6 March 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.harryanddavid.com/content/Hand/include/investor-relations/financial/HD-Holdings-Inc-Consolidated-Financial-Statements-2nd-Qtr-PeriodEnded-December29-2012.pdf |title=Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements |date=29 December 2012 |publisher=Harry & David Holdings, Inc. |access-date=6 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422232032/http://www.harryanddavid.com/content/Hand/include/investor-relations/financial/HD-Holdings-Inc-Consolidated-Financial-Statements-2nd-Qtr-PeriodEnded-December29-2012.pdf |archive-date=22 April 2014 |url-status=dead }} The company's CEO from October 2011 through February 2015 was Craig Johnson. Steven Lightman (briefly CEO of The Sharper Image from 2007 to 2008{{cite news |title=Troubled Sharper Image Replaces CEO |author=Michael Liedtke |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-02-14-2237529912_x.htm |newspaper=USA Today |date=14 February 2008 |access-date=1 December 2015}}) became CEO of Harry & David in March 2015.

At the end of April 2020, Harry & David permanently closed nearly all of its brick-and-mortar retail stores, except for its flagship Country Village store in Medford.{{cite news |last1=Streit |first1=Katie |title=Harry & David closing the majority of retail stores |url=https://kobi5.com/news/local-news/harry-david-closing-the-majority-of-retail-stores-127626/ |access-date=15 June 2020 |publisher=KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2 |date=30 April 2020}}

File:Harryanddavidmedfordstore.jpg

Harry & David produces and sells premium food and gifts under three brands: Harry & David; Wolferman's; and Stockyards.{{cite news |title=Court approves Harry and David reorganization plan |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9PEG5400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924001117/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9PEG5400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |agency=Associated Press |date=30 August 2011 |access-date=19 November 2013}} Harry & David's product lines include gift baskets, flowers and plants, fresh fruit, chocolate and sweets, and wine. Wolferman's main products include gourmet English muffins and other breakfast foods, and Stockyards is primarily known for selling USDA Prime and Choice quality meats and chops.

The company operates three individual websites for its brands on the 1800flowers.com multi-brand portal, HarryAndDavid.com, Wolfermans.com and Stockyards.com.{{cite news |title=Harry and David's annual web sales decline, but not as fast as total sales |author=Katie Evans |url=http://www.internetretailer.com/2009/09/18/harry-and-david-s-annual-web-sales-decline-but-not-as-fast-as |work=InternetRetailer.com |date=18 September 2009 |access-date=19 November 2013}} In addition to selling online and through mail order, 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. Cashflow is highly cyclical; Harry & David earns the majority of its profits in the fall and winter as a result of holiday-related orders.{{cite news |title=Loss reflects gain for Harry & David |author=Greg Stiles |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070515/BIZ/705150304 |work=Mail Tribune |date=15 May 2007 |access-date=19 November 2013}}{{cite news |title=Harry and David loses $21 million in quarter |author=Greg Stiles |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080509/BIZ/805090332/-1/rss05 |work=Mail Tribune |date=9 May 2008 |access-date=19 November 2013}}

Harry & David is headquartered in Medford, Oregon, where as of 2015 the company is the Rogue Valley's largest non-medical employer.{{cite news |title=Harry and David's Sees Success |author=Randa Gore |url=http://www.kdrv.com/tag/harry-and-david-oregon/ |work=KDRV |date=19 September 2013 |access-date=6 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423061702/http://www.kdrv.com/tag/harry-and-david-oregon/ |archive-date=23 April 2014 |url-status=dead }} As of 2007, the company operated 2,000 acres of orchards, manufacturing facilities and a distribution center in Medford.{{cite news |title=Pear harvest under way |author=Greg Stiles |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070828/BIZ/708280301&cid=sitesearch |newspaper=Mail Tribune |date=28 August 2007 |access-date=8 April 2014}} In 1997, Harry & David opened a second office in Hebron, Ohio, called the Hopewell Campus, which handles distribution.{{sfn|Snyder|2009|p=55}}{{cite news |title=Getting Moose Munch to mom, but how? |author=Greg Stiles |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120508/BIZ/205080305/-1/biz |newspaper=Mail Tribune |date=8 May 2012 |access-date=8 April 2014}} The company employed more than 8,000 employees in 2013, including temporary seasonal workers. As of 2015, the company has begun planting orchards as part of their long-term corporate strategy.

The company owns the naming rights to Medford's main baseball park, Harry & David Field.

• List of companies based in Oregon

{{reflist}}

https://corporateofficeheadquarters.org/harry-and-david/

• {{cite book |title=First Names in Gifting: The Story of Harry and David |first=Gail |last=Snyder |year=2009 |publisher=Bookhouse Group |isbn=9780615316451 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xjmqYgEACAAJ&q=%22First+Names+in+Gifting%22 |access-date=19 November 2013}}
• {{cite book |title=International Directory of Company Histories |author=Jay P. Pederson |year=2001 |publisher=St. James Press |isbn=1-55862-445-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0040unse/page/38 38] |url=https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0040unse/page/38 }}

• {{Official website}}

{{FormerORCompanies}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:Companies based in Medford, Oregon

Category:Retail companies of the United States

Category:Privately held companies based in Oregon

Category:Mail-order retailers

Category:Retail companies established in 1910

Category:American companies established in 1910

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011

Category:1910 establishments in Oregon

Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions