Hickory Farms

Hickory Farms is a specialty food retailer known for its gift baskets, gourmet meats, cheeses, and holiday food gifts, serving both individual and business customers across North America. The company was founded in 1951 by Richard Ransom in Toledo, Ohio, where it began as a small business selling hand-crafted cheese at local fairs and farmers markets. Its reputation for quality quickly grew, and by the 1960s, Hickory Farms had established a seasonal presence in shopping malls, becoming a familiar part of holiday shopping and corporate gifting traditions.

Over the past five years, Hickory Farms has continued to evolve its approach. The company maintains a strong seasonal retail footprint in major shopping malls and high-traffic locations, with a particular focus on expanding into top-tier malls and urban centers. At the same time, it has invested heavily in its e-commerce platform and developed new wholesale partnerships, allowing it to reach a broader range of business clients and corporate gifting markets. In 2021, Hickory Farms acquired Wicked Good Cupcakes, adding a popular dessert brand to its portfolio and expanding its offerings in the gifting space.

As of November 2025, Hickory Farms operates approximately 500 seasonal retail locations throughout the United States and Canada, supported by a year-round online store and select wholesale channels. The company remains privately held, with its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, and does not franchise its locations. During the peak holiday season, seasonal hiring can exceed 3,000 employees, reflecting the company’s significant scale and operational flexibility.

Hickory Farms’ ability to adapt its retail formats and expand its product range has helped it remain a trusted name in specialty food and gifting. Its continued growth in both physical and digital channels, along with strategic acquisitions, demonstrates a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of shoppers and business clients alike.