Is Kringle Candle Related To Yankee Candle?

Both Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle are well-known and popular candle brands in the United States. Kringle Candle started in Bernardston, Massachusetts in 1998 while Yankee Candle originated in South Deerfield, Massachusetts in 1969. Over the past few decades, the two companies have grown to become leaders in the scented candle industry. While they share some similarities such as their Massachusetts roots, Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle have developed into distinct brands with their own unique products, styles, and followings.

History of Kringle Candle

Kringle Candle was founded in 2003 by Michael Kittredge II in Bernardston, Massachusetts. Kittredge comes from a long line of candle makers. His father Michael Kittredge I founded Yankee Candle in 1969. After Yankee Candle was sold in 1998, Kittredge II wanted to start his own candle company based on his family’s heritage and traditions.

Kringle Candle started off small, with Kittredge handcrafting candles and selling them at fairs and festivals. The company gained popularity for its innovative scents and creative designs. In 2009, Kringle Candle opened its flagship store, Kringle Candle Village, where customers can shop for candles and watch them being made. Over the years, Kringle has expanded its product line and now offers candles, home fragrances, Christmas decorations and more.

Today, Kringle Candle has stores in Massachusetts, California and Arkansas. It has grown into one of the largest candle companies in the U.S. while maintaining an emphasis on quality and handcraftsmanship. Under Kittredge’s leadership, Kringle continues the family’s generations-old candle-making traditions.

History of Yankee Candle

Yankee Candle was founded in 1969 by Michael Kittredge II in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Kittredge made his first candle out of melted crayon pieces when he was 16 years old. He later used the technique of melting crayons to make scented candles as Christmas gifts when he was in high school.

In 1969, when Kittredge was unable to afford a wedding gift for his sister, he decided to make scented candles again by melting crayons on the stove. The candles were a hit with his sister’s friends, who wanted to buy them. That gave Kittredge the idea to start a business making and selling scented candles.

At first, Yankee Candle was a small operation run out of Kittredge’s parent’s home. But the business grew quickly as word spread about the high-quality, scented candles. By 1975, Yankee Candle opened its first storefront in South Hadley.

The company continued expanding in the 1980s and 1990s, opening more retail stores and growing its catalog business. Yankee Candle also introduced jar candles and various candle accessories during this time period. It became one of the most successful candle businesses in America.

In 1998, Kittredge sold a majority stake in Yankee Candle to private equity firm Forstmann Little & Co. He remained involved as the company’s chairman until he retired in 2001. Yankee Candle had grown to a $500 million company by that point.

Ownership

Kringle Candle was founded in 2009 by Mark and Terri Wroblewski in Bernardston, Massachusetts. It has always been a family-owned and operated company.

Yankee Candle was founded in 1969 by Michael Kittredge II. In 1998, Kittredge sold Yankee Candle to private equity firm Forstmann Little & Co. for $500 million. In 2003, Yankee Candle was sold again to the Jarden Corporation for $1.4 billion. Then in 2013, Jarden merged with Newell Rubbermaid to form Newell Brands. So today, Yankee Candle is owned by Newell Brands.

Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle have never shared any common ownership or been owned by the same parent company. Kringle Candle has always been independently owned by the Wroblewski family, while Yankee Candle has changed ownership multiple times among various large corporations. The two candle brands have no direct relationship in terms of ownership history or corporate structure.

Products

Both Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle offer a wide variety of scented candles in different styles, shapes and sizes. Some of their most popular candle lines include jar candles, tumbler candles, pillar candles, and votive candles.

In addition to candles, Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle also sell candle holders, wax melts, room sprays, and other home fragrance products. Both brands offer seasonal and holiday-themed scents, as well as more general everyday fragrances.

There is significant overlap between Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle when it comes to their product offerings. Many of their most popular candle scents are similar or identical. For example, both brands sell candles in scents like Harvest, Cranberry Chutney, Christmas Cookie, and Cinnamon Stick.

However, there are some differences as well. Kringle Candle offers a patented candle known as the CandleBerry candle, which has a wick made from natural fibers that is meant to crackle like a real wood fire when burned. Yankee Candle does not offer a similar candle.

On the other hand, Yankee Candle has a wider selection of home fragrance products beyond just candles, including reed diffusers, fragrance spheres, and car air fresheners. Their product line is more extensive overall compared to Kringle Candle’s offerings.

But in general, the two brands have significant overlap when it comes to their scented candle products and both strive to offer high-quality, long-lasting, fragrant candles across a range of styles, shapes and scents.

Marketing

Both Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle utilize similar marketing strategies to promote their brands. They rely heavily on in-store experiences, catalog mailings, seasonal launches, and social media engagement. However, there are some key differences in their target demographics.

Kringle Candle positions itself as a premium, artisanal brand that appeals to high-end shoppers looking for a luxurious candle experience. Their marketing showcases the craftsmanship of their products with a focus on small batch production and natural ingredients. Kringle targets more affluent consumers and their marketing reflects themes of indulgence, sophistication, and luxury.

In contrast, Yankee Candle aims for broad mass market appeal. Their marketing highlights Yankee’s long history as an iconic American candle brand. Advertising emphasizes Yankee’s wide selection of affordably priced candles and home fragrance products for everyday use. The brand targets mainstream consumers across multiple demographics seeking classic, nostalgic scents and reliable products.

While both brands rely on experiential retail environments, Kringle focuses more on boutique-style shops versus Yankee’s emphasis on flagship stores. Kringle also invests heavily in gift catalogs while Yankee relies more on seasonal launches and promotions to drive sales throughout the year.

Locations

Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle have very different geographic footprints when it comes to their brick-and-mortar stores. Kringle Candle is based in Bernardston, Massachusetts and only has a handful of retail stores, all located in New England. The company’s flagship store and headquarters are in Bernardston. Kringle Candle also operates a few other stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine.

In contrast, Yankee Candle has over 550 retail stores across the United States, Canada, Europe and other international markets. The company started in Massachusetts but quickly expanded nationwide. Today, Yankee Candle stores can be found in almost every U.S. state. The brand also has a significant presence in shopping malls and other retail centers. Unlike Kringle Candle, Yankee Candle is not concentrated in any one region but has national and global reach.

So in summary, while both brands originated in Massachusetts, Yankee Candle has grown to have a far larger geographic footprint and its stores can be found across North America and internationally. Kringle Candle has remained a local New England brand with just a handful of stores, all clustered in the northeastern U.S.

Brand Differences

Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle have developed distinct brand images and personalities over the years. Here are some of the key differences between the two brands:

Image: Kringle Candle promotes itself as an artisanal, small-batch candle company with a focus on unique scents and handmade quality. Yankee Candle built its image as an iconic American candle brand known for its wide variety of fragrances.

Pricing: Kringle Candle is positioned as a premium-priced candle, typically retailing from $20-$50 per candle. Yankee Candle has broader price points, selling candles from $1 for votives up to $30+ for large jar candles. Yankee aims for accessibility while Kringle focuses on high-end gifting.

Customer Base: Kringle Candle has a niche, loyal following among high-end candle aficionados. Yankee Candle appeals to mass market consumers looking for affordable, good quality candles with familiar scents.

Company Size: Yankee Candle is an enormous company owned by Newell Brands with billions in annual sales. Kringle Candle is still family-owned and produces a fraction of Yankee’s output.

Store Experience: Kringle Candle stores aim to evoke a charming, small-town feel with experiential elements like the Kringle Mingle cafe. Yankee Candle has more of a mall-based retail experience focused on their vast selection of products.

Direct Relationship

While Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle are two of the most popular candle brands in the United States, there is no evidence indicating any direct cooperation, partnerships, or shared ownership between the two companies. Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle were founded and are owned by different families.

Kringle Candle was founded in Bernardston, Massachusetts by Mark and Kathryn Neelands in 1989. The company remains family-owned by the Neelands to this day. Meanwhile, Yankee Candle was founded in South Deerfield, Massachusetts by Michael Kittredge in 1969. In 1998, Kittredge sold Yankee Candle to private equity firm Forstmann Little & Company. Since then, Yankee Candle has changed ownership multiple times and is currently owned by Newell Brands.

Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle operate as distinct, separate brands. While they are two of the most popular candle makers known for their scented jar candles, their business operations do not appear to overlap. There is no public record of the two companies forming any official partnership or joint venture. The founders of Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle also do not seem to have any close personal or familial relationship based on available information.

In conclusion, although Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle are often viewed as competitors in the scented candle market, there is no direct evidence indicating the two brands have cooperated or shared ownership at any point since Kringle’s founding in 1989.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle are two of the most popular candle brands in America, they have distinct histories and branding. Kringle Candle was founded in Wisconsin in 1989, while Yankee Candle started in Massachusetts in 1969. Yankee Candle pioneered the scented candle industry, while Kringle has always focused on Christmas themes. Both companies sell premium scented candles, home fragrances, and other home décor items, but Kringle leans into Christmas novelty items while Yankee focuses on classic scents and luxury branding. While the two brands have some product overlap, Kringle’s seasonal offerings and Midwest roots contrast with Yankee’s year-round classic branding and New England heritage. The two brands are not directly affiliated, though they compete in the scented candle market. Ultimately, Yankee kickstarted the popularity of scented candles while Kringle perfected Christmas candle offerings, leading to two distinct yet successful American candle brands.