Where Does The Yankee Candle Owner Live?

Introducing Yankee Candle

Yankee Candle is an iconic American brand known for its scented candles and home fragrance products. Founded in 1969 in South Hadley, Massachusetts by Michael Kittredge, the company started humbly by making candles as Christmas gifts using melted crayons. Kittredge’s candle-making took off when he made a candle from the melted crayon rejects, and locals began asking to purchase the candles. This first candle, called “The Original Yankee Candle”, had a smooth, dripless burn and revolutionized candle-making.

Over the next decade, Kittredge grew Yankee Candle as a hand-crafted candle business, focusing on quality ingredients and unique fragrances. He opened the first Yankee Candle store in 1973 in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. The store proved enormously popular, driven by the nostalgic, aromatic nature of the candles that evoked memories and created a cozy ambiance. Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, Yankee Candle pioneered trendsetting candle products like none before, and the brand became a cultural staple throughout New England.

Founding and Early Growth

Michael Kittredge first started making candles in 1969 while he was a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During his college years, Kittredge made scented candles using wax from a beehive located on his parent’s farmland in South Hadley, Massachusetts. He would gift these homemade candles to friends and family.

The handmade candles became popular locally, and soon Kittredge was receiving requests to make and sell more candles. In 1973, he pooled together $40,000 with two other candle-makers and opened the first Yankee Candle store in South Hadley. In those early days, Kittredge would regularly work 16-hour days handcrafting candles and managing the retail store.

The candles, made with premium ingredients and unique fragrances, were an instant success. Yankee Candle’s business steadily grew in the 1970s as Kittredge introduced new scents, packaging, and mail-order sales. By the end of the decade, Yankee Candle had become a leading candle brand in New England and was poised for national growth.

Rapid Expansion

In the 1990s, Yankee Candle began a period of rapid expansion, driven by the opening of the company’s flagship store in South Deerfield, Massachusetts in 1990. The 10,000 square foot store, located on the original candle-making site, became a hugely popular tourist destination. Its success demonstrated the potential for growing Yankee Candle into a national retail brand.

Building on the flagship store’s popularity, Kittredge began expanding Yankee Candle retail operations dramatically in the 1990s. The company opened stores across New England and the northeast U.S., eventually expanding nationwide. The retail stores, often located in lifestyle shopping centers, allowed customers to experience the distinctive New England-style brand and immersive shopping experience in person. The retail expansion was critical to the growth and success of Yankee Candle in the 1990s.

Sale to Private Equity

In 1998, after building Yankee Candle into a hugely successful brand, Kittredge decided to sell the company to private equity firm Forstmann Little & Co. for a reported $500 million. This was a massive exit for Kittredge, who had bootstrapped the company from his home 30 years earlier.

Forstmann Little had experience investing in consumer brands, with holdings including Gulfstream Aerospace and Dr Pepper/Seven Up. They likely saw tremendous untapped growth potential for Yankee Candle, especially in expanding its retail footprint. At the time, Yankee Candle had just 95 retail stores, with most sales still happening through its catalog.

While no longer involved in day-to-day operations, Kittredge stayed on as chairman emeritus and creative director. He worked closely with the new leadership team to ensure Yankee Candle retained its unique company culture even under new ownership. This included upholding the company’s tradition of charity donations and commitment to community engagement.

Return of Founder

In 2001, Michael Kittredge returned as CEO and Chairman of Yankee Candle after a 5 year absence. He had stepped down in 1998 after selling a majority stake to the private equity firm Forstmann Little, but maintained a seat on the board. While Yankee Candle had grown substantially under Forstmann Little’s ownership, Kittredge believed he could take the company even further.

Upon retaking the reins, Kittredge focused on improving Yankee Candle’s vertical integration, expanding the company’s flagship retail stores, and enhancing the shopping experience. He also prioritized product innovation by introducing new candle scents and home fragrance designs. Under Kittredge’s renewed leadership, Yankee Candle opened its first European flagship store in the UK in 2001. Over the next few years, the company greatly expanded its retail presence across Europe as well as North America and Asia.

Sale to Jarden Corporation

In 2013, Yankee Candle was acquired by consumer products conglomerate Jarden Corporation for $1.75 billion. Jarden, known for brands like Crock-Pot, Mr. Coffee, and Rawlings, sought to add Yankee Candle’s robust retail presence to its portfolio.

For Yankee Candle founder Michael Kittredge, the Jarden sale marked the end of his second tenure leading the company he started back in 1969. Kittredge came out of retirement in 2005 to regain control of Yankee Candle after it was sold to private equity firm Forstmann Little. With the company on solid footing, he was ready to fully retire and leave its future in Jarden’s hands.

The acquisition provided Jarden with a new avenue into home fragrance and housewares. It gained over 480 Yankee Candle retail stores as well as its wholesale and online businesses. Jarden cited the strength of the Yankee Candle brand as a key reason for the purchase. It represented an opportunity to expand Yankee Candle’s global presence using Jarden’s distribution network.

Newell Brands Ownership

In 2016, Newell Brands acquired Jarden Corporation, bringing Yankee Candle into its large portfolio of consumer brands. As part of Newell Brands, Yankee Candle continued operating from its headquarters in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. The company remained focused on its core pillars of innovation, quality, and customer experience under the new parent organization.

Newell Brands, formerly known as Newell Rubbermaid, owns many iconic consumer brands including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Paper Mate, Elmer’s, Coleman, Marmot, and more. The $15 billion company has over 20,000 employees worldwide. With Newell Brands’ scale and resources, Yankee Candle was positioned well for continued growth and success.

As part of a major consumer goods conglomerate, Yankee Candle leveraged shared business functions like marketing, finance, technology, and operations. At the same time, it retained its unique brand identity and largely autonomous operations as the market leader in scented candles. The acquisition provided broader distribution channels, operational synergies, and strategic brand marketing opportunities.

The Kittredge Estate

After selling Yankee Candle, Michael Kittredge purchased a sprawling 47-acre estate in the countryside of Leverett, Massachusetts called the Kittredge Estate. Nestled among rolling hills and forests, the grand estate served as Kittredge’s primary residence for over 20 years.

The Kittredge Estate is known for its beautiful English Cotswold architecture style stone manor home at the heart of the property. With over 18,000 square feet of living space, the home has 6 bedrooms, 7 full baths and 3 half baths, along with formal living and dining rooms. The interior features hardwood floors, exposed beam ceilings, multiple fireplaces, a chef’s kitchen, a library, a home theater, and Kittredge’s prized car collection garage.

Outside, the grounds contain exquisite English-style gardens, a private pond, tennis court, swimming pool, carriage house, greenhouse, horse barn with indoor riding arena, and miles of wooded trails meandering through the rolling landscape. The estate provided Kittredge with ample space to pursue his passions for antique car restoration, gardening, and equestrian activities.

After Kittredge’s passing in 2019, the Kittredge Estate was listed for sale by his trustees with an asking price of $23 million. This magnificent property stands as a testament to Kittredge’s success with Yankee Candle, enabling him to own a palatial countryside estate andpursue a lavish lifestyle in retirement.

Later Life and Philanthropy

In his later years, Michael Kittredge became known for his philanthropy and charitable giving, particularly in his home state of Massachusetts. Though he had sold Yankee Candle, he remained committed to giving back to the community.

One of Kittredge’s biggest charitable causes was supporting medical research and healthcare. He donated $2 million to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield to help build a new cancer center. The center was named The Kittredge Center for Breast Excellence in his honor. Kittredge also supported cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Education was another important cause for Kittredge. He established the Kittredge Fund and scholarship program at Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts to provide financial assistance to students. Kittredge also donated to his high school alma mater, Chicopee High School, to support educational programs and activities.

In the arts, Kittredge supported theaters and museums across Massachusetts. Major donations included $1 million to the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield and funding for theaters like Barrington Stage Company. He also served on the boards of arts organizations like the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Beyond direct philanthropy, Kittredge tried to inspire community improvement and involvement. He was known for mentoring entrepreneurs and small business owners. Kittredge also founded an organization called “Let’s Make It Better” aimed at getting residents involved in local projects to uplift their communities.

Though the Yankee Candle company had moved on, Michael Kittredge remained dedicated to giving back in his later years. His charitable legacy helped strengthen medical care, education, arts, and local communities across Massachusetts.

Michael Kittredge’s Legacy

Michael Kittredge had a tremendous impact through founding Yankee Candle and building it into a leading consumer brand before selling the company twice. His unique approach to fragrance and gift-giving created a beloved product that became a staple in many American homes.

Today, Yankee Candle continues to sell premium scented candles, home fragrance products, and gifts globally. After being acquired by Newell Brands in 2013, the company has expanded internationally while remaining committed to Kittredge’s vision of creating handcrafted, quality candles. Over 50 years since its founding in Kittredge’s childhood home, Yankee Candle retains strong brand awareness and loyalty. Many of its original candle scents, like Christmas Cookie, remain top sellers today.

Beyond his business success, Kittredge was known for his generous philanthropy in his later years. He donated extensively to medical causes, veterans groups, local schools and community organizations. The Kittredge estate in Massachusetts where he founded Yankee Candle remained his home throughout his life. Michael Kittredge passed away in 2019 at the age of 67, leaving behind a company and legacy that brought joy and light to millions through his innovative candles.