Yankee Candle expanding into Canada

South Deerfield, Mass. -- The Yankee Candle Co. has opened its first company-owned retail stores in Canada. Yankee Candle will open five stores in the greater Toronto area before Sept. 16. The first three locations in Pickering, St. Catharine's and Hamilton, Ontario, are now open. In the coming weeks, the company will open stores in Barre and Kitchener, Ontario.



"Recognizing the potential of almost 40 million Canadian consumers, we believe this represents a significant growth opportunity for Yankee Candle," said Harlan Kent, CEO, Yankee Candle. “We are excited to bring Yankee Candle retail stores to Canada as part of our international expansion and believe that these stores, together with our plans to invest in and grow our existing wholesale business, will allow us to further develop and expand the Yankee Candle brand.”



Yankee currently operates 528 stores in the United States.