Brooke Martin
Yankee Candle, an American scented candle manufacturer and retailer, has been closing stores and laying off employees. The company, which was founded over 50 years ago, has a history of acquisitions and mergers, with Jarden Corporation, Newell Rubbermaid, and Madison Dearborn Partners LLC all playing a part in its ownership. Despite once having over 700 locations, customers have noticed store closures, and the company now operates 217 small-box format stores in malls across 37 US states and Ontario. The latest update involves the closure of its South Deerfield distribution center and offices, impacting around 100 employees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for store closures | Supply chain consolidation and optimization efforts |
| Parent company | Newell Brands |
| Number of employees laid off | 100 |
| Last day of operations | September 9, 2024 |
| Status of other operations in Western Massachusetts | No changes |
| Number of previous locations | Over 700 |
| Current number of stores | 217 small-box format stores |
| Number of outlet stores in the US | 55 |
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What You'll Learn
Yankee Candle to shut down its Western Mass. facility
Yankee Candle, the scented candle company, is closing its distribution centre and offices in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, on 9 September 2024. The company plans to lay off around 100 employees.
Yankee Candle was founded in South Deerfield over 50 years ago, and its flagship store, Yankee Candle Village, opened in 1983. The company was acquired by Newell Brands in 2016, and the parent company announced its plans to downsize in January 2023.
In a statement, Newell Brands said: "September 9th is the last day for employees who are exiting the business and for some operations specific to those roles. The facility will remain open, but will now serve as an auxiliary warehouse for Yankee Candle and other Newell Brand products." The company added that there would be no changes to other Yankee Candle operations in Western Massachusetts, and that it was committed to maintaining a strong local presence.
The closure of the South Deerfield distribution centre follows the shuttering of Yankee Candle's corporate offices in town in 2023. The company has said that the move is part of its supply chain consolidation and optimisation efforts, and it expects pre-tax savings of $65 to $90 million.
In recent years, Yankee Candle has closed many of its retail stores, with customers noticing that the brand is now more readily available in large retail stores like Walmart and Target.
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Around 100 employees to be laid off
Yankee Candle Inc. is closing its South Deerfield distribution center and offices on September 9, 2024, with around 100 employees set to be laid off. The company's parent organization, Newell Brands, disclosed the closing date for the specific 27 Yankee Candle Way offices, which was initially announced in January 2023.
Newell Brands attributed the decision to their “supply chain consolidation and optimization efforts," aiming to streamline operations and reduce overhead expenses. The facility will remain open but will transition to an auxiliary warehouse for Yankee Candle and other Newell Brand products. The company expressed its commitment to the region, emphasizing that there will be no changes to other Yankee Candle operations in Western Massachusetts.
The South Deerfield distribution center's closure follows the shutdown of Yankee Candle's corporate offices in the same town in 2023. This previous closure resulted in the transfer of employees to different facilities in South Deerfield and Whately. Additionally, Newell Brands cut approximately 13% of its office staff as part of a restructuring plan.
The company spokesperson assured that they are committed to supporting the impacted employees through this transition, offering comprehensive transition benefits and encouraging them to apply for open positions at their other local facilities.
While the distribution center closure will result in job losses for around 100 employees, it is important to note that Yankee Candle still maintains a significant presence in the region. The company's flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research lab will remain operational in Western Massachusetts.
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Parent company Newell Brands to consolidate services
Parent company Newell Brands has been consolidating its services and optimising its supply chain since it acquired Yankee Candle in 2016. The company has been focusing on “centralizing" numerous teams within the company, as well as addressing its real estate portfolio and pursuing other cost-reduction initiatives.
In 2024, Newell Brands announced that it would be closing its South Deerfield distribution facility by the end of the year. The facility, located at 14 Industrial Drive, was an auxiliary warehouse that supported three distribution sites in the region. The company stated that the closure was part of its supply chain consolidation and optimisation efforts, and that it would result in the layoff of approximately 100 employees.
The decision to close the South Deerfield distribution facility was made as part of Newell Brands' broader restructuring and streamlining efforts, which aimed to cut overhead expenses and take decisive action with the company's real estate portfolio. In a letter published by then-Newell Brands CEO Ravi Saligram, the company explained that this included the closure of Yankee Candle's corporate offices in South Deerfield in 2023, as well as a reduction in office staff by 13%.
Despite the closure of the South Deerfield distribution facility and corporate offices, Newell Brands has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a strong local presence in Western Massachusetts. The company's flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research and development lab will remain open. Additionally, two out of three distribution sites in the region will continue to operate, ensuring that Yankee Candle products remain accessible to customers.
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Newell Brands to maintain presence in the community
Newell Brands, the parent company of Yankee Candle, has announced plans to maintain a presence in the community, despite recent downsizing and layoffs. In a statement, the company affirmed its commitment to the region where Yankee Candle was founded over 50 years ago.
Newell Brands stated that the company will continue to operate its flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research and development lab in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. The company also emphasised that there will be no changes to other Yankee Candle operations in Western Massachusetts, including various research, manufacturing, distribution, and office facilities in the area.
In January 2023, Newell Brands initially announced its intention to downsize, including the closure of its Deerfield office and the layoff of around 13% of its global workforce. The company attributed these decisions to restructuring and reorganisation efforts. Despite the downsizing, Newell Brands assured the community that it plans to retain a strong local presence.
The company's presence in the community is further solidified by its lease agreement with FoxRock Properties, which was signed in 2022. This agreement secured a nearly 360,000-square-foot building at 142 Elm St. for warehousing and distribution purposes, located a quarter-mile from Interstate 91.
While there have been layoffs and consolidation efforts, particularly at the distribution centre at 27 Yankee Candle Way, Newell Brands remains dedicated to supporting impacted employees. The company has offered transition benefits and expressed gratitude for the service and dedication of its employees.
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Yankee Candle's flagship store and manufacturing facility to remain open
Yankee Candle, the scented candle company, has been closing down stores and facilities across the United States. The company, which was founded in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, has a long history in the area, dating back over five decades. In recent years, however, the company has undergone a series of acquisitions and changes in strategy, which have resulted in the closure of several locations.
In 2013, Yankee Candle was acquired by Jarden Corporation for $1.75 billion. This was followed by another merger in 2016 when Jarden was purchased by Newell Rubbermaid, forming the new company Newell Brands. Under the ownership of Newell Brands, Yankee Candle has shifted its focus to selling through existing contacts with big-box retailers like Walmart and Target, as well as grocery stores and pharmacies. This strategy has led to a reduction in the number of dedicated Yankee Candle retail stores.
Despite the closures and changes in strategy, Yankee Candle has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a strong local presence in Western Massachusetts, where it was founded. In a statement, a spokesperson for Newell Brands announced that there would be "no changes" to the flagship Yankee Candle Village store and various research, manufacturing, distribution, and office facilities in the area. The flagship store and manufacturing facility, located in South Deerfield, will remain open, along with other operations in Western Massachusetts.
The company's distribution facility in South Deerfield, however, is set to close by the end of 2024. This decision is part of Newell Brands' supply chain consolidation and optimization efforts, aiming to cut costs and streamline operations. The closure of the South Deerfield distribution centre will result in the layoff of approximately 100 employees. While the specific date of closure was not initially disclosed, it has since been confirmed that the last day of operations at the facility will be September 9, 2024.
While the closure of stores and the shift in strategy may be disappointing to some customers and fans of Yankee Candle, the company continues to operate a significant number of stores across the United States and internationally. As of 2025, the company operates 217 small-box format stores in malls across 37 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, and its products are sold in nearly 50 countries worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Yankee Candle is closing some of its stores. In July 2024, it was announced that the company would be shutting down its South Deerfield distribution center and offices, resulting in around 100 layoffs.
The closure of the South Deerfield facility is part of parent company Newell Brands' plan to consolidate and optimize its supply chain operations. The company has stated that this decision is driven by a need to cut overhead expenses and is expected to result in pre-tax savings of $65 to $90 million.
No, only select stores are affected by the closures. The flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research lab will remain open in western Massachusetts. The company currently operates 217 small-box format stores across 37 US states and Ontario, and has a total of 55 outlet stores in the United States.
The South Deerfield distribution center and offices are set to close on September 9, 2024.
Newell Brands has stated that they are committed to supporting affected employees through this transition. They have encouraged employees to apply for open positions at their other local facilities and will provide comprehensive transition benefits.
