Hickory Farms, LLC is an American food gift retailer with headquarters in Chicago.[1] Richard Ransom established the company in 1951 when he began selling handcrafted cheese at local fairs. By 1959, the company added summer sausage and opened its first retail store in Maumee, Ohio. By 1981, it operated over 1,000 Hickory Farms stores and seasonal kiosks open in the United States and Canada.[2]
In 2000, the company shifted away from year-round mall-based locations to focus on Internet and catalog sales. As a result, the company closed its remaining year-round mall stores. However, the company still operates pop-up stores and kiosks in malls during the holiday season.[3]
In 2017, the company relocated to Chicago, Illinois, from Toledo, Ohio. Its owner, Modjule LLC, is also headquartered in Chicago.[1]
In 2021, Wicked Good Cupcakes was acquired by Hickory Farms.