The Honey Baked Ham Company
An American food retailer specializing in honey-glazed spiral-sliced ham, turkey, prepared entrées, side dishes, and desserts.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
The Honey Baked Ham Company is an American food retailer built around a distinctive honey-glazed, spiral-sliced ham. The business sells ready-to-serve and heat-and-serve foods, including ham, turkey breasts, other pre-cooked entrées, side dishes, and desserts. Its retail model combines company-operated stores, franchised locations, and electronic commerce, giving the brand a presence in both local food retail and seasonal gifting. The company traces its technical and commercial origins to Harry Hoenselaar. In 1924, Hoenselaar developed a bone-in spiral-slicing device for cooked ham. The concept was unusual for its time because it enabled a ham to be cut into relatively even slices while preserving the appearance and structure of the bone-in product. Hoenselaar reportedly constructed an early prototype from improvised household and mechanical components, including a tire jack, pie tin, washing-machine motor, and knife. This invention became the practical foundation for the brand's later product identity. During the 1930s, Hoenselaar sold honey-glazed hams through Detroit drugstores. He also instructed lunch-counter workers in how to slice ham properly for sandwiches. His involvement eventually extended beyond supplying products: he purchased one of the Detroit drugstores from the former owner's widow for $500. In 1957, while based in Detroit, he established The HoneyBaked Ham Company and Café, formalizing the business around the combination of cooked ham, honey glazing, and specialized slicing. The company later expanded beyond its Detroit origins. Hoenselaar divided the United States into four territories and assigned one territory to each of his four daughters, creating a family-based structure for national development. The business remained privately held by the Hoenselaar family as it grew through a mixture of company-owned stores and franchises. By May 2017, reference material described more than 200 company-owned retail stores and approximately 200 franchise locations, in addition to an e-commerce operation. A June 2020 figure placed the network at 492 outlets across the United States. The headquarters moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, in 2015. Linda van Rees, Hoenselaar's granddaughter, was identified in reference material as leading the company during the later expansion period. The relocation and continued development of retail and online channels indicate an effort to manage a national network while retaining the family-owned character associated with the brand. Honey Baked Ham's market position is based on convenience, prepared-food expertise, and occasion-based consumption. Its products are commonly associated with holiday meals, family gatherings, gifting, and deli-style service rather than with everyday low-price grocery shopping. The brand's signature preparation—honey glazing combined with spiral slicing—serves as both a product feature and a recognizable point of differentiation. Alongside ham, the company broadens the purchase occasion through turkey, entrées, side dishes, and desserts. The brand has received favorable third-party attention. In October 2013, Consumer Reports described Honey Baked Ham as the strongest performer in its comparison of similar products. In 2019, New York Times food writer Kim Severson referred to Harry J. Hoenselaar as the father of spiral-cut ham, reflecting the historical importance attributed to his slicing innovation. The company is not publicly listed, and no independently verified current outlet count, financial data, or corporate website is supplied in the available reference material. The Honey Baked Ham Company is an American food retailer known for its spiral-sliced, honey-glazed hams, as well as turkeys, sides, and desserts. Founded by Harry J. Hoenselaar in 1957, it is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, with locations across the United States. HoneyBaked is an American food retail chain known for its signature honey-glazed hams and turkey breasts. The company offers a variety of deli items, sides, and desserts, especially popular during holiday seasons.
History
The Honey Baked Ham Company's history is closely tied to the development of spiral slicing and to the Hoenselaar family's operation of a specialized prepared-food business. Harry Hoenselaar began experimenting with cooked ham preparation well before the company adopted its later national retail structure. In 1924, he created a device for slicing a bone-in ham in a spiral pattern. The machine was reportedly inspired by a dream and assembled from readily available components, including a tire jack, a pie tin, a washing-machine motor, and a knife. Although the equipment was improvised, the underlying idea provided a repeatable way to portion a bone-in ham while keeping the product visually intact. Hoenselaar first commercialized the concept in Detroit during the 1930s. He sold honey-glazed hams through drugstores and trained lunch-counter employees to slice ham correctly for sandwiches. This emphasis on preparation and presentation was important because the product was not simply a commodity ham: its value depended on the combination of cooking, glazing, slicing, and service. Hoenselaar later purchased one of the Detroit drugstores from the widow of its previous owner for $500, bringing a retail outlet directly into his business activities. In 1957, Hoenselaar founded The HoneyBaked Ham Company and Café in Detroit. The company formalized the product concept that had developed through his earlier manufacturing and retail work. Its signature offering combined a cooked ham, a honey-style glaze, and spiral slicing. Over time, the business expanded from its Detroit base into a national network. Hoenselaar divided the country into four territories and assigned one to each of his four daughters. This family-centered territorial structure became part of the company's expansion story and helped preserve family ownership as the brand grew. The company developed a hybrid distribution model. In addition to company-owned stores, it added franchise locations and eventually an e-commerce channel. Reference material reported more than 200 company-owned retail stores and roughly 200 franchise locations by May 2017. By June 2020, the reported total outlet count had reached 492 across the United States. The business broadened its assortment beyond ham to include turkey breasts, other pre-cooked entrées, side dishes, and desserts. This expanded menu allowed stores to serve larger meal occasions and to function as a source of complete prepared meals rather than as a single-product specialty shop. A later generation of the Hoenselaar family remained involved in the business. Linda van Rees, identified as Hoenselaar's granddaughter, was described as heading the company during the later period covered by the available material. In 2015, the headquarters moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, while the company continued to be described as privately owned by the Hoenselaar family. The move marked an administrative transition away from the company's historic Detroit setting without changing its core product identity. The brand's commercial proposition centers on premium prepared food and convenience. Its hams are associated with holidays, celebrations, family meals, entertaining, and gifting. Turkey, side dishes, entrées, and desserts provide complementary products for customers seeking a ready-to-serve meal. The specialized slicing method remains central to the brand story because it connects the modern retail product to Hoenselaar's early invention. External recognition has reinforced this identity. Consumer Reports called Honey Baked Ham the clear leading product in an October 2013 comparison. In 2019, New York Times writer Kim Severson characterized Harry J. Hoenselaar as the father of spiral-cut ham. Available sources do not provide a complete chronology of later leadership, financial performance, ownership transactions, or current store numbers, so those aspects remain undocumented here.
- 2020
Outlet count reaches 492
[1]The company is reported to have 492 outlets across the United States as of June 2020.
- 2019
Hoenselaar is recognized as a pioneer of spiral-cut ham
[1]The New York Times describes Harry J. Hoenselaar as the father of spiral-cut ham.
- 2017
National retail and franchise network is documented
[1]Reference material reports more than 200 company-owned stores, about 200 franchise locations, and an e-commerce business.
- 2015
Headquarters relocates to Alpharetta
[1]The company moves its headquarters to Alpharetta, Georgia.
- 2013
Consumer Reports gives favorable recognition
[1]Consumer Reports identifies Honey Baked Ham as the strongest product in its comparison of similar hams.
- 1957
The HoneyBaked Ham Company and Café is founded
[1]Hoenselaar establishes the company in Detroit, turning his ham preparation and slicing work into a formal retail business.
- 1930
Honey-glazed hams enter Detroit drugstores
[1]During the 1930s, Hoenselaar sells honey-glazed hams through Detroit drugstores and trains counter staff in slicing technique.
- 1924
Hoenselaar develops a spiral-slicing device
[1]Harry Hoenselaar creates a bone-in spiral-slicer for cooked ham, establishing the technical basis for the later brand.
Products and positioning
Premium and convenience-oriented prepared-food retailer focused on holiday meals, entertaining, gifting, and deli-style service.
Prepared meat · 1957
Honey baked ham
The signature product is a cooked ham associated with a sweet honey-style glaze and spiral slicing. The bone-in presentation and pre-sliced format support serving at holidays, family meals, gatherings, and gifting occasions. Its preparation method is central to the company's heritage and differentiates the brand from ordinary packaged deli ham.
Prepared poultry
Turkey breasts
Turkey breasts extend the brand beyond pork and provide a second centerpiece option for customers seeking a prepared meal. Like the company's ham, the product is positioned around convenience and occasion-based service, allowing customers to purchase a ready-to-serve entrée through the retail network.
Prepared meals
Pre-cooked entrées
The company sells other pre-cooked entrées alongside its signature meats. These products broaden the retailer's role from a ham specialist into a prepared-food provider and support customers assembling meals for households, celebrations, and group occasions.
Prepared side dishes
Side dishes
Prepared side dishes complement the company's main meat offerings and help customers create a more complete ready-to-serve meal. Their inclusion supports the brand's convenience proposition and reduces the amount of cooking required for holiday or entertaining occasions.
Prepared desserts
Desserts
Desserts are part of the broader prepared-food assortment. They complement ham, turkey, entrées, and side dishes in a meal-oriented retail model, particularly for customers purchasing food for celebrations or gatherings.
Brand decisions
2017
Expansion through company stores, franchises, and e-commerceStrategyBackground
The company sought to serve a national customer base while retaining both direct retail control and franchise distribution.
Action taken
It operated more than 200 company-owned stores, approximately 200 franchise locations, and an e-commerce business according to the available reference material.
Aftermath
The hybrid network supported broader United States distribution, with 492 outlets reported by June 2020.
2015
Relocation of headquarters to AlpharettaStrategyBackground
As the family-owned company operated a national network of stores and franchises, it moved its headquarters from its historic Detroit base to Alpharetta, Georgia.
Action taken
The company established its headquarters in Alpharetta.
Aftermath
Reference material continued to describe the company as privately owned by the Hoenselaar family and operating across the United States.
Recent events
HoneyBaked launches “Traditions That Bring Us Home”[3]
Reported:
The Honey Baked Ham Company announced the launch of “Traditions That Bring Us Home,” a holiday campaign running across TV, streaming, digital, social, and radio through the holiday season.
Kylie Kelce named HoneyBaked holiday brand ambassador[3]
Reported:
The Honey Baked Ham Company announced Kylie Kelce as its brand ambassador for the holiday season, as part of its marketing campaign.
- Unconfirmed
Honey Baked Ham Company announces test of pumpkin-spiced turkey breast[4]
The Honey Baked Ham Company announced it will test a Pumpkin Spiced Glazed Turkey Breast in select cities; the source describes a planned test, not a completed launch.
Sources5 sources
- 1The Honey Baked Ham Companyen.wikipedia.org
- 2Honey Baked Ham official websitehoneybaked.com
- 3HoneyBaked推出“Traditions That Bring Us Home”节日营销活动prnewswire.com
- 4Honey Baked Ham Company 宣布测试南瓜香料火鸡胸肉star1029.iheart.com
- 5HoneyBaked Introduces Pumpkin Spice Glazed Turkey Breast | HITS 106.1 | EJhits1061seattle.iheart.com
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