Arrival of Hickory Farms Holiday Markets Ushers in Holiday Season

Toledo, Ohio – November 19, 2015 – Hickory Farms today announced the official grand opening of 650 Holiday Market locations across North America, including 80 in Canada across eight provinces. For over 60 years, Hickory Farms has been inspiring traditions and creating memories by offering holiday shoppers gift boxes and baskets containing rich and savoury sausages, cheeses, nuts, sweets and other specialty foods. The company’s campaign, Traditions Matter, focuses on the power of traditions and how coming together with family and friends and sharing those special moments are what really matter.

Hickory Farms is working with Canadian artisans offering distinctive foods made from regionally sourced ingredients at select Hickory Farms locations. Tested last year, the program has expanded to 10 Hickory Farms Marketplace locations across Canada. Holiday shoppers at these locations can look forward to soup for the mind, body and soul from Mitchell’s Soup Company, delicious preserves made by hand using local ingredients from Statis Preserves, handmade pure shortbread cookies from Mary Macleod’s Shortbread and eight other regional Canadian favourites.

“Hickory Farms gifts have been part of family holiday traditions since 1951. We are proud to offer our traditional holiday favourites alongside popular regional offerings for Canadian families to enjoy together this holiday,” said Mark S. Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer.

In support of their mission to promote giving, sustainability and community service, since 2008, Hickory Farms has contributed more than $4 million to the No Kid Hungry® campaign. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need every day. Hickory Farms will donate $5 from the purchase of every Hearty Holiday Gift Basket to No Kid Hungry’s Canadian efforts. One recipient of these efforts is Breakfast for Learning™, a national charity which helps children attend school well-nourished and ready to learn.

Customers can find Hickory Farms’ specialty foods gifts, including award-winning summer sausage, cheese and other items at Hickory Farms Holiday Market and Marketplace locations, at leading retailers and at hickoryfarms.ca.

About Hickory Farms For more than 60 years, Hickory Farms has been enriching family holiday celebrations with the highest quality, best tasting specialty food gifts. The company's award-winning signature products and eco-friendly gift boxes can be found online, in catalogs, at leading supermarkets year round and in shopping malls throughout the Christmas holiday season. For more information, please visit www.hickoryfarms.com.