Hanna Andersson is a Portland, Oregon-based corporation that specializes in children's apparel. The company operates mail-order, online, and retail stores in the United States.
History
In 1983, Swedish-born Gun Denhart founded the company in Portland, Oregon, in the garage of her home. The company began as an exclusivelymail-order catalog retailer; Hanna Andersson mailed out its first catalog in 1984. Co-founder Tom Denhart would remain the company's creative director until 1995. The first brick-and-mortar store opened in 1990, and to-date there are currently over 60 retail locations operating in 24 states throughout the United States. In 1995, the Denharts hired Phil Iosca as CEO/President. He refocused the company on young children's apparel. Then, in 2001, the Denharts sold the company for $175 million. Following the initial sale, Hanna Andersson was sold to a succession of private equity firms and purchased by Sun Capital Partners. Gun Denhart remained on the Board of Directors until 2007. When Iosca retired in 2010, then-COO Adam Stone was named the new CEO of the company. In August 2016, Hanna Andersson was sold to L Catterton for an undisclosed amount. The company's executive team was kept intact.
The company has received notable attention over the years due to Denhart's advocacy of progressive workplace policies. Denhart's initiatives included family-friendly employment policies in support of work-family balance and the charitable donation of 5% of the company's pre-tax profits to groups working for children's welfare. These efforts, along with Denhart's other work, led the Oregon Commission of Women to name her the "Woman of Achievement" for 2013. The company's "HannaHelps" program also garnered attention for awarding yearly grants to schools and non-profit groups serving children throughout the United States.
Products
Hanna Andersson manufactures clothing for babies, toddlers, kids, and women. Over 60% of the company's products are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and many items are made with organic cotton. In 2014, the company expanded its offerings to include home décor and bedding. Most recently, the company expanded its women's collection to include maternity apparel.
