Hanna Andersson should not be confused with Hanna Andersson (Salvation officer).
| Hanna Andersson | |
| Type: | Private |
| Founder: | Gun Denhart, Tom Denhart |
| Key People: | Aimée Lapic (CEO) |
| Industry: | Retail |
| Products: | Children's clothing |
| Owner: | L Catterton |
| Num Employees: | 400[1] |
| Homepage: | www.hannaandersson.com |
| Foundation: | 1983 |
| Location: | Portland, Oregon, USA |
Hanna Andersson is a Portland, Oregon-based corporation that specializes in children's apparel. The company operates online and mail-order in the United States and ships to almost 200 countries around the world.
In 1983, Swedish-born Gun Denhart founded the company in Portland, Oregon, in the garage of her home.[2] The company began as an exclusively mail-order catalog retailer; Hanna Andersson mailed out its first catalog in 1984.[3] Co-founder Tom Denhart would remain the company's creative director until 1995.[4] The first brick-and-mortar store opened in 1990, but now operates as an online only retailer.[5]
In 1995, the Denharts hired Phil Iosca as CEO/President. He refocused the company on young children's apparel.[6] Then, in 2001, the Denharts sold the company for $175 million.[7] 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.[8] [9]
In August 2016, Hanna Andersson was sold to L Catterton for an undisclosed amount. The company's executive team was kept intact.[10] In 2022, Aimée Lapic[11] was named as the CEO of Hanna Andersson.[12]
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.[13] These efforts, along with Denhart's other work, led the Oregon Commission of Women to name her the "Woman of Achievement" for 2013.[14] The company's "HannaHelps" program also garnered attention for awarding yearly grants to schools and non-profit groups serving children throughout the United States.[15]
Hanna Andersson manufactures clothing for babies, toddlers, kids, and women.[16] Over 60% of the company's products are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and many items are made with organic cotton.[17] In 2014, the company expanded its offerings to include home décor and bedding.[18] Currently the brand focuses on high-quality clothing and pajamas for babies, toddlers, kids, and adults and was and is known for bright, happy designs and matching family pajamas.