Yankee Candle Company Opens First Retail Stores in Canada

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass., Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Yankee Candle Company, Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of premium scented candles, today announced the opening of its first company-owned retail stores in Canada. The Company currently operates 528 stores in the United States. As part of the company's global expansion efforts, Yankee Candle will open a total of five stores in the greater Toronto area before September 16, 2011.  The first three locations in Pickering, St. Catharine's and Hamilton, Ontario are now open. In the coming weeks the company will open stores in Barre and Kitchener, Ontario.

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"Recognizing the potential of almost 40 million Canadian consumers, we believe this represents a significant growth opportunity for Yankee Candle," said Harlan Kent, chief executive officer, Yankee Candle. "We recognize the unique product needs of the Canadian market and look forward to building a strong foundation for the future growth and success of Yankee Candle in Canada with this venture."

Varying in size from approximately 85 sq. m. to 133 sq. m., the new Canadian stores will carry a larger selection of Yankee Candle^® products than currently offered in the marketplace, including candles and home fragrance products in 60 fragrances as well as candle accessories and gift sets. Based on experience, company officials expect the combination of company-owned stores and independent gift and specialty stores to increase overall brand awareness and stimulate sales growth for all stores. In addition to contributing to the area's economic growth and tax base through increased retail sales, these stores will provide 30 full and part-time jobs. Yankee Candle products will also continue to be distributed through wholesale channels in Canada by Rich Brands, and are available at select independent gift and specialty stores. The Canadian business will report to James Perley, executive vice president, general counsel and strategic planning.

"We are excited to bring Yankee Candle retail stores to Canada as part of our international expansion and believe that these stores, together with our plans to invest in and grow our existing wholesale business, will allow us to further develop and expand the Yankee Candle brand. We look forward to additional milestone openings around the world," said Kent.

The top-selling brand of premium scented candles in the Unites States, Yankee Candle maintains a strong international presence with a wholesale network of 5,300 store locations and distributorships in 48 countries, including Canada.

About Yankee Candle

The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. is the leading designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of premium scented candles, based on sales, in the giftware industry.  Yankee Candle has a 41-year history of offering distinctive products and marketing them as affordable luxuries and consumable gifts.  The Company sells its products through a North American wholesale customer network of approximately 20,500 store locations; a growing base of Company owned and operated retail stores (528 Yankee Candle Stores located in 45 states as of July 2, 2011), direct mail catalogs, and its Internet website (www.yankeecandle.com).  Outside of North America, the Company sells its products primarily through its subsidiary, Yankee Candle Company (Europe), Ltd., which has an international wholesale customer network of approximately 5,300 store locations and distributors covering a combined 48 countries.

This press release may contain certain information constituting "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the statements contained herein with respect to management's current estimates of the Company's financial and operating results for Fiscal 2011 and any quarter thereof, and any other statements concerning the Company's or management's plans, objectives, goals, strategies, expectations, estimates, beliefs or projections, or any other statements concerning future performance or events.  Actual results could differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following: the impact of the ongoing economic situation and any continued deterioration in consumer confidence or spending; the risk that the substantial indebtedness incurred in connection with the Merger and the debt agreements entered into in connection therewith, together with any other indebtedness incurred, might restrict our ability to operate our business and pursue certain business strategies; the risk that we may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows to meet our debt service obligations; the current economic conditions in the United States as a whole and the continuing weakness in the retail environment; the risk that we will be unable to maintain our historical growth rate; the effects of competition from others in the highly competitive giftware industry; our ability to anticipate and react to industry trends and changes in consumer demand; our dependence upon our senior executive officers; the risk of loss of our manufacturing and distribution facilities; the impact on the price of our notes of seasonal, quarterly and other fluctuations in our business; the risk of any disruption in wax supplies or continued inflation in wax and transportation costs; and other factors described or contained in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any forward-looking statements represent our views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date.  While we may elect to update certain forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so even if experience or future events may cause the views contained in any forward-looking statements to change.

SOURCE The Yankee Candle Company, Inc.