Edible Arrangements
| File:Edible Arrangements logo.png | |
| Company type | Private Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food & Beverage Gifting |
| Founded | East Haven, Connecticut, USA (1999) |
| Founder | Tariq Farid Kamran Farid |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
Area served | United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Italy, Turkey, Bahrain, India, Jordan, China |
| Products | Bouquets and arrangements of sculpted fresh fruit, chocolate dipped fruit, fresh fruit smoothies, cookies, cupcakes, dessert boards, flowers |
| Revenue | $400+ million (2019) |
| Website | edible.com |
Edible Arrangements, LLC—often referred to simply as Edible—is a franchising enterprise headquartered in Atlanta that specializes in creating fresh fruit arrangements blending the concepts of fruit baskets with floral artistry. Their offerings encompass chocolate-covered fruit gift sets, fresh fruit cups and smoothies, floral bouquets, dessert boards, cookies, and cupcakes.
History
The company was established in 1999 by entrepreneurs Tariq Farid and Kamran Farid, launching its inaugural store in East Haven, Connecticut. Following the development of proprietary operational and supply chain management systems, Edible Arrangements initiated franchising activities in 2001 with its first franchise location opening in Waltham, Massachusetts.
By 2009, the brand had extended its reach internationally through master franchise agreements with VPF International Ltd in Rome and D.T. Hong Kong Ltd in Hong Kong. That year also marked plans to open 15 stores in Turkey under the leadership of Kemal and Emre Aydin. The company concluded 2009 operating 940 units worldwide with notable growth across Texas and the Midwest regions of the U.S. Nevertheless, 39 domestic outlets shuttered between 2007 and 2009.
In 2010 alone, Edible Arrangements inaugurated 93 new global locations and secured commitments for an additional 123 sites. By January 2011, the firm had executed its 1,000th franchise agreement. The corporate headquarters in Wallingford underwent expansion in 2012 with an added 23,057 square feet of office space.
As of 2012, Edible Arrangements maintained over 1,100 stores distributed throughout North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Financially, reported revenues were $195 million in 2008 and surpassed $400 million by 2019. Their franchising model has been instrumental in fostering international expansion and increasing market penetration within the gifting and foodservice sectors.
2013 - Present
In 2013, Edible Arrangements earned the number 40 spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list and consistently featured on its Top Global Franchises and Fastest-Growing Franchises rankings for five consecutive years. The company dominated its category from 2007 through 2013.
In January 2011, Forbes placed Edible Arrangements ninth among its "Top 20 Franchises to Start." Additionally, as of May 2022, the brand was recognized by Internet Retailer magazine as one of the "Top 100 Internet Retailers."
Franchisee Lawsuit
During 2010, more than 270 franchise owners voiced concerns regarding corporate policies they believed negatively impacted their operations. They organized as the Edible Arrangements Independent Franchisee Association (EAIFA) and retained legal representation. On September 20 of that year, EAIFA initiated a federal lawsuit representing 170 franchisees alleging unjust modifications to their franchise contracts. Edible Arrangements contested these allegations and moved to dismiss the suit; however, this motion was denied in July 2011 allowing litigation to proceed.
Following prolonged discussions between both parties, an out-of-court settlement was reached in 2013 resolving the dispute.
Sponsorship and Awards
Edible Arrangements actively engages in philanthropic efforts, prominently collaborating with the National Breast Cancer Research Foundation throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October. Its locations throughout the United States and Canada work closely with regional Breast Cancer organizations. In 2010, the company contributed 10% of proceeds from specially designed awareness bouquets to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, demonstrating its dedication to corporate social responsibility and community involvement.