H. T. Hackney Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wholesale distribution, Grocery |
| Predecessor | Feed and grain business started by Henry Tate Hackney and W. C. Everett (1887) |
| Founded | 1891 in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States |
| Founder | Henry Tate Hackney |
| Headquarters | Knoxville , United States |
Area served | Eastern United States (21 states) |
Key people | William B. Sansom (Chairman and CEO), Michael D. Morton (Vice President and CFO) |
| Products | Grocery products, frozen foods, baked goods, confectionery, snacks, tobacco products, cosmetics, deli items |
Number of employees | 4000+ |
| Website | www |
The H. T. Hackney Company is a leading American wholesale distributor of grocery products, based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Established in 1891, it ranks among the largest grocery wholesalers nationwide, supplying a significant portion of the Eastern U.S. market. The firm employs more than 4,000 individuals and delivers upwards of 40,000 different items to over 20,000 retail outlets across 21 states. William B. Sansom holds the roles of Chairman and CEO, while Michael D. Morton serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
History
The origins of the company trace back to a feed and grain enterprise started by Henry Tate Hackney and W. C. Everett in 1887 at Knoxville's Market Square. By 1891, Hackney had acquired complete control and converted the business into a wholesale jobbing house. During the economic expansion of Knoxville in the 1890s, H. T. Hackney prospered amid a competitive field of more than fifty local wholesalers.
Incorporated in 1897, leadership passed to Benjamin Morton following Hackney’s death in 1899. The business grew further in 1905 through a merger with M. L. Ross and Company, broadening its market footprint. Together with Morton, Ross, and industrialist Hugh Sanford formed a dominant alliance that significantly influenced Knoxville’s commercial landscape throughout the early twentieth century. Additionally, Morton served as Knoxville’s mayor from 1923 until 1927.
Under Morton’s guidance, the company diversified beyond groceries into sectors such as coal mining, automotive distribution, confectionery, industrial machinery, furniture manufacturing, petroleum products, produce, and saddlery—an expansion that helped the business endure the downturn faced by Knoxville’s wholesaling industry.
Following Benjamin Morton’s tenure, Julian Morton took over until his passing in 1972. Subsequently, C. E. Harris assumed the roles of Chairman and CEO until 1982. The acquisition of Jellico Grocery Company in 1975 extended H. T. Hackney’s reach into Kentucky and Tennessee markets.
Since 1983, Bill Sansom has been at the helm as Chairman and CEO, steering continued expansion that included acquiring Holland House Furniture and Natural Springs Water. In 2003, the company further grew by purchasing convenience store distributors L&L Jiroch Company and J. F. Walker Company from Spartan Stores. Two years later, distribution operations were relocated to a new 300,000-square-foot facility in Roane County while maintaining its headquarters in downtown Knoxville.
In August 2011, Bruce Pearl—a former University of Tennessee basketball coach—joined as Vice President of Marketing. Later that year, H. T. Hackney launched H.Home, a furniture production subsidiary with manufacturing plants located in Bean Station and Athens, Tennessee. H.Home specializes in producing upholstery items such as living room furniture, recliners, and sofas.
Products and services
H. T. Hackney distributes an extensive portfolio exceeding 30,000 products to more than 20,000 retail outlets across 21 states. Its offerings encompass frozen foods, baked goods, confectionery items, snacks, tobacco products, cosmetics, and deli selections. Major suppliers include industry leaders like General Mills, Kraft, Valvoline, Procter & Gamble, and Kellogg's.
The company supports a wide range of retail formats—including convenience stores, pharmacies, travel centers, and small-scale grocery stores—through a network of 28 distribution centers spread across ten states from Grand Rapids, Michigan down to Miami, Florida.
Subsidiaries
Among the companies owned by H. T. Hackney are Holland House Furniture, located in Indianapolis, which specializes in manufacturing bedroom and dining room furniture; Natural Springs Water, based in Johnson City, which focuses on bottled water production; and Uncle Ray's snack foods, headquartered in Detroit.
Financial information
H. T. Hackney's projected revenue for 2019 was approximately $5 billion. Forbes places the company as the 36th largest privately owned business within the United States.
External links
- The H. T. Hackney Company – official website