While the economy continues to take baby steps toward recovery, it’s full speed ahead when it comes to growth at Edible Arrangements International.
The handcrafted fresh fruit arrangements brand has expanded its corporate staff to more than 150, with the addition of 42 new employees in 2012 and 12 more in the first two months of 2013.
Overall, Edible Arrangements plans to hire an additional 75 corporate employees this year.
The growth is needed to support its rapidly expanding franchise network of more than 1,100 franchise locations in the U.S. and 14 countries worldwide.
The 2012 corporate expansion included the addition of three new vice presidents, as well as an expanded field support staff for Edible Arrangements and sister companies, Netsolace, EA Connect, and Berry Direct.
“One of the great joys of watching the company grow is knowing that we are able to provide so many people with rewarding careers,” Edible Arrangements founder and CEO Tariq Farid says.
To handle this year’s anticipated expansion, Edible Arrangements recently purchased a commercial building adjacent to its Wallingford, Connecticut headquarters, adding an additional 23,057 square feet of available office space.
“We are committed to Wallingford and to Connecticut,” Farid says. “Not only is it a great place to live and raise a family, but there is a tremendously talented workforce from which we are able to recruit new employees.”
To help with the recruitment of top professionals in areas such as marketing, finance, legal, development, operations, and administration, Edible Arrangements® is enhancing the recruitment section of its website.
In addition, the company recently announced “Hero’s Welcome,” a campaign designed to hire at least 1,000 military veterans in franchise locations nationwide and provide incentives for veterans to purchase franchises.
This comes after Edible Arrangements was named one of Connecticut’s Top 5 companies in Inc. Magazine’s first Hire Power Awards in 2012, which recognizes private businesses that led the way in creating American jobs from 2008 to 2011.
“For years, it seemed like we were the best-kept secret in Connecticut,” says Tom Horn, vice president of human resources. “Now the word is out that this is a great place to work with terrific potential for advancement. As a result, we want to make it easier for top professionals to find out more about the exciting new opportunities at Edible Arrangements.”
For franchising veteran John Wuycheck, who recently joined the company as vice president of franchise development, the opportunity was too good to pass up.
“It was an easy decision,” Wuycheck says. “Edible Arrangements is one of the premier brands in franchising and retailing with incredible potential for growth.”
