Food

Honey Baked Ham is exploding in New England

The company has eight new locations coming to the region.

Courtesy of Honey Baked Ham Co.

August 12, 2024

2 minutes to read

Honey Baked Ham Co., known for its glazed ham, turkey breast and take-and-bake biscuits, is opening eight new locations in New England.

Tom McGwire, the great-great-grandson of the company’s founder, Harry Hoenelaar, is leading the franchise expansion.

“Our experience since signing our initial deal has been nothing short of spectacular,” said McGwire in a statement. “I’m excited to continue adding to the HoneyBaked footprint across the East Coast and bring the experience to more communities across New England.”

It truly is a family affair. His father, Tad, and his two brothers, Charlie and Brett, will join McGwire in the expansion.

McGwire will take over two existing locations in Newington and Milford, Connecticut, and has agreed to develop two new stores in Providence, Rhode Island, and Springfield, Massachusetts.

In the latest announcement, McGwire said he would also bring two stores to the Eastern Massachusetts region, an additional location in Rhode Island, and another one in Worcester.

McGwire will have a HoneyBaked portfolio of eight stores across New England.

According to the store locator, there are already three locations in Massachusetts: Framingham, Norwood, and Saugus. One store is in Nashua, New Hampshire.

“Having spent time with the management team and having the chance to visit some stores, I was impressed with the strategic direction that the brand was heading and knew now was the time to join in,” McGwire said in a statement. “I’m excited to grow the HoneyBaked footprint.”

McGwire is also the owner and CEO of a Connecticut-based plastic manufacturing and fabricating company, Industrial Heater Corp.

Honey Baked Ham Co. began more than 65 years ago when founder Hoenselaar patented a spiral-slicing ham machine, making its way to the first HoneyBaked store in Detroit, Michigan. Since its opening in 1957, the family-owned company has grown to more than 400 locations nationwide.

The store prides itself on its signature spiral-sliced honey-baked ham with a sweet and crunchy glaze, premium turkey breast, heat-and-serve sides, desserts, sandwiches, and take-and-bake sliders and biscuits.

“With stores already open across the greater New England area, this deal marks an exciting time of growth for our brand on the East Coast,” said Jim Dinkins, chief executive officer at HoneyBaked, in a statement. “The entire McGwire family has decades of experience in various industries and I’m confident their HoneyBaked locations will continue to uphold our brand’s reputation for exceptional customer service.”