King's Hawaiian facts for kids
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| Privately held company | |
| Industry | Bakery |
| Predecessor | Robert's Bakery |
| Founded | 1950s |
| Founder | Robert R. Taira |
| Headquarters |
Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, California (Torrance, California postal address)
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King's Hawaiian is a Los Angeles-based family-owned and operated bakery, known chiefly for its Hawaiian bread. It was founded by Robert Taira in Hilo, Hawaii, in the late 1950s.
History
Robert Taira founded the company, then called Robert's Bakery, in Hilo, Hawaii, in the late 1950s. In 1963, the company moved to Honolulu and changed its name to King's Bakery. In 1977, the company expanded to the mainland United States by opening a bakery, King's Hawaiian Bakery, in Torrance, California.
By the 1980s, Taira's company, King's Hawaiian Bakery, was grossing US$20 million annually. In 1988 the company moved its headquarters to the mainland. The Honolulu bakery closed in 1992. In 2002, the company opened a new restaurant and bakery called The Local Place Bakery & Cafe in Torrance.
Taira died in May 2003 and left the company under the control of his family. In October 2003, King's Hawaiian moved its bakery to a 151,000-square foot facility in the Harbor Gateway neighborhood of Los Angeles (which has a Torrance postal address).
In 2010, King's Hawaiian announced that it was planning to open a 111,000-square foot bakery and distribution center in Oakwood, Georgia, by fall 2011.
Fast food restaurant chain Arby's seasonally sells sandwiches featuring King's Hawaiian buns. The sandwiches are Kings Hawaiian BLT and Roast Beef and Swiss (which includes Grey Poupon Honey Dijon mustard). There is also a seasonally-available King's Hawaiian Fish (which includes a slice of tomato and a slice of Market Cheddar, along with the usual lettuce and tartar sauce). In September 2014, a barbecue brisket sandwich was introduced on the King's Hawaiian buns. It is named "BBQ Brisket Sandwich"
In 2016, King's launched a new line of BBQ Sauces consisting of four flavors; Big Island Lava, Smoked Bacon, Original Sweet Pineapple, and Kona Coffee.
By February 2018, King's Hawaiian had expanded its Georgia bakery from 100 employees to more than 650 employees and three production lines. By July 2019, approximately 75% of King's Hawaiian production was coming from the Georgia bakery.
Marketing
In 2014, King's Hawaiian used now retired MLB player Shane Victorino to advertise their products, using the slogan "Go Pupule".
In 2016, King's Hawaiian entered a three story tall float representing the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The float included a volcano that erupted confetti and a stage for musical performers.
In 2018, King's Hawaiian released an 82-minute Halloween-themed animated film titled "The Legend of Hallowaiian" featuring the voices of Mark Hamill, Vanessa Williams, and Tia Carrere. The film was produced by Canadian animation studio Arcana Studio and King Hawaiian's production company Fresh Baked Films and distributed by SC Films International.
