Who We Are

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HAVI Global Headquarters
Our Purpose

We reimagine the connections between people and products to create a better future.

Our Values

At HAVI, our Values are more than just words, they are the pulse that drives our journey from our rich heritage to our bright future. These values resonate globally, binding us together as we work toward a brighter and better tomorrow. They are our identity, deeply embedded in our people and the work we do around the world. Our commitment goes beyond the written word; we bring these values to life every day, lighting our path and shaping our decisions and actions with unwavering purpose. Join us in experiencing the true essence of HAVI, where our values are not just written, but lived.

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HAVI Values
Learn About Our Better Future Blueprint

HAVI has both the responsibility to act and the opportunity to inspire a better future for people, communities and the planet. We put social and environmental responsibility at the heart of our business and join forces with our Customers, Communities, Suppliers and Partners to look for innovative and sustainable ways we can build a better future together. Our Better Future Blueprint defines our path forward to delivering greater positive impact.

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Better Future Blueprint Graphic
Our History

Founded in 1974 on a “handshake agreement” to serve McDonald’s restaurants in Chicago, Illinois, HAVI has grown in size, global reach, and breadth of services and customers served.

HAVI Founders at groundbreaking ceremony
May 1974
May 1974

Based on a “handshake” agreement with McDonald's, Ted Perlman and Bob Rocque form Perlman Rocque Distribution agreed to respond to the supply needs of McDonald’s restaurants in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Four months later, the company begins making its first deliveries.

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Based on a “handshake” agreement with McDonald's, Ted Perlman and Bob Rocque form Perlman Rocque Distribution agreed to respond to the supply needs of McDonald’s restaurants in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Four months later, the company begins making its first deliveries.

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Perseco logo
February 1975
Feb 1975

“Perseco” packaging company created. Two months later, Perseco receives its first packaging order from McDonald’s.

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“Perseco” packaging company created. Two months later, Perseco receives its first packaging order from McDonald’s.

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HAVI Wives
December 1976
Dec 1976

HAVI Corporation is formed. The name is derived from the founders’ wives first names: Harriette and Vivian.

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HAVI Corporation is formed. The name is derived from the founders’ wives first names: Harriette and Vivian.

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Hong Kong 1981
April 1981
Apr 1981

HAVI Corporation opens its first office outside the U.S. in Hong Kong and begins providing distribution services in Asia. This was the start of a 10-year expansion of our global footprint across North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

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HAVI Corporation opens its first office outside the U.S. in Hong Kong and begins providing distribution services in Asia. This was the start of a 10-year expansion of our global footprint across North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

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1981-German Logistics Company Truck outside McDonald's
November 1981
Nov 1981

The German logistics company WLS GmbH Warenhandel + Logistik + Service is established in Duisburg, Germany, and becomes the exclusive and full-range supplier of McDonald’s in Germany.

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The German logistics company WLS GmbH Warenhandel + Logistik + Service is established in Duisburg, Germany, and becomes the exclusive and full-range supplier of McDonald’s in Germany.

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STI
1983
Jan 1983

S.T.I. is founded in Germany to support the logistics business and carry out all transports from the European McDonald's suppliers to the German distribution centers (pre-freight).

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S.T.I. is founded in Germany to support the logistics business and carry out all transports from the European McDonald's suppliers to the German distribution centers (pre-freight).

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HAVI is sold
1986
Jan 1986

Ted Perlman and Bob Rocque sell HAVI Corporation to Staley-Continental

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Ted Perlman and Bob Rocque sell HAVI Corporation to Staley-Continental

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HAVI logo-historical-blue
August 1988
Aug 1988

Ted Perlman repurchases the company two years after its sale to Staley-Continental, renaming it The HAVI Group. According to Chinese folklore, 8-8-88 is the luckiest day in the century.

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Ted Perlman repurchases the company two years after its sale to Staley-Continental, renaming it The HAVI Group. According to Chinese folklore, 8-8-88 is the luckiest day in the century.

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First Food Town Opens
1988
Sep 1988

WLS joins two other McDonald’s supplier partners to open the first Food Town. An industrial-sized bakery and a meat processing plant are built back-to-back with a distribution center to optimize logistics, reduce transport effort and environmental impact.

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WLS joins two other McDonald’s supplier partners to open the first Food Town. An industrial-sized bakery and a meat processing plant are built back-to-back with a distribution center to optimize logistics, reduce transport effort and environmental impact.

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Early Happy Meal and toys
December 1990
Dec 1990

The HAVI Group purchases M-B Sales (formerly Performance Concepts), provider of Happy Meal toy design and sourcing.

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The HAVI Group purchases M-B Sales (formerly Performance Concepts), provider of Happy Meal toy design and sourcing.

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Happy Meal with Maaza
1990
Dec 1990

HAVI is selected by McDonald’s to provide project management services for their U.S. promotions, which most people now recognize as The Happy Meal.  This was a starting point for the full range of promotions/marketing analytics and project management services we currently offer.

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HAVI is selected by McDonald’s to provide project management services for their U.S. promotions, which most people now recognize as The Happy Meal.  This was a starting point for the full range of promotions/marketing analytics and project management services we currently offer.

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Demand and Supply
1990
Dec 1990

HAVI begins offering supply and demand planning, the foundation from which we built a full range of supply chain integration, and marketing and business analytics services. 

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HAVI begins offering supply and demand planning, the foundation from which we built a full range of supply chain integration, and marketing and business analytics services. 

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Alpha Group
1992
Jan 1992

WLS and its (at that time) nine affiliates in Europe are merged into a group of companies (Alpha Group). In the following years, the Alpha Group continues its expansion across Europe.

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WLS and its (at that time) nine affiliates in Europe are merged into a group of companies (Alpha Group). In the following years, the Alpha Group continues its expansion across Europe.

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The Marketing Store
March 1998
Mar 1998

The HAVI Group purchases The Store Group of marketing agencies and merges it with M-B Sales, changing the name to The Marketing Store Worldwide (TMSW)

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The HAVI Group purchases The Store Group of marketing agencies and merges it with M-B Sales, changing the name to The Marketing Store Worldwide (TMSW)

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Alpha Group
January 2002
Jan 2002

The HAVI Group purchases Alpha Management, provider of logistic services in Europe

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The HAVI Group purchases Alpha Management, provider of logistic services in Europe

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Perseco logo
January 2006
Jan 2006

Perseco packaging, promotions management and supply chain analytics divisions are combined to become HAVI Global Solutions.

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Perseco packaging, promotions management and supply chain analytics divisions are combined to become HAVI Global Solutions.

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HAVI Logistics
2006
Mar 2006

The Alpha Group’s founder, CEO and Chairman Andreas Rost retires and transfers his shares to HAVI who become sole shareholder. Alpha Group and all affiliated companies is rebranded HAVI Logistics by the end of 2008.

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The Alpha Group’s founder, CEO and Chairman Andreas Rost retires and transfers his shares to HAVI who become sole shareholder. Alpha Group and all affiliated companies is rebranded HAVI Logistics by the end of 2008.

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STI
October 2010
Oct 2010

The freight management companies that used to collaborate in a loose network are united in the STI Freight Management Group, a joint venture between HAVI Logistics and Martin Brower.

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The freight management companies that used to collaborate in a loose network are united in the STI Freight Management Group, a joint venture between HAVI Logistics and Martin Brower.

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40th Anniversary
2014
Jan 2014

At HAVI’s 40th Anniversary celebration, founder Ted Perlman announces that he and the Perlman Family were transitioning ownership of the company to CEO Russ Smyth and four other members of the senior management team. The transaction is completed December 31, 2014.

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At HAVI’s 40th Anniversary celebration, founder Ted Perlman announces that he and the Perlman Family were transitioning ownership of the company to CEO Russ Smyth and four other members of the senior management team. The transaction is completed December 31, 2014.

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Logistics
2015
Jan 2015

HAVI combines its logistics companies in Asia and Europe into one integrated logistics business.

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HAVI combines its logistics companies in Asia and Europe into one integrated logistics business.

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HAVI
2016
Jan 2016

We phase out the use of company names HAVI Global Solutions, HAVI Logistics and HAVI Supply Chain Solutions and market our supply chain management, packaging, logistics and recycling and waste services under the single brand “HAVI.” HAVI affiliated company The Marketing Store continues to provide marketing and customer engagement services.

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We phase out the use of company names HAVI Global Solutions, HAVI Logistics and HAVI Supply Chain Solutions and market our supply chain management, packaging, logistics and recycling and waste services under the single brand “HAVI.” HAVI affiliated company The Marketing Store continues to provide marketing and customer engagement services.

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The Marketing Store logo, 2017
2017
Jan 2017

HAVI affiliated company, The Marketing Store Worldwide, updates their brand identity to match their focus of being a globally connected customer engagement agency who believes that closer insights, closer connections and closer collaboration create better and more effective work.

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HAVI affiliated company, The Marketing Store Worldwide, updates their brand identity to match their focus of being a globally connected customer engagement agency who believes that closer insights, closer connections and closer collaboration create better and more effective work.

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SF Holding
2018
Jan 2018

HAVI enters into a joint venture agreement aimed at building a leading cold chain logistics company in China with the company SF Holding. SF Holding is one of China’s leading comprehensive service providers of express logistics and it is committed to providing customers with integrated comprehensive logistics solutions.

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HAVI enters into a joint venture agreement aimed at building a leading cold chain logistics company in China with the company SF Holding. SF Holding is one of China’s leading comprehensive service providers of express logistics and it is committed to providing customers with integrated comprehensive logistics solutions.

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PMI Worldwide Logo
September 2021
Sep 2021

HAVI acquires PMI Worldwide, a leading global manufacturer of sustainable food and beverage containers.

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HAVI acquires PMI Worldwide, a leading global manufacturer of sustainable food and beverage containers.

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