European Home Retail

The origins of Farepak Hampers date back to 1935. In 1969, Bob Johnson was appointed managing director of the small Christmas club with 500 agents operating from a butcher's shop in Peckham.

In 1995 Farepak purchased the older Kleeneze Homecare business from Arcadia Group plc, and changed its name to Kleeneze plc, transferring its original business to a subsidiary Farepak Food and Gifts Ltd. By 2006 Kleeneze plc changed its name once more to European Home Retail plc.

Subsidiary companies

EHR was the parent company for a number of well-known subsidiary companies, namely:

Kleeneze Europe

Kleeneze was sold on 13 October 2006 to Findel plc.

eeZee TV

In March 2005, EHR formed the joint venture satellite TV station "eeZee TV", a 50/50 joint venture with JML Direct, broadcasting on Sky digital channel 657.

Farepak Food & Gifts Limited

Farepak had been operating since 1981 at a site in Swindon, Wiltshire. Its own annual turnover of £70m (2004), was mainly generated from its core business in Christmas hampers. In addition, Farepak sold High Street (and other) gift vouchers and also supplied gifts, including electricals. Unlike many of the other subsidiary companies, Farepak was not sold to the Findel group. There was a five-hour protest outside the company's gates on 17 October 2006.