"Work or play - we know families." For Chuck Henderson, president of Henderson, this is more than a slogan; it's his vision for the company and the foundation of its success.
Celebrating over 55 years of business, Henderson was founded in 1967 as a modest family business in southwest Louisiana; the company has been steadily growing. Starting as an industrial implement dealer, the company provided service to the expanding local agricultural farming communities. As the agriculture industry changed and flourished, Henderson was there to meet the growing needs of the industry, expanding their line to include Kubota tractors in order to help support small-scale farmers; the company also provides Kubota construction equipment and rental equipment to meet increasing construction demands in the Southwest Louisiana area. Later, Henderson further diversified to meet the residential needs by offering the full line of Kubota lawnmowers.
As innovation in technology and equipment progressed, families could enjoy more free time together. Henderson recognized the need and expanded into leisure and recreational vehicles, becoming a dealer for White River Marine products, which include Tracker Boats, Sun Tracker and Regency pontoons, Mako, Tahoe, and Nitro bass boats. Additionally, Henderson became a dealer for Ranger Boats. With a full line of boat offerings and a full line of Mercury Marine® outboard motors, Henderson is able to offer customizable boat offerings to their customers, allowing their customers to be fully satisfied with their purchase. Henderson is also a dealer for Polaris® ATVs and UTVs.
Henderson offers more than a robust product line. It prides itself on being a one-stop shop for all customers. All Henderson units can be serviced in their service department, and parts can be purchased through their parts counter, allowing customers to feel taken care of as if they’re part of the family.
In April 1999, Henderson diversified and expanded its business by becoming a distributor of Hunt Brothers Pizza. Beginning in Welsh, Louisiana, TK Pizza, now Henderson Wholesale, began serving small-town communities by delivering delicious pizza and an unforgettable customer experience to local convenience store owners. As the years went by, the demand for Hunt Brothers Pizza grew, providing Henderson Wholesale with a unique opportunity to expand beyond its hometown. Targeting rural and urban convenience stores as well as family entertainment centers, Henderson Wholesale became a quick success. Experiencing exponential growth led to Henderson Wholesale growing out of its home in Welsh and expanding into Texas and further into Louisiana. Henderson Wholesale now consists of three districts: the Houston District, serving the Houston and Corpus Christi markets; the Welsh District, serving the Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Alexandria markets; and the Reserve District, serving the Baton Rouge and New Orleans markets. Additionally, Henderson Wholesale implemented a service department to increase their offering to their customers. The service department performs equipment repairs, warranty work, and oven cleanings for their stores across the three districts. Over the years, Henderson Wholesale has received numerous accolades from Hunt Brothers Pizza, including the milestone award for 1,000 accounts, continuously receiving the various Hunt Brothers Pizza Leadership Awards at the annual Christmas party, and proudly has a Founder’s Award Recipient. Now, Henderson Wholesale is the 3rd largest distributor of Hunt Brothers Pizza in the nation, with over 1,000 locations across all three districts. Henderson Wholesale is continuing to grow and will have 1,300 locations by 2027.
Following the devastating hurricanes in southwest Louisiana in 2020, Henderson saw a desperate need in the community and filled it, opening Henderson Self-Storage on Gerstner Memorial Drive. The facility boasts over 100,000 square feet of storage, including covered and enclosed boat and RV parking, as well as climate-controlled units. This state-of-the-art facility provides extraordinary security and amenities that allow their customers to rest easy, knowing their belongings are safe.
Henderson remains family-owned and operated and continues to thrive with the help of the third generation in the business. With revenues climbing over the last year, the company is flourishing and still growing with the community. Henderson hopes to continue growing and to continue representing their Vision— “Make a positive impact every day, delivering an unforgettable experience to our customers, team members, and community.”
Company Website: www.hendersonwholesale.co