Friesens Corporation
Encyclopedia
Friesens Corporation is Canada
's largest printer
of hardcover
books. They are employee-owned, specializing in hardcover books and yearbooks, and located in Altona, Manitoba
, Canada
.
and began publication of the Red River Valley Echo. The company underwent rapid expansion in the 1960s and 70s, becoming a regional printer of high school
yearbooks.
on several occasions. As of 2006, Friesens is number 81 of the top 400 printing companies in the United States
and Canada.
In 2000, Friesens printed the Canadian run of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
, producing 400,000 copies of the book.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's largest printer
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
of hardcover
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
books. They are employee-owned, specializing in hardcover books and yearbooks, and located in Altona, Manitoba
Altona, Manitoba
Altona is a predominantly Mennonite town in southern Manitoba about 100 km south-west of Winnipeg and 133 km north of Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Rhineland. Much of the surrounding area is devoted to farming and agriculture-based business. Its...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History
Friesens was founded by David W. Friesen in 1907 as a confectionery store, which expanded to become a bookstore. In 1933, he purchased a printing pressPrinting press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
and began publication of the Red River Valley Echo. The company underwent rapid expansion in the 1960s and 70s, becoming a regional printer of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
yearbooks.
Current operations
Friesens is Canada's largest printer of hardcover books.. Furthermore, they have been rated as one of Canada's Best 50 Managed Companies by Deloitte and ToucheDeloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited , commonly referred to as Deloitte, is one of the Big Four accountancy firms along with PricewaterhouseCoopers , Ernst & Young, and KPMG....
on several occasions. As of 2006, Friesens is number 81 of the top 400 printing companies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada.
In 2000, Friesens printed the Canadian run of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth novel in the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling, published on 8 July 2000.The novel won a Hugo Award in 2001, the only Harry Potter novel to do so...
, producing 400,000 copies of the book.
Awards
- In 2004, The National Association for Printing Leadership awarded Friesens its highest management award.
- In 2004, Caldwell Partners and the Globe and Mail named presidentPresidentA president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Curwin Friesen as one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40".