Harding Retail

At Harding Retail we're very proud of our long established history and our links down the years with the Harding family – our culture and traditions have formed an integral part of our philosophy as a retailer. Our company roots originated nearly 200 years ago by Sam Edward Harding who started a butcher's shop serving the community of Bristol. As a port city, there was a need to supply the many hundreds of ships that arrived each year and the business expanded into shipping supplies in 1930 with the formation of Harding Bros Ltd. by Sam's son, Percy Harding. The family connection continued when Percy's son, Michael, took over the running of the company, becoming one of the foremost suppliers of ships provisions in Europe.

In the late 1980's, Michael's son, Neil (the great grandson of Sam Harding and the current Chief Executive) saw an opportunity to introduce shops on board cruise ships. Through a series of successful partnerships (including the contracts for Fred Olsen in 1992, P&O in 1999, Cunard in 2002, Crystal Cruises in 2005, Seabourn Cruises in 2009), the business has grown to operate on-board some of the world's major cruise lines. These developments and other successful tenders were supported by the appointment of the current Managing Director, Harold Gittelmon, in 2003 and Chairman, Barry Gibson, in 2004. Harding Retail have recently had further success with the award of a re-tender over Carnival UK's P&O and Cunard fleets.

Our passion is retail... Our focus is innovation

At Harding Retail, we work with some of the largest cruise operators in the world, providing unrivalled retail solutions on board some of the world's most famous cruise ships. We never lose sight of our historic connections with the past, whilst looking to the future and our goal of continuous improvement and innovation, reflected in our personal and friendly approach and our outstanding partnerships with top cruise lines. Founded on the Harding family name and trusted since 1930, we work with internationally renowned consumer brands and products, available on board through our unique range of retail outlets. The Harding Retail portfolio includes nearly 200 shops on 57 cruise ships, working in partnership with 18 of the world's top cruise lines. As a premier on-board retailer, our business focuses on our clients, the cruise lines, and their passengers and guests – our retail customers.

Our aim is to provide an unrivalled on-board retail experience, showcasing brands, products and promotions that appeal to our customers, presented in contemporary environments with high presentation standards and underpinned by exceptional service. With offices in Bristol, Miami and Sydney, we are a worldwide business that embodies all that is exciting in the world of international travel and leisure.