Clyde W. Anderson, 1920

Clyde W. Anderson begins selling fireworks

1920

Clyde W. Anderson begins selling fireworks from his newsstand, on the corner of Tennessee St. and Court St., in Florence, AL. The newsstand opened 3 years prior and sold local newspapers and magazines to workers who were in town to build the Wilson Dam.

FIREWORKS BUSINESS EXPANDS

1932

Clyde Anderson expands the fireworks portion of the business and launches an advertising campaign.

Clyde W. Anderson, 1920
Charles Anderson, 1946

Charles Anderson Sr. starts selling fireworks

1946

12 year old, Charles Anderson Sr., sets up a fireworks stand, near a grocery store, on the edge of Florence. This is his first time running his own business.

Charles Anderson Sr. joins business

1956

Charles Anderson Sr. enters the family business full time after graduating from college at the University of North Alabama.

Charles Anderson Sr. 1956
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Yu, 1965

Anco Yu Far East Co. Formed

1965

Charles Anderson Sr. and Chan Fu Yu form Anco Yu Far East Co. The company is a Hong Kong based exporter of consumer products from the Far East, particularly China.

Joel Anderson Joins Business

1965

Charles’ brother Joel Anderson enters the family business.

Joel Anderson, 1965
TNT Brand in 1966

First Appearance of the TNT Brand

1966

The “TNT” name is first used in commerce June 1st, 1966.

Milton Dropo Partnership Begins

1968

Milton Dropo merges his company, Dixie Fireworks, with TNT. Mr. Dropo's Washington Fireworks was also later merged with TNT. The mergers with Mr. Dropo were significant in the company's expansion efforts.

Mr. Anderson and Mr. Dropo, 1968
Mr. Anderson in China, 1972

Trade with China Begins

1972

Richard Nixon opens trade with China. Charles Anderson Sr. (Far East Importers) was invited to China to explore business opportunities. Shortly after receiving his invitation, Charles Anderson Sr. arrived in China and began sourcing fireworks. Anderson was one of the first U.S. business leaders to be invited to trade with China.

Terry Anderson joins business

1980

Terry Anderson, Charles’ son, enters the family business.

Terry Anderson, 1980

TNT Starts Selling in Retail

1985

The company begins selling product inside chain big box retail stores.

Large Acquisitions

1988 - 1990

Several large acquistions are made giving the company a larger presence in the Western and Northwestern US. Some of these companies include Pyrodyne America, Freedom Fireworks, Atlas Enterprises, and Red Devil Fireworks.

Freedom Fireworks Stand, 1988
Joel Anderson and Mr. Conkling, 1989

AFSL is formed

1989

The American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) is formed by industry leaders, headed by Joel Anderson. AFSL was formed to ensure safe products were being imported into the United States. The formation of the AFSL was a critical step for the safety and the longevity of the industry.

TNT acquires OK Fireworks

1995

The company continues to expand and makes several other acquisitions, including Tulsa, OK based, OK Fireworks.

OK Fireworks Brochure, 1995
Family Fireworks, 1999

Family Fireworks Acquired

1999

TNT acquires Indiana based, Family Fireworks. This acquisition significantly increased the company's presence in big box retail stores.

Unified TNT Brand

2002

All of the different company banners that had been acquired over the years are consolidated into one brand, TNT Fireworks. The company began doing business as solely TNT Fireworks.

TNT Logo from 2002

TNT grows

2010

The company continues to grow, playing a pivotal role in liberalizing state fireworks laws. Several states have begun to allow the sale of consumer fireworks, or have changed the product types available, in recent years.

Carson Anderson Joins Business

2015

Fourth generation family member, Carson Anderson, joins the TNT Fireworks business.

Three generations of Andersons, 2015

TNT Fireworks Today

TNT Fireworks now operates in 49 states in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, and Puerto Rico. What started from a roadside newsstand now services over 40,000 big box retail locations, 5,500 seasonal stands or tents, 25 Supercenters, and hundreds of wholesalers. Less than 1% of US companies make it to their 100 year birthday. We thank all that have helped us get here and plan to continue providing safe, family fun for many years to come!

Celebrating more than

100 Years

of America's #1 Bestselling
Brand of Fireworks!

Clyde W. Anderson, 1920

Clyde W. Anderson begins selling fireworks

1920

Clyde W. Anderson begins selling fireworks from his newsstand, on the corner of Tennessee St. and Court St., in Florence, AL. The newsstand opened 3 years prior and sold local newspapers and magazines to workers who were in town to build the Wilson Dam.

FIREWORKS BUSINESS EXPANDS

1932

Clyde Anderson expands the fireworks portion of the business and launches an advertising campaign.

Clyde W. Anderson, 1920
Charles Anderson, 1946

Charles Anderson Sr. starts selling fireworks

1946

12 year old, Charles Anderson Sr., sets up a fireworks stand, near a grocery store, on the edge of Florence. This is his first time running his own business.

Charles Anderson Sr. joins business

1956

Charles Anderson Sr. enters the family business full time after graduating from college at the University of North Alabama.

Charles Anderson Sr. 1956
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Yu, 1965

Anco Yu Far East Co. Formed

1965

Charles Anderson Sr. and Chan Fu Yu form Anco Yu Far East Co. The company is a Hong Kong based exporter of consumer products from the Far East, particularly China.

Joel Anderson Joins Business

1965

Charles’ brother Joel Anderson enters the family business.

Joel Anderson, 1965
TNT Brand in 1966

First Appearance of the TNT Brand

1966

The “TNT” name is first used in commerce June 1st, 1966.

Milton Dropo Partnership Begins

1968

Milton Dropo merges his company, Dixie Fireworks, with TNT. Mr. Dropo's Washington Fireworks was also later merged with TNT. The mergers with Mr. Dropo were significant in the company's expansion efforts.

Mr. Anderson and Mr. Dropo, 1968
Mr. Anderson in China, 1972

Trade with China Begins

1972

Richard Nixon opens trade with China. Charles Anderson Sr. (Far East Importers) was invited to China to explore business opportunities. Shortly after receiving his invitation, Charles Anderson Sr. arrived in China and began sourcing fireworks. Anderson was one of the first U.S. business leaders to be invited to trade with China.

Terry Anderson joins business

1980

Terry Anderson, Charles’ son, enters the family business.

Terry Anderson, 1980

TNT Starts Selling in Retail

1985

The company begins selling product inside chain big box retail stores.

Large Acquisitions

1988 - 1990

Several large acquistions are made giving the company a larger presence in the Western and Northwestern US. Some of these companies include Pyrodyne America, Freedom Fireworks, Atlas Enterprises, and Red Devil Fireworks.

Freedom Fireworks Stand, 1988
Joel Anderson and Mr. Conkling, 1989

AFSL is formed

1989

The American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) is formed by industry leaders, headed by Joel Anderson. AFSL was formed to ensure safe products were being imported into the United States. The formation of the AFSL was a critical step for the safety and the longevity of the industry.

TNT acquires OK Fireworks

1995

The company continues to expand and makes several other acquisitions, including Tulsa, OK based, OK Fireworks.

OK Fireworks Brochure, 1995
Family Fireworks, 1999

Family Fireworks Acquired

1999

TNT acquires Indiana based, Family Fireworks. This acquisition significantly increased the company's presence in big box retail stores.

Unified TNT Brand

2002

All of the different company banners that had been acquired over the years are consolidated into one brand, TNT Fireworks. The company began doing business as solely TNT Fireworks.

TNT Logo from 2002

TNT grows

2010

The company continues to grow, playing a pivotal role in liberalizing state fireworks laws. Several states have begun to allow the sale of consumer fireworks, or have changed the product types available, in recent years.

Carson Anderson Joins Business

2015

Fourth generation family member, Carson Anderson, joins the TNT Fireworks business.

Three generations of Andersons, 2015

TNT Fireworks Today

TNT Fireworks now operates in 49 states in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, and Puerto Rico. What started from a roadside newsstand now services over 40,000 big box retail locations, 5,500 seasonal stands or tents, 25 Supercenters, and hundreds of wholesalers. Less than 1% of US companies make it to their 100 year birthday. We thank all that have helped us get here and plan to continue providing safe, family fun for many years to come!