Celebrating more than
100 Years
of America's #1 Bestselling
Brand of Fireworks!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Celebrating more than
100 Years
of America's #1 Bestselling
Brand of Fireworks!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.