COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 445299

all Other Specialty Food Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

22companies1886–1993founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedWhittard of Chelsea PlcFoundedWhittard of Chelsea Plc
1886
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedEtablissements Franz Colruyt N.V.FoundedEtablissements Franz Colruyt N.V.
1925
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedMinyard Food Stores, Inc.
1932
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAEON Co., Ltd.FoundedAEON Co., Ltd.FoundedGrupo EroskiFoundedGrupo Eroski
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedOrganización Soriana, S.A. de C.V.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedMontana Coffee Traders, Inc.FoundedMontana Coffee Traders, Inc.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedBon Appetit Holding AGFoundedBon Appetit Holding AG
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedRFC Franchising LLC
1989
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedTully's Coffee CorporationFoundedTully's Coffee Corporation
1992
FoundedAtlanta Bread Company International, Inc.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Whittard of Chelsea Plc →
Active · founded 1886 · United Kingdom
Whittard of Chelsea Plc appears finally to have found the right blend for its growing chain of tea and coffee shops.
Whittard of Chelsea Plc →
Active · founded 1886 · United Kingdom
Whittard of Chelsea Plc appears finally to have found the right blend for its growing chain of tea and coffee shops.
Etablissements Franz Colruyt N.V. →
Active · founded 1925 · Belgium
Etablissements Franz Colruyt NV is one of Belgium's top three supermarket and retail companies.
Etablissements Franz Colruyt N.V. →
Active · founded 1925 · Belgium
Etablissements Franz Colruyt NV is one of Belgium's top three supermarket and retail companies.
Minyard Food Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Minyard Food Stores, Inc.
Minyard Food Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Minyard Food Stores, Inc.
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
Grupo Eroski →
Active · founded 1969 · Spain
Grupo Eroski is the distribution arm and the largest part of Spain's powerful cooperative group Mondragon Corporacion…
Grupo Eroski →
Active · founded 1969 · Spain
Grupo Eroski is the distribution arm and the largest part of Spain's powerful cooperative group Mondragon Corporacion…
Organización Soriana, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1971 · Mexico
Organización Soriana, S.A.
Organización Soriana, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1971 · Mexico
Organización Soriana, S.A.
Montana Coffee Traders, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
In its commitment to community and environment, MCT set up programs that contributed part of its sales to various…
Montana Coffee Traders, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
In its commitment to community and environment, MCT set up programs that contributed part of its sales to various…
Bon Appetit Holding AG →
Active · founded 1986 · Switzerland
Bon Appetit Holding AG is the leading publicly listed food trade company in Switzerland.
Bon Appetit Holding AG →
Active · founded 1986 · Switzerland
Bon Appetit Holding AG is the leading publicly listed food trade company in Switzerland.
RFC Franchising LLC →
Active · founded 1989
RFC Franchising LLC operates the Ritter's Frozen Custard chain of premium ice cream shops.
RFC Franchising LLC →
Active · founded 1989
RFC Franchising LLC operates the Ritter's Frozen Custard chain of premium ice cream shops.
Tully's Coffee Corporation →
Active · founded 1992
Founded in 1992, Tully's Coffee Corporation is the third largest company-owned specialty coffee retailer in the United…
Tully's Coffee Corporation →
Active · founded 1992
Founded in 1992, Tully's Coffee Corporation is the third largest company-owned specialty coffee retailer in the United…
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc., operates and franchises a chain of bakery-cafés, relying almost entirely on…
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc., operates and franchises a chain of bakery-cafés, relying almost entirely on…
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