COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 311330

Confectionery Mfg. from Purchased Chocolate

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

40companies1897–2000founding years38still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedIAWS Group plc
1897
FoundedMorinaga & Co. Ltd.
1899
FoundedPerfetti Van Melle S.p.A.FoundedSweet Candy Company
1900
FoundedAugust Storck KG
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.
FoundedMeiji Seika Kaisha Ltd.
1916
FoundedCSM N.V.
1919
FoundedThorntons plc
1921
FoundedCampbell Soup Company
1922
FoundedGodiva Chocolatier, Inc.
1926
FoundedHershey Foods Corporation
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedRicola Ltd.
1930
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedCargill, Incorporated
1936
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.
FoundedEvergreen International Aviation, Inc.
1960
FoundedParmalat Finanziaria SpA
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
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.
FoundedLam Son Sugar Joint Stock Corporation (Lasuco)
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedKraft Foods Inc.
1989
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedAlpine Confections, Inc.
1999
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

IAWS Group plc →
Active · founded 1897 · Ireland
From its late 19th-century origins in Ireland's cooperative movement, IAWS Group plc has grown into a leading food…
IAWS Group plc →
Active · founded 1897 · Ireland
From its late 19th-century origins in Ireland's cooperative movement, IAWS Group plc has grown into a leading food…
Morinaga & Co. Ltd. →
Active · founded 1899 · Japan
One of Japan's leading candy and confectionery manufacturers, Morinaga & Co.
Morinaga & Co. Ltd. →
Active · founded 1899 · Japan
One of Japan's leading candy and confectionery manufacturers, Morinaga & Co.
Perfetti Van Melle S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1900 · Italy
Perfetti Van Melle S.p.A.
Perfetti Van Melle S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1900 · Italy
Perfetti Van Melle S.p.A.
Sweet Candy Company →
Active · founded 1900
In 1995, Sweet's built a 35,000-square-foot distribution center near the Salt Lake City International Airport.
Sweet Candy Company →
Active · founded 1900
In 1995, Sweet's built a 35,000-square-foot distribution center near the Salt Lake City International Airport.
August Storck KG →
Active · founded 1903 · Germany
August Storck KG is the German-speaking region's leading manufacturer of candy and confectionery and is also one of the…
August Storck KG →
Active · founded 1903 · Germany
August Storck KG is the German-speaking region's leading manufacturer of candy and confectionery and is also one of the…
Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd. →
Active · founded 1916 · Japan
Founded in 1916 as a manufacturer of biscuits and caramels, Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd.
Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd. →
Active · founded 1916 · Japan
Founded in 1916 as a manufacturer of biscuits and caramels, Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd.
CSM N.V. →
Active · founded 1919 · Netherlands
CSM N.V.
CSM N.V. →
Active · founded 1919 · Netherlands
CSM N.V.
Thorntons plc →
Active · founded 1921 · United Kingdom
1960s:The company opens its 200th retail store.
Thorntons plc →
Active · founded 1921 · United Kingdom
1960s:The company opens its 200th retail store.
Campbell Soup Company →
Active · founded 1922
Campbell Soup Company is the number one maker of soups in the world, holds the top position in that category in Europe,…
Campbell Soup Company →
Active · founded 1922
Campbell Soup Company is the number one maker of soups in the world, holds the top position in that category in Europe,…
Ezaki Glico Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1922 · Japan
Ezaki Glico Company Ltd.
Ezaki Glico Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1922 · Japan
Ezaki Glico Company Ltd.
Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
1940s:Joseph Draps opens the first Godiva shop.
Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
1940s:Joseph Draps opens the first Godiva shop.
Hershey Foods Corporation →
Active · founded 1927
Hershey Foods Corporation holds the top position in the U.S.
Hershey Foods Corporation →
Active · founded 1927
Hershey Foods Corporation holds the top position in the U.S.
Ricola Ltd. →
Active · founded 1930 · Switzerland
1960s:The company changes its name to Ricola, converts to a joint-stock company, and decides to focus on its herbal…
Ricola Ltd. →
Active · founded 1930 · Switzerland
1960s:The company changes its name to Ricola, converts to a joint-stock company, and decides to focus on its herbal…
Cargill, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1936
Cargill, Incorporated is the largest private corporation in the United States.
Cargill, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1936
Cargill, Incorporated is the largest private corporation in the United States.
Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
The "airline's airline," Evergreen International Airlines, Inc.
Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
The "airline's airline," Evergreen International Airlines, Inc.
Parmalat Finanziaria SpA →
Active · founded 1961 · Italy
Parma, Italy, is not only the home of fine Italian cheese and ham, but also Parmalat Finanziaria SpA, a diversified,…
Parmalat Finanziaria SpA →
Active · founded 1961 · Italy
Parma, Italy, is not only the home of fine Italian cheese and ham, but also Parmalat Finanziaria SpA, a diversified,…
Lam Son Sugar Joint Stock Corporation (Lasuco) →
Active · founded 1979 · Vietnam
Lam Son Sugar Joint Stock Corporation, or Lasuco, is the leading sugar producer in Vietnam, and is also one of the…
Lam Son Sugar Joint Stock Corporation (Lasuco) →
Active · founded 1979 · Vietnam
Lam Son Sugar Joint Stock Corporation, or Lasuco, is the leading sugar producer in Vietnam, and is also one of the…
Kraft Foods Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Kraft Foods Inc.
Kraft Foods Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Kraft Foods Inc.
Alpine Confections, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Alpine Confections, Inc.
Alpine Confections, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Alpine Confections, Inc.
Cloetta Fazer AB →
Defunct · founded 2000 · Sweden
Cloetta Fazer AB is the Nordic region's leading manufacturer of chocolates and other confectionery.
Cloetta Fazer AB →
Defunct · founded 2000 · Sweden
Cloetta Fazer AB is the Nordic region's leading manufacturer of chocolates and other confectionery.
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