COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 311514

Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy

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

18companies1866–2004founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedNestlé S.A.
1866
FoundedArla Foods amba
1869
FoundedFraser & Neave Ltd.
1883
FoundedRoyal Numico N.V.
1896
FoundedAbbott Laboratories
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedSlim-Fast Foods Company
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSnow Brand Milk Products Company, Ltd.
1950
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedUnigate PLC
1959
FoundedParmalat Finanziaria SpA
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedSodiaal S.A.
1964
FoundedRich Products Corporation
1965
FoundedGroupe Danone
1966
FoundedAssociated Milk Producers, Inc.FoundedGrupo Leche Pascual S.A.
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
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.
FoundedFriesland Coberco Dairy Foods Holding N.V.FoundedGlanbia plc
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
FoundedFonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd.
2001
FoundedTerrena L'Union CANA CAVAL
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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

Nestlé S.A. →
Active · founded 1866 · Switzerland
Nestlé S.A.
Arla Foods amba →
Active · founded 1869 · Denmark
Arla Foods amba is a cooperative formed by the 2000 merger between Sweden's Arla and Denmark's MD Foods.
Fraser & Neave Ltd. →
Active · founded 1883 · Singapore
One of the largest publicly listed companies in Singapore, Fraser & Neave Ltd.
Royal Numico N.V. →
Active · founded 1896 · The Netherlands
Fast-growing Royal Numico N.V.
Abbott Laboratories →
Active · founded 1900
Abbott Laboratories is one of the oldest and most successful pharmaceutical companies in the United States.
Slim-Fast Foods Company →
Active · founded 1945
Slim-Fast Foods Company sells its popular meal replacement shakes, drink powders, snack bars, and meals throughout the…
Snow Brand Milk Products Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1950 · Japan
Snow Brand Milk Products Company, Ltd.
Unigate PLC →
Active · founded 1959 · United Kingdom
Unigate PLC is a leading European fresh foods, dairy, and distribution company.
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,…
Sodiaal S.A. →
Active · founded 1964 · France
Sodiaal S.A.
Rich Products Corporation →
Active · founded 1965
Rich Products Corporation entered the 21st century as one of the leading frozen food manufacturers in the United States.
Groupe Danone →
Active · founded 1966 · France
Known until 1994 as BSN Groupe S.A., Groupe Danone is one of the largest food companies in the world.
Associated Milk Producers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
Grupo Leche Pascual S.A. →
Active · founded 1969 · Spain
Despite the controversy at home, Pascual had in the meantime discovered a strong international market for its UHT…
Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods Holding N.V. →
Active · founded 1997 · The Netherlands
Friesland Coberco's acquisition of Nutricia enabled it to claim the number two position among European dairy groups,…
Glanbia plc →
Active · founded 1997 · Ireland
Glanbia plc is Ireland's top dairy foods producer and one of Europe's major dairy food groups, with a significant…
Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 2001 · New Zealand
The Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd.
Terrena L'Union CANA CAVAL →
Active · founded 2004 · France
Terrena L'Union CANA CAVAL is one of France's top three cooperatives and one of the country's leading agro-industrial…
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