COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5149

Grocers & Related Products, Not Elsewhere Classified

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

24companies1883–1994founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedThe Boots Company PLCFoundedThe Boots Company PLC
1883
FoundedCastle & Cooke, Inc.
1894
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedSchultz Sav-O Stores, Inc.FoundedSchultz Sav-O Stores, Inc.
1911
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedLand O'Lakes, Inc.
1921
FoundedHain Food Group, Inc.FoundedHain Food Group, Inc.
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedRoland Murten A.G.
1938
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.
FoundedMcLane Company, Inc.FoundedMcLane Company, Inc.
1964
FoundedSYSCO Corporation
1969
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.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedSun-Diamond Growers of CaliforniaFoundedSun-Diamond Growers of California
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedAmerican Italian Pasta CompanyFoundedRiviana Foods Inc.FoundedRiviana Foods Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedU.S. Office Products Company
1994
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

The Boots Company PLC →
Active · founded 1883 · United Kingdom
The Boots Company PLC is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, in addition to being a major manufacturer…
The Boots Company PLC →
Active · founded 1883 · United Kingdom
The Boots Company PLC is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, in addition to being a major manufacturer…
Castle & Cooke, Inc. →
Active · founded 1894
Castle & Cooke, Inc.
Castle & Cooke, Inc. →
Active · founded 1894
Castle & Cooke, Inc.
Schultz Sav-O Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1911
Schultz Sav-O Stores, Inc.
Schultz Sav-O Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1911
Schultz Sav-O Stores, Inc.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1921
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1921
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Hain Food Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Hain Food Group, Inc.
Hain Food Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Hain Food Group, Inc.
Roland Murten A.G. →
Active · founded 1938 · Switzerland
As the manufacturer of Zwieback and brand name pains croustillants, Roland Murten is a household name throughout…
Roland Murten A.G. →
Active · founded 1938 · Switzerland
As the manufacturer of Zwieback and brand name pains croustillants, Roland Murten is a household name throughout…
McLane Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
McLane Company, Inc., is one of the largest wholesale distribution companies in the United States.
McLane Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
McLane Company, Inc., is one of the largest wholesale distribution companies in the United States.
SYSCO Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
SYSCO Corporation (an acronym for Systems and Services Company) is the largest marketer and distributor of foodservice…
SYSCO Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
SYSCO Corporation (an acronym for Systems and Services Company) is the largest marketer and distributor of foodservice…
Sun-Diamond Growers of California →
Active · founded 1980
Sun-Diamond Growers of California is one of the largest specialty commodity producers in the world.
Sun-Diamond Growers of California →
Active · founded 1980
Sun-Diamond Growers of California is one of the largest specialty commodity producers in the world.
American Italian Pasta Company →
Active · founded 1986
The second largest pasta producer in North America, American Italian Pasta Company (APIC) produces more than 80 dry…
American Italian Pasta Company →
Active · founded 1986
The second largest pasta producer in North America, American Italian Pasta Company (APIC) produces more than 80 dry…
Riviana Foods Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Riviana Foods Inc.
Riviana Foods Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Riviana Foods Inc.
U.S. Office Products Company →
Active · founded 1994
Starting from scratch in 1994, U.S.
U.S. Office Products Company →
Active · founded 1994
Starting from scratch in 1994, U.S.
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