COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2033

Natural Processed & Imitation Cheese

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

28companies1885–1997founding years26still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedChiquita Brands International, Inc.FoundedChiquita Brands International, Inc.
1885
FoundedHunt-Wesson, Inc.
1890
FoundedSunkist Growers, Inc.
1893
FoundedNational Grape Co-operative Association, Inc.FoundedNational Grape Co-operative Association, Inc.
1897
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedBestfoods
1906
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.
FoundedDel Monte Foods Company
1916
FoundedThe J.M. Smucker Company
1921
FoundedLa Choy Food Products Inc.FoundedLa Choy Food Products Inc.
1922
FoundedDean Foods Company
1925
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedOcean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
1930
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.
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.
FoundedAlfa, S.A. de C.V.FoundedAlfa, S.A. de C.V.
1974
FoundedHillsdown Holdings plc
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.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedOrkla A/S
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.
FoundedDiageo plc
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

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1885
One of the world's foremost marketers of fresh fruits and vegetables, Chiquita Brands International, Inc., is a food…
Chiquita Brands International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1885
One of the world's foremost marketers of fresh fruits and vegetables, Chiquita Brands International, Inc., is a food…
Hunt-Wesson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
Hunt-Wesson is one of the nation's largest and most successful food companies.
Hunt-Wesson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
Hunt-Wesson is one of the nation's largest and most successful food companies.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
One of the ten largest marketing cooperatives in the United States, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
One of the ten largest marketing cooperatives in the United States, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc. →
Active · founded 1897
Best known as the parent company of Welch Foods, Inc., National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc.
National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc. →
Active · founded 1897
Best known as the parent company of Welch Foods, Inc., National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc.
Bestfoods →
Defunct · founded 1906
Bestfoods is one of the largest food companies in the United States, with two main businesses: consumer foods and…
Bestfoods →
Defunct · founded 1906
Bestfoods is one of the largest food companies in the United States, with two main businesses: consumer foods and…
Del Monte Foods Company →
Active · founded 1916
Among the largest canners of fruits and vegetables in the United States, the Del Monte Foods Company is less than half…
Del Monte Foods Company →
Active · founded 1916
Among the largest canners of fruits and vegetables in the United States, the Del Monte Foods Company is less than half…
The J.M. Smucker Company →
Active · founded 1921
The J.M.
The J.M. Smucker Company →
Active · founded 1921
The J.M.
La Choy Food Products Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
La Choy Food Products Inc.
La Choy Food Products Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
La Choy Food Products Inc.
Dean Foods Company →
Active · founded 1925
Through thoughtful acquisitions and careful financial management, Dean Foods Company has grown from a small regional…
Dean Foods Company →
Active · founded 1925
Through thoughtful acquisitions and careful financial management, Dean Foods Company has grown from a small regional…
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Alfa, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1974 · Mexico
Alfa, S.A.
Alfa, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1974 · Mexico
Alfa, S.A.
Hillsdown Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1975 · United Kingdom
Hillsdown Holdings plc is a somewhat obscure holding company for a wide range of food, homebuilding, furniture, and…
Hillsdown Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1975 · United Kingdom
Hillsdown Holdings plc is a somewhat obscure holding company for a wide range of food, homebuilding, furniture, and…
Orkla A/S →
Active · founded 1991 · Norway
Orkla A/S is the largest branded consumer goods group and food and beverage producer in Scandinavia and one of the five…
Orkla A/S →
Active · founded 1991 · Norway
Orkla A/S is the largest branded consumer goods group and food and beverage producer in Scandinavia and one of the five…
Diageo plc →
Active · founded 1997 · United Kingdom
Diageo plc is a world leader in branded food and drinks.
Diageo plc →
Active · founded 1997 · United Kingdom
Diageo plc is a world leader in branded food and drinks.
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