COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 422990

Other Miscellaneous Non-Durable Goods Wholesalers

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

4companies1880–1955founding years3still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedCarter-Wallace, Inc.
1880
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedUniversal Corporation
1918
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedThe Andersons, Inc.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedCentral Garden & Pet Company
1955
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
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.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

Carter-Wallace, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1880
Carter-Wallace, Inc.
Universal Corporation →
Active · founded 1918
Universal Corporation, known until 1987 as Universal Leaf Tobacco Company Inc., operates as the world's largest buyer…
The Andersons, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
The Andersons, Inc.
Central Garden & Pet Company →
Active · founded 1955
From its position as the largest distributor of lawn and garden and pet supplies in the United States in the late…
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