COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 311811

Retail Bakeries

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

10companies1937–1995founding years10still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedKrispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.FoundedKrispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.
1937
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.
FoundedGrupo EroskiFoundedGrupo Eroski
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.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedGreggs PLCFoundedGreggs PLC
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedAtlanta Bread Company International, Inc.FoundedAtlanta Bread Company International, Inc.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
FoundedEinstein/Noah Bagel CorporationFoundedEinstein/Noah Bagel Corporation
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

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
Late 1950s:There are 29 Krispy Kreme shops in 12 states.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
Late 1950s:There are 29 Krispy Kreme shops in 12 states.
Grupo Eroski →
Active · founded 1969 · Spain
Grupo Eroski is the distribution arm and the largest part of Spain's powerful cooperative group Mondragon Corporacion…
Grupo Eroski →
Active · founded 1969 · Spain
Grupo Eroski is the distribution arm and the largest part of Spain's powerful cooperative group Mondragon Corporacion…
Greggs PLC →
Active · founded 1984 · United Kingdom
Greggs PLC is the operator of the largest bakery chain in the United Kingdom, specializing in sandwiches, savories, and…
Greggs PLC →
Active · founded 1984 · United Kingdom
Greggs PLC is the operator of the largest bakery chain in the United Kingdom, specializing in sandwiches, savories, and…
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc., operates and franchises a chain of bakery-cafés, relying almost entirely on…
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc., operates and franchises a chain of bakery-cafés, relying almost entirely on…
Einstein/Noah Bagel Corporation →
Active · founded 1995
Einstein/Noah Bagel Corporation is the number one chain of retail bagel stores, with more than 433 Einstein Brothers…
Einstein/Noah Bagel Corporation →
Active · founded 1995
Einstein/Noah Bagel Corporation is the number one chain of retail bagel stores, with more than 433 Einstein Brothers…
Build It Today

Starting a retail bakeries company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.