COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2013

Sausages and Other Prepared Meats

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

20companies1893–1974founding years20still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedVienna Sausage Manufacturing Co.FoundedVienna Sausage Manufacturing Co.
1893
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedOscar Mayer Foods Corp.FoundedOscar Mayer Foods Corp.
1911
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
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.
FoundedBridgford Foods CorporationFoundedBridgford Foods Corporation
1952
FoundedSanderson Farms, Inc.FoundedSanderson Farms, Inc.
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedThorn Apple Valley, Inc.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedDoskocil Companies, Inc.FoundedDoskocil Companies, Inc.
1963
FoundedFoodBrands America, Inc.FoundedFoodBrands America, Inc.
1964
FoundedGoodMark Foods, Inc.FoundedGoodMark Foods, Inc.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedHudson Foods Inc.FoundedHudson Foods Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedKerry Group plc
1974
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.
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
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

Vienna Sausage Manufacturing Co. →
Active · founded 1893
Vienna Sausage Manufacturing Co.
Vienna Sausage Manufacturing Co. →
Active · founded 1893
Vienna Sausage Manufacturing Co.
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp. →
Active · founded 1911
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp.
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp. →
Active · founded 1911
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp.
Bridgford Foods Corporation →
Active · founded 1952
Bridgford Foods Corporation manufactures and distributes frozen, refrigerated, and snack food products for both retail…
Bridgford Foods Corporation →
Active · founded 1952
Bridgford Foods Corporation manufactures and distributes frozen, refrigerated, and snack food products for both retail…
Sanderson Farms, Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
Sanderson Farms, Inc., produces, processes, markets, and distributes fresh and frozen chicken and other prepared food…
Sanderson Farms, Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
Sanderson Farms, Inc., produces, processes, markets, and distributes fresh and frozen chicken and other prepared food…
Thorn Apple Valley, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Thorn Apple Valley, Inc.
Thorn Apple Valley, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Thorn Apple Valley, Inc.
Doskocil Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
Doskocil Companies, Inc.
Doskocil Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
Doskocil Companies, Inc.
FoodBrands America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
A market leader in the foodservice industry, FoodBrands America, Inc.
FoodBrands America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
A market leader in the foodservice industry, FoodBrands America, Inc.
GoodMark Foods, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
The world's largest producer of meat snacks, GoodMark Foods, Inc.
GoodMark Foods, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
The world's largest producer of meat snacks, GoodMark Foods, Inc.
Hudson Foods Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Hudson Foods, Inc., is one of the largest producers of poultry and prepared meats in the United States.
Hudson Foods Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Hudson Foods, Inc., is one of the largest producers of poultry and prepared meats in the United States.
Kerry Group plc →
Active · founded 1974 · Ireland
Kerry Group plc is fast becoming one of the world's leading food ingredients suppliers.
Kerry Group plc →
Active · founded 1974 · Ireland
Kerry Group plc is fast becoming one of the world's leading food ingredients suppliers.
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