COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5191

Tobacco & Tobacco Products

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

18companies1880–1997founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedImperial Oil LimitedFoundedImperial Oil Limited
1880
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
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.
FoundedLand O'Lakes, Inc.FoundedLand O'Lakes, Inc.
1921
FoundedSüdzucker AGFoundedSüdzucker AG
1926
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.
FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedRollins, Inc.FoundedRollins, Inc.
1948
FoundedChemi-Trol Chemical Co.FoundedChemi-Trol Chemical Co.
1952
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedTerra Industries, Inc.FoundedTerra Industries, Inc.
1964
FoundedUnivar CorporationFoundedUnivar Corporation
1966
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.
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.
Founded800-JR Cigar, Inc.Founded800-JR Cigar, Inc.
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

Imperial Oil Limited →
Active · founded 1880 · Canada
Imperial Oil Limited is Canada's largest producer of crude oil and a leading producer of natural gas.
Imperial Oil Limited →
Active · founded 1880 · Canada
Imperial Oil Limited is Canada's largest producer of crude oil and a leading producer of natural gas.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1921
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1921
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Südzucker AG →
Active · founded 1926 · Germany
Südzucker AG is the largest sugar producer in the European Union (EU) with an annual production of three million metric…
Südzucker AG →
Active · founded 1926 · Germany
Südzucker AG is the largest sugar producer in the European Union (EU) with an annual production of three million metric…
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Rollins, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Rollins, Inc.
Rollins, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Rollins, Inc.
Chemi-Trol Chemical Co. →
Active · founded 1952
Headquartered in a small, northwest Ohio community of 2,500 people, Chemi-Trol Chemical Co.
Chemi-Trol Chemical Co. →
Active · founded 1952
Headquartered in a small, northwest Ohio community of 2,500 people, Chemi-Trol Chemical Co.
Terra Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Terra Industries, Inc., is one of the nation's largest producers and marketers of nitrogen fertilizer, crop protection…
Terra Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Terra Industries, Inc., is one of the nation's largest producers and marketers of nitrogen fertilizer, crop protection…
Univar Corporation →
Active · founded 1966
Univar Corporation is a leading, international distributor of a broad range of industrial chemicals, which it…
Univar Corporation →
Active · founded 1966
Univar Corporation is a leading, international distributor of a broad range of industrial chemicals, which it…
800-JR Cigar, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
800-JR Cigar, Inc.
800-JR Cigar, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
800-JR Cigar, Inc.
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