COMPANYHISTORIES

Denmark

Companies based in Denmark, and the events that shaped them.

17companies1869–1994founding years17still active0no longer operating
§ 01

Denmark companies over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedArla Foods amba
1869
EconomyThe transcontinental railroad links the American coasts.
EconomyThe Suez Canal opens, reshaping global shipping.
FoundedChr. Hansen Group A/S
1870
FoundedAarhus United A/S
1871
FoundedCarl Allers Etablissement A/S
1873
EconomyLevi Strauss patents riveted denim work pants.
EconomyThe Panic of 1873 triggers a global depression.
1876
TechnologyAlexander Graham Bell patents the telephone.
1879
TechnologyEdison demonstrates a practical incandescent lamp.
FoundedFLSmidth & Co. A/S
1882
TechnologyEdison's Pearl Street Station opens the electric-utility era.
1886
EconomyCoca-Cola is first served in Atlanta.
TechnologyThe Hall-Heroult process makes aluminum cheap to produce.
1888
TechnologyKodak's roll-film camera brings photography to everyone.
1893
EconomyThe Panic of 1893 pulls down banks and overbuilt railroads.
FoundedISS A/S
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedA.P. Møller - Maersk A/S
1904
1908
TechnologyFord's Model T puts the automobile within reach of the middle class.
1913
TechnologyFord's moving assembly line transforms factory production.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
FoundedHummel International A/S
1923
FoundedBang & Olufsen Holding A/S
1925
EconomyThe Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting from Nashville.
1927
TechnologyThe Jazz Singer ushers in the era of sound films.
TechnologyLindbergh flies the Atlantic solo, and aviation captures the public.
1928
TechnologyPenicillin is discovered, opening the age of antibiotics.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
1933
EconomyThe first drive-in movie theater opens in New Jersey.
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedNovo Nordisk A/S
1940
FoundedIKEA International A/S
1943
FoundedLego A/S
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1946
TechnologyENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1955
EconomyMcDonald's franchising begins, remaking fast food.
EconomyDisneyland opens and invents the modern theme park.
1956
TechnologyThe first transatlantic telephone cable opens.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
FoundedEcco Sko A/S
1963
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
FoundedCarlsberg A/S
1970
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
TechnologyThe first US in-vitro fertilization baby is born.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedDanske Bank Aktieselskab
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedSterling European Airlines A/S
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
1999
TechnologyNapster ignites the digital disruption of recorded music.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
TechnologyGPS opens to civilian use, turning location into a utility.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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

TDC A/S →
Active · Denmark
TDC A/S--formerly Tele Danmark, itself created from the former state-owned telephone monopoly--is Denmark's top…
Arla Foods amba →
Active · founded 1869 · Denmark
Arla Foods amba is a cooperative formed by the 2000 merger between Sweden's Arla and Denmark's MD Foods.
Chr. Hansen Group A/S →
Active · founded 1870 · Denmark
Chr.
Aarhus United A/S →
Active · founded 1871 · Denmark
Aarhus United A/S is a leading producer of vegetable oils for the food, confectionery, cosmetics, and healthcare…
Carl Allers Etablissement A/S →
Active · founded 1873 · Denmark
Carl Allers Etablissement A/S is one of the Scandinavian region's leading media groups.
FLSmidth & Co. A/S →
Active · founded 1882 · Denmark
FLSmidth & Co.
ISS A/S →
Active · founded 1901 · Denmark
ISS A/S runs the largest cleaning business in the world.
A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S →
Active · founded 1904 · Denmark
A.P.
Hummel International A/S →
Active · founded 1923 · Denmark
Hummel International A/S is one of the world's oldest sportswear designers and manufacturers.
Bang & Olufsen Holding A/S →
Active · founded 1925 · Denmark
Bang & Olufsen Holding A/S (B & O) is a leading consumer electronics firm, manufacturing a complete line of…
Novo Nordisk A/S →
Active · founded 1940 · Denmark
Novo Nordisk A/S is one of the world's leading suppliers of insulin and industrial enzymes.
IKEA International A/S →
Active · founded 1943 · Denmark
Based in Denmark, IKEA International A/S is one of the world's top retailers of furniture, home furnishings, and…
Lego A/S →
Active · founded 1944 · Denmark
Managed by the founding company, Lego A/S of Billund, Denmark, the Lego Group consisted of 45 companies which…
Ecco Sko A/S →
Active · founded 1963 · Denmark
Ecco Sko A/S is one of the world's top ten shoemakers and a worldwide leader in the "comfort" shoe segment.
Carlsberg A/S →
Active · founded 1970 · Denmark
Carlsberg A/S is one of the world's largest brewing companies.
Danske Bank Aktieselskab →
Active · founded 1990 · Denmark
Danske Bank Aktieselskab is the largest banking group in Denmark and among the three largest in Scandinavia.
Sterling European Airlines A/S →
Active · founded 1994 · Denmark
Sterling European Airlines A/S (SEA) is Scandinavia's leading low-fare airline.
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