COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 2041

Flour and Other Grain Mill Products

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

11companies1892–1971founding years10still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedInternational Multifoods Corporation
1892
FoundedNabisco Foods Group
1898
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedBestfoods
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedGrist Mill Company
1917
FoundedConAgra, Inc.
1919
FoundedCargill Inc.
1930
FoundedAssociated British Foods plc
1935
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedBouygues S.A.
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedGrupo Industrial Bimbo
1965
FoundedMurphy Family Farms Inc.
1969
FoundedFisher Companies, Inc.
1971
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

International Multifoods Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
International Multifoods Corporation was once known as one of the "Big Three" in U.S.
Nabisco Foods Group →
Active · founded 1898
For nearly a century, Nabisco has been one of the most widely recognized names in the American food industry.
Bestfoods →
Defunct · founded 1906
Bestfoods is one of the largest food companies in the United States, with two main businesses: consumer foods and…
Grist Mill Company →
Active · founded 1917
Minnesota-based Grist Mill Company manufactures cereal, cereal snacks, and confectionery products, such as ready-to-eat…
ConAgra, Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
In 1919 Alva Kinney brought four grain milling companies in south central Nebraska together to take advantage of…
Cargill Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Cargill Inc.
Associated British Foods plc →
Active · founded 1935 · United Kingdom
With high-ranking positions in several categories of foodstuffs, Associated British Foods plc (ABF) stands as one of…
Bouygues S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · France
Bouygues S.A.
Grupo Industrial Bimbo →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Mexico's biggest baker and food company, Grupo Industrial Bimbo, is a Mexican multinational conglomerate that derives…
Murphy Family Farms Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
The largest swine production company in the United States, Murphy Family Farms Inc.
Fisher Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
The owner of an unusual combination of businesses, Fisher Companies Inc.
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