COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 2022

Natural, Processed & Imitation Cheese

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

26companies1885–1997founding years25still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedChiquita Brands International, Inc.
1885
FoundedHunt-Wesson, Inc.
1890
FoundedSunkist Growers, Inc.
1893
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedBestfoods
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedDel Monte Foods Company
1916
FoundedBongrain SAFoundedKnott's Berry Farm
1920
FoundedThe J.M. Smucker Company
1921
FoundedLa Choy Food Products Inc.
1922
FoundedOcean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedSorrento, Inc.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedBridgford Foods Corporation
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedGrupo Industrial Bimbo
1965
FoundedAlfa, S.A. de C.V.
1974
FoundedHillsdown Holdings plc
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedKraft Jacobs Suchard AG
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedAlpine Lace Brands, Inc.
1986
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedOrkla A/S
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

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1885
One of the world's foremost marketers of fresh fruits and vegetables, Chiquita Brands International, Inc., is a food…
Hunt-Wesson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
Hunt-Wesson is one of the nation's largest and most successful food companies.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
One of the ten largest marketing cooperatives in the United States, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc. →
Active · founded 1897
Best known as the parent company of Welch Foods, Inc., National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc.
Bestfoods →
Defunct · founded 1906
Bestfoods is one of the largest food companies in the United States, with two main businesses: consumer foods and…
Del Monte Foods Company →
Active · founded 1916
Among the largest canners of fruits and vegetables in the United States, the Del Monte Foods Company is less than half…
Darigold, Inc. →
Active · founded 1918
Darigold, Inc.
Bongrain SA →
Active · founded 1920 · France
In France, cheese is spelled with a "B"--for Bongrain, Besnier, and Bel, the country's top three cheese and dairy…
Knott's Berry Farm →
Active · founded 1920
Knott's Berry Farm grew from a small roadside berry stand 22 miles south of Los Angeles into one of the most popular…
Land O'Lakes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1921
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
The J.M. Smucker Company →
Active · founded 1921
The J.M.
La Choy Food Products Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
La Choy Food Products Inc.
Dean Foods Company →
Active · founded 1925
Through thoughtful acquisitions and careful financial management, Dean Foods Company has grown from a small regional…
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Sorrento, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Based in Buffalo, New York, Sorrento, Inc.
Bridgford Foods Corporation →
Active · founded 1952
Bridgford Foods Corporation manufactures and distributes frozen, refrigerated, and snack food products for both retail…
Wisconsin Dairies →
Active · founded 1963
Wisconsin Dairies (WD) is one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the United States, a Fortune 500 company that…
Grupo Industrial Bimbo →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Mexico's biggest baker and food company, Grupo Industrial Bimbo, is a Mexican multinational conglomerate that derives…
Alfa, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1974 · Mexico
Alfa, S.A.
Kerry Group plc →
Active · founded 1974 · Ireland
Kerry Group plc is fast becoming one of the world's leading food ingredients suppliers.
Hillsdown Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1975 · United Kingdom
Hillsdown Holdings plc is a somewhat obscure holding company for a wide range of food, homebuilding, furniture, and…
Kraft Jacobs Suchard AG →
Active · founded 1982 · Switzerland
Kraft Jacobs Suchard AG--part of Philip Morris Companies Inc.
Suprema Specialties, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Suprema Specialties, Inc.
Alpine Lace Brands, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Alpine Lace Brands, Inc., is a leading manufacturer of reduced-fat and fat-free deli cheeses and meats.
Orkla A/S →
Active · founded 1991 · Norway
Orkla A/S is the largest branded consumer goods group and food and beverage producer in Scandinavia and one of the five…
Diageo plc →
Active · founded 1997 · United Kingdom
Diageo plc is a world leader in branded food and drinks.
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