COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 311811

Retail Bakeries

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

12companies1854–1995founding years12still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedPenn Traffic Company
1854
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
FoundedKrispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
FoundedGrupo Eroski
1969
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedMrs. Fields' Original Cookies, Inc.
1977
FoundedAu Bon Pain Co., Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedArk Restaurants Corp.
1983
FoundedGreggs PLC
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedChart House Enterprises, Inc.FoundedCinnabon Inc.
1985
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedOrkla A/S
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedAtlanta Bread Company International, Inc.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
FoundedEinstein/Noah Bagel Corporation
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

Penn Traffic Company →
Active · founded 1854
Penn Traffic Company is one of the leading food retailers in the eastern United States.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
Late 1950s:There are 29 Krispy Kreme shops in 12 states.
Grupo Eroski →
Active · founded 1969 · Spain
Grupo Eroski is the distribution arm and the largest part of Spain's powerful cooperative group Mondragon Corporacion…
Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Mrs.
Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
A relatively small player in the overall retail food service industry, Au Bon Pain Co., Inc.
Ark Restaurants Corp. →
Active · founded 1983
Ark Restaurants Corp.
Greggs PLC →
Active · founded 1984 · United Kingdom
Greggs PLC is the operator of the largest bakery chain in the United Kingdom, specializing in sandwiches, savories, and…
Chart House Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Chart House Enterprises, Inc.
Cinnabon Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
One of the fastest-growing companies in the United States, Cinnabon Inc.
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…
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Atlanta Bread Company International, Inc., operates and franchises a chain of bakery-cafés, relying almost entirely on…
Einstein/Noah Bagel Corporation →
Active · founded 1995
Einstein/Noah Bagel Corporation is the number one chain of retail bagel stores, with more than 433 Einstein Brothers…
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