COMPANYHISTORIES

Argentina

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

19companies1888–2000founding years17still active2no longer operating
§ 01

Argentina companies over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedQuilmes Industrial (QUINSA) S.A.
1888
TechnologyKodak's roll-film camera brings photography to everyone.
1893
EconomyThe Panic of 1893 pulls down banks and overbuilt railroads.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyFord's Model T puts the automobile within reach of the middle class.
FoundedNobleza Piccardo SAICF
1913
TechnologyFord's moving assembly line transforms factory production.
FoundedLedesma Sociedad Anónima Agrícola Industrial
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
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.
FoundedMolinos Río de la Plata S.A.
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
1933
EconomyThe first drive-in movie theater opens in New Jersey.
FoundedCresud S.A.C.I.F. y A.
1936
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedPenaflor S.A.
1941
FoundedAtanor S.A.FoundedIRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A.
1943
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1946
TechnologyENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled.
FoundedPetrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedAerolíneas Argentinas S.A.
1949
FoundedRenault Argentina S.A.
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.
FoundedSideco Americana S.A.
1961
FoundedArcor S.A.I.C.FoundedSiderar S.A.I.C.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedCoto Centro Integral de Comercializacion S.A.
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.
FoundedTelecom Argentina S.A.FoundedTelefónica de Argentina S.A.
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.
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.
FoundedGrupo Clarín S.A.
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

Quilmes Industrial (QUINSA) S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1888 · Argentina
Quilmes Industrial (QUINSA) S.A.
Nobleza Piccardo SAICF →
Active · founded 1913 · Argentina
Nobleza Piccardo SAICF is the smaller of Argentina's two cigarette manufacturers but has the longer pedigree.
Ledesma Sociedad Anónima Agrícola Industrial →
Active · founded 1914 · Argentina
Ledesma Sociedad Anónima Agrícola Industrial, Argentina's largest sugar producer, is a model of stability: it has had…
Molinos Río de la Plata S.A. →
Active · founded 1931 · Argentina
Now a century old, Molinos Río de la Plata S.A.
Cresud S.A.C.I.F. y A. →
Active · founded 1936 · Argentina
Cresud S.A.C.I.F.
Penaflor S.A. →
Active · founded 1941 · Argentina
Penaflor S.A., together with its sister company, Bodegas Trapiche S.A.I.C.A., is Latin America's largest wine producer…
Atanor S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1943 · Argentina
Atanor S.A.
IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1943 · Argentina
In the space of less than a decade--the 1990s--IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A.
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A. →
Active · founded 1949 · Argentina
Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A.
Renault Argentina S.A. →
Active · founded 1955 · Argentina
Of Argentina's ten automakers, almost all are closely held subsidiaries or affiliates of their American, European, or…
Sideco Americana S.A. →
Active · founded 1961 · Argentina
Sideco Americana S.A.
Arcor S.A.I.C. →
Active · founded 1962 · Argentina
Life is sweet for Arcor S.A.I.C., the privately held firm that has grown to become one of Argentina's two biggest food…
Siderar S.A.I.C. →
Active · founded 1962 · Argentina
Siderar S.A.I.C.
Coto Centro Integral de Comercializacion S.A. →
Active · founded 1975 · Argentina
Coto Centro Integral de Comercializacion S.A.
Telecom Argentina S.A. →
Active · founded 1990 · Argentina
Telecom Argentina S.A.
Telefónica de Argentina S.A. →
Active · founded 1990 · Argentina
Telefónica de Argentina S.A.
Grupo Clarín S.A. →
Active · founded 1999 · Argentina
Grupo Clarín S.A., a privately owned Argentine holding company, is the leading media group in the Spanish-speaking…
Grupo Financiero Galicia S.A. →
Active · founded 2000 · Argentina
Grupo Financiero Galicia S.A.
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