COMPANYHISTORIES

Chile

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

16companies1893–1985founding years13still active0no longer operating
§ 01

Chile companies over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBanco de Chile
1893
EconomyThe Panic of 1893 pulls down banks and overbuilt railroads.
FoundedCompania Cervecerias Unidas S.A.
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedCristalerias de Chile S.A.
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.
FoundedEmpresas CMPC S.A.
1920
FoundedViña Concha y Toro S.A.
1923
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.
FoundedLan Chile S.A.
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.
FoundedEmpresas Copec S.A.
1934
FoundedS.A.C.I. Falabella
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedMadeco S.A.
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedEmbotelladora Andina S.A.
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.
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedEmpresas Almacenes Paris S.A.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedCorporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile
1976
FoundedFarmacias Ahumada S.A.
1977
FoundedCencosud S.A.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedParque Arauco S.A.
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.
FoundedDistribución y Servicio D&S S.A.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
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.
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

Banco de Chile →
Active · founded 1893 · Chile
Banco de Chile is the second largest private bank in Chile and the largest that remains under Chilean ownership.
Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A. →
Active · founded 1902 · Chile
Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A.
Cristalerias de Chile S.A. →
Active · founded 1904 · Chile
Cristalerias de Chile S.A., or Cristalchile, is that country's leading producer of glass and plastic containers and…
Empresas CMPC S.A. →
Active · founded 1920 · Chile
Empresas CMPC S.A.
Viña Concha y Toro S.A. →
Active · founded 1923 · Chile
Viña Concha y Toro S.A.
Lan Chile S.A. →
Renamed · founded 1929 · Chile
Four million passengers a year fly Lan Chile S.A., or LanChile as it has been styling itself since the mid-1990s.
Empresas Copec S.A. →
Active · founded 1934 · Chile
Empresas Copec S.A.
S.A.C.I. Falabella →
Active · founded 1937 · Chile
S.A.C.I.
Madeco S.A. →
Renamed · founded 1944 · Chile
Madeco S.A.
Embotelladora Andina S.A. →
Active · founded 1946 · Chile
Embotelladora Andina S.A.
Empresas Almacenes Paris S.A. →
Renamed · founded 1973 · Chile
Empresas Almacenes Paris S.A.
Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile →
Active · founded 1976 · Chile
: 212234 Copper Ore & Nickel Ore Mining; 331411 Primary Smelting & Refining of Copper Ore The state-owned Corporacion…
Farmacias Ahumada S.A. →
Active · founded 1977 · Chile
Farmacias Ahumada S.A.
Cencosud S.A. →
Active · founded 1978 · Chile
Cencosud S.A.
Parque Arauco S.A. →
Active · founded 1981 · Chile
Parque Arauco S.A.
Distribución y Servicio D&S S.A. →
Active · founded 1985 · Chile
Distribución y Servicio D&S S.A.
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