COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 445120

Convenience Stores

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

22companies1863–1998founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedCo-operative Group (CWS) Ltd.FoundedCo-operative Group (CWS) Ltd.
1863
FoundedCoop Schweiz GenossenschaftsverbandFoundedCoop Schweiz Genossenschaftsverband
1890
FoundedHale-Halsell Company
1901
FoundedThe Kroger Co.FoundedThe Kroger Co.
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedNagasakiya Co., Ltd.FoundedNagasakiya Co., Ltd.
1948
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedCarrefour SA
1959
Founded7-Eleven, Inc.Founded7-Eleven, Inc.
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedUny Co., Ltd.FoundedUny Co., Ltd.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedFarmacias Ahumada S.A.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
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.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedMetro AGFoundedMetro AG
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedAlldays plc
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
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

Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1863 · United Kingdom
Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd.
Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1863 · United Kingdom
Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd.
Coop Schweiz Genossenschaftsverband →
Active · founded 1890 · Switzerland
Coop Schweiz Genossenschaftsverband is Switzerland's second-largest food products retailer, behind fellow cooperative…
Coop Schweiz Genossenschaftsverband →
Active · founded 1890 · Switzerland
Coop Schweiz Genossenschaftsverband is Switzerland's second-largest food products retailer, behind fellow cooperative…
Hale-Halsell Company →
Active · founded 1901
The Hale-Halsell Company has grown from its modest roots as a food supplier to settlers in newly opened Indian…
Hale-Halsell Company →
Active · founded 1901
The Hale-Halsell Company has grown from its modest roots as a food supplier to settlers in newly opened Indian…
The Kroger Co. →
Active · founded 1902
Among companies that principally operate grocery stores, The Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co. →
Active · founded 1902
Among companies that principally operate grocery stores, The Kroger Co.
Nagasakiya Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1948 · Japan
Nagasakiya Co., Ltd.
Nagasakiya Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1948 · Japan
Nagasakiya Co., Ltd.
Carrefour SA →
Active · founded 1959 · France
As the world's second largest retailer, Carrefour SA operates more than 10,300 stores in France and abroad under more…
Carrefour SA →
Active · founded 1959 · France
As the world's second largest retailer, Carrefour SA operates more than 10,300 stores in France and abroad under more…
7-Eleven, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
7-Eleven, Inc.--known as The Southland Corporation until April 1999--is the world's largest operator, franchisor, and…
7-Eleven, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
7-Eleven, Inc.--known as The Southland Corporation until April 1999--is the world's largest operator, franchisor, and…
Uny Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1971 · Japan
Early 20th century:[fs54]Choju Nishikawaya opens a footwear store in Nudge, the largest city in Chubu.
Uny Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1971 · Japan
Early 20th century:[fs54]Choju Nishikawaya opens a footwear store in Nudge, the largest city in Chubu.
Farmacias Ahumada S.A. →
Active · founded 1977 · Chile
Farmacias Ahumada S.A.
Farmacias Ahumada S.A. →
Active · founded 1977 · Chile
Farmacias Ahumada S.A.
Metro AG →
Active · founded 1996 · Germany
One of the largest retailers in the world, Metro AG is a Düsseldorf-based holding company formed through the 1996…
Metro AG →
Active · founded 1996 · Germany
One of the largest retailers in the world, Metro AG is a Düsseldorf-based holding company formed through the 1996…
Alldays plc →
Active · founded 1998 · United Kingdom
Alldays plc is one of the United Kingdom's leading operators of convenience stores.
Alldays plc →
Active · founded 1998 · United Kingdom
Alldays plc is one of the United Kingdom's leading operators of convenience stores.
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