COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5143

Dairy Products, Except Dried or Canned

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

22companies1918–1987founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedDarigold, Inc.FoundedDarigold, Inc.
1918
FoundedBongrain SAFoundedBongrain SAFoundedWhite Rose, Inc.
1920
FoundedFromageries BelFoundedFromageries Bel
1922
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedBesnier SAFoundedBesnier SA
1933
FoundedRichfood Holdings, Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedHickory Farms, Inc.FoundedHickory Farms, Inc.
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSuprema Specialties, Inc.FoundedTLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc.FoundedTLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedMichael Foods, Inc.
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.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
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

Darigold, Inc. →
Active · founded 1918
Darigold, Inc.
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…
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…
White Rose, Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
White Rose, Inc.
White Rose, Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
White Rose, Inc.
Fromageries Bel →
Active · founded 1922 · France
Fromageries Bel is France's third largest cheese producer, after Besnier and Bongrain.
Fromageries Bel →
Active · founded 1922 · France
Fromageries Bel is France's third largest cheese producer, after Besnier and Bongrain.
Besnier SA →
Active · founded 1933 · France
Besnier SA is France's largest dairy products producer and one of the largest dairy products producers in Europe.
Besnier SA →
Active · founded 1933 · France
Besnier SA is France's largest dairy products producer and one of the largest dairy products producers in Europe.
Richfood Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
Richfood Holdings, Inc.
Richfood Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
Richfood Holdings, Inc.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Hickory Farms, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
Once the nation's largest specialty food retailer, Hickory Farms Inc.
Hickory Farms, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
Once the nation's largest specialty food retailer, Hickory Farms Inc.
Suprema Specialties, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Suprema Specialties, Inc.
Suprema Specialties, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Suprema Specialties, Inc.
TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc.
TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc.
Michael Foods, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Michael Foods, Inc., through its Egg Products Division, is the largest producer, processor, and distributor of extended…
Michael Foods, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Michael Foods, Inc., through its Egg Products Division, is the largest producer, processor, and distributor of extended…
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