COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5912

Drugstores & Proprietary Stores

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

50companies1835–1994founding years48still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGEHE AG
1835
FoundedThe Boots Company PLC
1883
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedK & B Inc.
1905
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedKing Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.
1930
FoundedStanhome Inc.
1931
FoundedThe Golub Corporation
1932
FoundedWalden Book Company Inc.
1933
FoundedGiant Food Inc.
1935
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedThe Hillhaven Corporation
1955
FoundedThe Cosmetic Center, Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedDuane Reade Holding Corp.
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedFay's Inc.
1966
FoundedVitalink Pharmacy Services, Inc.
1967
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedArbor Drugs Inc.
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedDrug Emporium, Inc.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedBig B, Inc.
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.
FoundedButtrey Food & Drug Stores Co.FoundedCarr-Gottstein Foods Co.
1990
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.
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

GEHE AG →
Active · founded 1835 · Germany
GEHE AG is the largest drug wholesaler in Europe.
GEHE AG →
Active · founded 1835 · Germany
GEHE AG is the largest drug wholesaler in Europe.
The Boots Company PLC →
Active · founded 1883 · United Kingdom
The Boots Company PLC is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, in addition to being a major manufacturer…
The Boots Company PLC →
Active · founded 1883 · United Kingdom
The Boots Company PLC is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, in addition to being a major manufacturer…
K & B Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
K & B Inc.
K & B Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
K & B Inc.
Kingfisher plc →
Active · founded 1909 · United Kingdom
Based in London, Kingfisher plc is a major European retailing and property group.
Kingfisher plc →
Active · founded 1909 · United Kingdom
Based in London, Kingfisher plc is a major European retailing and property group.
King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.
King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.
Stanhome Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
A pioneer in the direct-sales industry, Stanhome Inc.
Stanhome Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
A pioneer in the direct-sales industry, Stanhome Inc.
The Golub Corporation →
Active · founded 1932
"Successful, innovative, and civic-minded" are terms that describe well The Golub Corporation of Schenectady, New York.
The Golub Corporation →
Active · founded 1932
"Successful, innovative, and civic-minded" are terms that describe well The Golub Corporation of Schenectady, New York.
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc.
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc.
Walden Book Company Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
Walden Book Company Inc., a subsidiary of the Borders Group, Inc., is a leading U.S.
Walden Book Company Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
Walden Book Company Inc., a subsidiary of the Borders Group, Inc., is a leading U.S.
Giant Food Inc. →
Active · founded 1935
From its Depression-era beginnings as Giant Food Shopping Center Inc., Giant Food Inc.
Giant Food Inc. →
Active · founded 1935
From its Depression-era beginnings as Giant Food Shopping Center Inc., Giant Food Inc.
Longs Drug Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
Longs Drug Stores Corporation is one of the top ten drugstore chains in the United States, with more than 370 stores in…
Longs Drug Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
Longs Drug Stores Corporation is one of the top ten drugstore chains in the United States, with more than 370 stores in…
The Hillhaven Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
One of the largest diversified health care providers in the United States, The Hillhaven Corporation owned, leased, and…
The Hillhaven Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
One of the largest diversified health care providers in the United States, The Hillhaven Corporation owned, leased, and…
The Cosmetic Center, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
The Cosmetic Center, Inc.
The Cosmetic Center, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
The Cosmetic Center, Inc.
Duane Reade Holding Corp. →
Active · founded 1961
Privately owned Duane Reade Holding Corp.
Duane Reade Holding Corp. →
Active · founded 1961
Privately owned Duane Reade Holding Corp.
American Stores Company →
Defunct · founded 1965
Built largely through the drive and ambition of one family, American Stores Company has developed into one of the…
American Stores Company →
Defunct · founded 1965
Built largely through the drive and ambition of one family, American Stores Company has developed into one of the…
Fay's Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Fay's Inc.
Fay's Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Fay's Inc.
Vitalink Pharmacy Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Vitalink Pharmacy Services, Inc., provides institutional pharmacy services to nursing facilities and other institutions.
Vitalink Pharmacy Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Vitalink Pharmacy Services, Inc., provides institutional pharmacy services to nursing facilities and other institutions.
Discount Drug Mart, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Discount Drug Mart, Inc.
Discount Drug Mart, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Discount Drug Mart, Inc.
Arbor Drugs Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
With 160 stores across Michigan, Arbor Drugs is the second largest drugstore chain in Michigan and the fifteenth…
Arbor Drugs Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
With 160 stores across Michigan, Arbor Drugs is the second largest drugstore chain in Michigan and the fifteenth…
Drug Emporium, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Drug Emporium, Inc., is a chain of 235 deep-discount drug stores that has been credited with taking the concept…
Drug Emporium, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Drug Emporium, Inc., is a chain of 235 deep-discount drug stores that has been credited with taking the concept…
Big B, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Ranking as the tenth largest drug store chain in the United States, Big B, Inc.
Big B, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Ranking as the tenth largest drug store chain in the United States, Big B, Inc.
Phar-Mor Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Phar-Mor Inc.
Phar-Mor Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Phar-Mor Inc.
Buttrey Food & Drug Stores Co. →
Active · founded 1990
The largest operator of food and drug stores in Montana, Buttrey Food & Drug Stores Co.
Buttrey Food & Drug Stores Co. →
Active · founded 1990
The largest operator of food and drug stores in Montana, Buttrey Food & Drug Stores Co.
Carr-Gottstein Foods Co. →
Active · founded 1990
The leading food and drug retailer in Alaska, Carr-Gottstein Foods Co.
Carr-Gottstein Foods Co. →
Active · founded 1990
The leading food and drug retailer in Alaska, Carr-Gottstein Foods Co.
Thrifty PayLess, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Thrifty PayLess, Inc., is the second-largest drug store chain in America.
Thrifty PayLess, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Thrifty PayLess, Inc., is the second-largest drug store chain in America.
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