COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2037

Frozen Fruits, Fruit Juices, Vegetables

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

26companies1885–1997founding years26still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedChiquita Brands International, Inc.FoundedChiquita Brands International, Inc.
1885
FoundedInternational Multifoods Corporation
1892
FoundedSunkist Growers, Inc.FoundedSunkist Growers, Inc.
1893
FoundedNational Grape Co-operative Association, Inc.
1897
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThe J.M. Smucker Company
1921
FoundedStouffer Corp.FoundedStouffer Corp.
1924
FoundedSüdzucker AG
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedOcean Spray Cranberries, Inc.FoundedOcean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSchwan's Sales Enterprises, Inc.
1948
FoundedOre-Ida Foods Incorporated
1951
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedWattie's Ltd.FoundedWattie's 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.
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.
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.
FoundedDiageo plc
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

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1885
One of the world's foremost marketers of fresh fruits and vegetables, Chiquita Brands International, Inc., is a food…
Chiquita Brands International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1885
One of the world's foremost marketers of fresh fruits and vegetables, Chiquita Brands International, Inc., is a food…
International Multifoods Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
International Multifoods Corporation was once known as one of the "Big Three" in U.S.
International Multifoods Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
International Multifoods Corporation was once known as one of the "Big Three" in U.S.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
One of the ten largest marketing cooperatives in the United States, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
One of the ten largest marketing cooperatives in the United States, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc. →
Active · founded 1897
Best known as the parent company of Welch Foods, Inc., National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc.
National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc. →
Active · founded 1897
Best known as the parent company of Welch Foods, Inc., National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc.
The J.M. Smucker Company →
Active · founded 1921
The J.M.
The J.M. Smucker Company →
Active · founded 1921
The J.M.
Stouffer Corp. →
Active · founded 1924
Stouffer Corp., a subsidiary of Nestlé USA, Inc., is the United States' leading manufacturer and marketer of more than…
Stouffer Corp. →
Active · founded 1924
Stouffer Corp., a subsidiary of Nestlé USA, Inc., is the United States' leading manufacturer and marketer of more than…
Südzucker AG →
Active · founded 1926 · Germany
Südzucker AG is the largest sugar producer in the European Union (EU) with an annual production of three million metric…
Südzucker AG →
Active · founded 1926 · Germany
Südzucker AG is the largest sugar producer in the European Union (EU) with an annual production of three million metric…
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Schwan's Sales Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
A highly successful dairy and frozen food company, Schwan's Sales Enterprises, Inc.
Schwan's Sales Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
A highly successful dairy and frozen food company, Schwan's Sales Enterprises, Inc.
Ore-Ida Foods Incorporated →
Active · founded 1951
Best known for its Tater Tots, Ore-Ida Foods Incorporated is the leading retail brand of frozen potato products in the…
Ore-Ida Foods Incorporated →
Active · founded 1951
Best known for its Tater Tots, Ore-Ida Foods Incorporated is the leading retail brand of frozen potato products in the…
Wattie's Ltd. →
Active · founded 1971 · New Zealand
Wattie's Ltd., which became a subsidiary of the multibillion dollar American firm H.
Wattie's Ltd. →
Active · founded 1971 · New Zealand
Wattie's Ltd., which became a subsidiary of the multibillion dollar American firm H.
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…
Diageo plc →
Active · founded 1997 · United Kingdom
Diageo plc is a world leader in branded food and drinks.
Diageo plc →
Active · founded 1997 · United Kingdom
Diageo plc is a world leader in branded food and drinks.
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