COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 4225

General Warehousing and Storage

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

14companies1864–1991founding years12still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGrupo Financiero Serfin, S.A.FoundedGrupo Financiero Serfin, S.A.
1864
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.
FoundedGiant Food Inc.FoundedGiant Food Inc.
1935
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedEmery Worldwide Airlines, Inc.FoundedEmery Worldwide Airlines, Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPierce Leahy CorporationFoundedPierce Leahy Corporation
1948
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedHays PlcFoundedHays Plc
1965
FoundedKoninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.FoundedKoninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.
1970
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.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedHospitality Worldwide Services, Inc.FoundedHospitality Worldwide Services, Inc.
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

Grupo Financiero Serfin, S.A. →
Active · founded 1864 · Mexico
Grupo Financiero Serfin, S.A.
Grupo Financiero Serfin, S.A. →
Active · founded 1864 · Mexico
Grupo Financiero Serfin, S.A.
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.
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., commonly known as Emery Worldwide, is an integrated air freight carrier that provides…
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., commonly known as Emery Worldwide, is an integrated air freight carrier that provides…
Pierce Leahy Corporation →
Active · founded 1948
Pierce Leahy Corporation, which calls itself "North America's Filing Cabinet," is a full-service provider of records…
Pierce Leahy Corporation →
Active · founded 1948
Pierce Leahy Corporation, which calls itself "North America's Filing Cabinet," is a full-service provider of records…
Hays Plc →
Active · founded 1965 · United Kingdom
Fast-growing Hays Plc is one of the United Kingdom's leading business services groups with more than 60 business units…
Hays Plc →
Active · founded 1965 · United Kingdom
Fast-growing Hays Plc is one of the United Kingdom's leading business services groups with more than 60 business units…
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V. →
Defunct · founded 1970 · Netherlands
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V. →
Defunct · founded 1970 · Netherlands
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.
Hospitality Worldwide Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Hospitality Worldwide Services, Inc.
Hospitality Worldwide Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Hospitality Worldwide Services, Inc.
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