COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 5147

Meats and Meat Products

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

5companies1930–1972founding years4still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedMonfort, Inc.
1930
FoundedRichfood Holdings, Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedHickory Farms, Inc.
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedWestern Beef, Inc.
1963
FoundedCattleman's, Inc.
1972
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
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
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

Monfort, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Monfort, Inc., as part of its parent's ConAgra Red Meat Companies subsidiary, is one of the leading meat companies in…
Richfood Holdings, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1937
Richfood Holdings, Inc.
Hickory Farms, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
Once the nation's largest specialty food retailer, Hickory Farms Inc.
Western Beef, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
Western Beef, Inc.
Cattleman's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
From beef briskets and chuck steaks to hamburger and ribs, Detroit-based Cattleman's, Inc.
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