COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5199

Nondurable Goods, Not Elsewhere Classified

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

14companies1915–1985founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedFleming Companies, Inc.FoundedFleming Companies, Inc.
1915
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedThe Mead CorporationFoundedThe Mead Corporation
1930
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.
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.
FoundedBlyth Industries, Inc.FoundedBlyth Industries, Inc.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedRiklis Family Corp.FoundedRiklis Family Corp.FoundedThe Miner Group InternationalFoundedThe Miner Group International
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedThe Hartstone Group plcFoundedThe Hartstone Group plc
1985
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

Fleming Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1915
Fleming Companies, Inc.
Fleming Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1915
Fleming Companies, Inc.
The Mead Corporation →
Active · founded 1930
The Mead Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturers of paper (producing more than 1.7 million tons each…
The Mead Corporation →
Active · founded 1930
The Mead Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturers of paper (producing more than 1.7 million tons each…
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.
Blyth Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Blyth Industries, Inc.
Blyth Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Blyth Industries, Inc.
Riklis Family Corp. →
Active · founded 1980
Riklis Family Corp.
Riklis Family Corp. →
Active · founded 1980
Riklis Family Corp.
The Miner Group International →
Active · founded 1980
Calling The Miner Group International a printing business really fails to capture the essence of this company.
The Miner Group International →
Active · founded 1980
Calling The Miner Group International a printing business really fails to capture the essence of this company.
The Hartstone Group plc →
Active · founded 1985 · United Kingdom
The Hartstone Group plc is a leading manufacturer in the international leathergoods and hosiery markets, supplying…
The Hartstone Group plc →
Active · founded 1985 · United Kingdom
The Hartstone Group plc is a leading manufacturer in the international leathergoods and hosiery markets, supplying…
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