COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 5142

Packaged Frozen Foods

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

8companies1893–1983founding years7still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedSunkist Growers, Inc.
1893
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedWhite Rose, Inc.
1920
FoundedHain Food Group, Inc.
1926
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1955
EconomyMcDonald's franchising begins, remaking fast food.
FoundedUnited Foods, Inc.
1956
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedOverhill Corporation
1963
FoundedMcLane Company, Inc.
1964
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedTLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc.
1983
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

Sunkist Growers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
One of the ten largest marketing cooperatives in the United States, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
White Rose, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1920
White Rose, Inc.
Hain Food Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Hain Food Group, Inc.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
United Foods, Inc. →
Active · founded 1956
United Foods, Inc., is a major processor and marketer of frozen vegetables in the United States.
Overhill Corporation →
Active · founded 1963
Overhill Corporation is a Dallas-area holding company in the process of focusing on its core food business, which…
McLane Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
McLane Company, Inc., is one of the largest wholesale distribution companies in the United States.
TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc.
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