You can learn more about our selection of companies, including how they started and where they are today.
Dave Thomas opened Wendy’s in Columbus in 1969. Follow the restaurant’s early franchise growth, its celebrated “Where’s the beef?” campaign, and the difficulties that came with expanding beyond its original hamburger format.
Conagra began as a Nebraska flour-milling business and grew into a diversified food group. Its history follows major acquisitions, a shift toward packaged brands, corporate separations, and a new round of portfolio changes.
HuffPost launched in 2005 as The Huffington Post, blending political commentary and news links. Its evolution includes a Pulitzer Prize, a shift away from open guest blogging and ownership changes from AOL to BuzzFeed.
The history of Disney begins with Walt and Roy Disney’s animation studio in 1923. Follow its early breakthroughs, expansion into films and theme parks, major acquisitions, and the transition toward streaming.
Omega began with Louis Brandt’s Swiss watchmaking business and took its name from a movement developed decades later. Its history also runs through Olympic timing, the Apollo missions, industrial restructuring, and modern mechanical engineering.
Burger King’s origin story includes the Jacksonville Insta-Burger King venture and the Miami business built by James McLamore and David Edgerton. The Whopper helped establish a recognizable identity that endured through decades of change.
Best Buy’s history began with a Minnesota audio shop, not a national electronics chain. Follow its changing store model, digital and service expansion, major setbacks, turnaround and more recent strategic choices.
McDonald’s began as a California drive-in run by two brothers. Its history follows the service system they created, Ray Kroc’s franchising expansion, restaurant-owner innovations, and the challenges of operating a worldwide network.
TIME magazine began as a compact news digest from Briton Hadden and Henry Luce in 1923. Its story follows a distinctive editorial identity through the expansion of Time Inc., changing ownership and new media formats.
Founded in 1968, Intel grew from semiconductor memory into a central supplier of PC processors. Its history includes the x86 breakthrough, the Intel Inside years, competitive setbacks, and a still-unfinished effort to expand chip manufacturing for other companies.