Retail

Forman Mills Corporate Office

Richard Forman started Forman Mills in 1977 with an $80 loan from his father.

He began to sell sportswear and sweats in a local flea markets on the weekends with this money.

Four years later, in 1981, he opened his first store in Philadelphia.

In 1985 Forman opened his first superstore in a warehouse in Philadelphia. This new type of store was called the Forman Mills Clothing Factory Warehouse and had 16,000 square feet of retail space.

From 1989 to the present, the chain has grown to include stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan.

Forman Mills

Richard Forman started Forman Mills in 1977 with an $80 loan from his father.

He began to sell sportswear and sweats in a local flea markets on the weekends with this money.

Four years later, in 1981, he opened his first store in Philadelphia.

History

In 1985 Forman opened his first superstore in a warehouse in Philadelphia. This new type of store was called the Forman Mills Clothing Factory Warehouse and had 16,000 square feet of retail space.

From 1989 to the present, the chain has grown to include stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan.

Cumberland Farms Corporate Office

Vasilios and Aphrodite Haseotes bought a one-cow dairy farm in Cumberland, Rhode Island in 1939.

They opened a dairy store in Bellingham, Massachusetts in 1958 and their first convenience store in 1962. This was the first ever convenience store in the Northeastern United States.

In 1986 Cumberland Farms bought all of Gulf Oil’s gas stations as well as the rights to the trademark in the Northeast.

Today, Cumberland Farms is #37 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies, has over 6,000 employees, has 600 stores and gas stations in 11 states, mostly in the Northeast and Florida, and had $8.02 billion in revenue in 2011.

Cumberland Farms

Vasilios and Aphrodite Haseotes bought a one-cow dairy farm in Cumberland, Rhode Island in 1939.

They opened a dairy store in Bellingham, Massachusetts in 1958 and their first convenience store in 1962. This was the first ever convenience store in the Northeastern United States.

In 1986 Cumberland Farms bought all of Gulf Oil’s gas stations as well as the rights to the trademark in the Northeast.

History

Oracle Corporate Office

Oracle was founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison, Ed Oates and Bob Miner as Software Development Laboratories.

In 1978, Oracle Version 1 is completed.

In 1979, the company changes its name to Relational Software Inc.

In 1982, the company changes its name to Oracle Systems Corporation.

In 1984, Oracle Version 4 is released and is ported to run on MS-DOS.

In 1986, the company goes public.

In 1994, the company acquires DEC Rdb.

In 2000, the OracleMobile subsidiary is launched.

In 2004, PeopleSoft is acquired.

In 2010, the company acquires Sun Microsystems. The company is also indicted for fraud by the US Department of Justice.

Today, Oracle is one of the largest enterprise software firms in the world. The company specializes in relational database software.

Oracle

Oracle was founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison, Ed Oates and Bob Miner as Software Development Laboratories.

In 1978, Oracle Version 1 is completed.

In 1979, the company changes its name to Relational Software Inc.

History

In 1982, the company changes its name to Oracle Systems Corporation.

In 1984, Oracle Version 4 is released and is ported to run on MS-DOS.

In 1986, the company goes public.

In 1994, the company acquires DEC Rdb.

In 2000, the OracleMobile subsidiary is launched.

In 2004, PeopleSoft is acquired.

In 2010, the company acquires Sun Microsystems. The company is also indicted for fraud by the US Department of Justice.

Today, Oracle is one of the largest enterprise software firms in the world. The company specializes in relational database software.

Berkshire Hathaway Corporate Office

Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by Oliver Chance as the Valley Falls Company.

In 1929, the company merged with Berkshire Cotton to form Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates.

In 1955, the company merged with Hathaway Manufacturing to form Berkshire Hathaway.

In 1962, Warren Buffett began buying stock in Berkshire Hathaway. By 1964, he owned the majority of the company, which was failing.

In 1967, Buffett expanded the business into the insurance industry with the purchase of the National Indemnity Company.

In the late 1970s, the company acquired a large position in Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO).

In 1985, Berkshire Hathaway ceased all textile manufacturing and became a holding company.

Today, Berkshire Hathaway owns many popular companies such as GEICO, Dairy Queen, NetJets and Fruit of the Loom. The company also owns substantial portions of Heinz, American Express, Coca-Cola and IBM.

Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by Oliver Chance as the Valley Falls Company.

In 1929, the company merged with Berkshire Cotton to form Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates.

In 1955, the company merged with Hathaway Manufacturing to form Berkshire Hathaway.

History

In 1962, Warren Buffett began buying stock in Berkshire Hathaway. By 1964, he owned the majority of the company, which was failing.

In 1967, Buffett expanded the business into the insurance industry with the purchase of the National Indemnity Company.

In the late 1970s, the company acquired a large position in Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO).

In 1985, Berkshire Hathaway ceased all textile manufacturing and became a holding company.

Wendy’s Corporate Office

Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, loved the KewPee Burgers so much, he decided to make a similar restaurant chain.

Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers was founded in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. Thomas named the restaurant after his fourth child, Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas. The chain features square hamburger patties and Frosties, which are milkshakes thickened with starch. Thomas liked the idea of square burgers that stuck out from the bun. He believed customers would be impressed with the quality of the meat they could see.

In 1970, Thomas opened a second location in Columbus. This location would add the first modern drive-thru window in 1971 that used speakers, rather than waitress on rollerskates.

In 1972, the first franchise is sold.

By 1976, there are 500 restaurants and the company goes public on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol: WEN.

In 1978, the 1000th location opens.

In 1979, Wendy’s was the first chain to introduce a salad bar.

By 1983, there are 2500 locations.

In 1985, the company merges with Tim Hortons.

By 1987, there are 5000 locations.

In 2002, founder Dave Thomas dies.

In 2006, the company headquarters is moved to Dublin, Ohio, where they remain today.

In 2008, the company merged with Triac, owner of Arby’s.

In 2011, the company sold its majority share of Arby’s to the Roark Capital Group due to lackluster sales. The company continues to hold an 18.5% interest in Arby’s.

In 2014, the company decided to close all locations in Russia and begin doing business in India instead, with the first restaurant in Gurgaon.

On May 26, 2016, the company announced that Todd Penegor would replace Emil Brolick as CEO and President. Gunther Plosch will succeed Penegor as CFO.

In July 2016, Wendy’s warned customers that their computer system had been hacked and that customers’ debit card and credit card information was stolen from approximately 1,025 of their restaurants located in the US.

The company is beta-testing a meatless burger made from black beans in an attempt to lure in vegan and vegetarian customers.

In January 2018, the company announced the opening of its 500th international location in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Due to the coronavirus and subsequent quarantine, the parent company of Wendy’s filed for bankruptcy July 1, 2020.

Flynn’s Restaurant Group acquired Wendy’s in March 2021.

In December 2022, Wendy’s stated that it would do a corporate “overhaul” with possible job cuts.

Today, Wendy’s is the third largest hamburger fast food chain in the world with nearly 7000 restaurants worldwide.

Wendy's

Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, loved the KewPee Burgers so much, he decided to make a similar restaurant chain.

History

In 1970, Thomas opened a second location in Columbus. This location would add the first modern drive-thru window in 1971 that used speakers, rather than waitress on rollerskates.

In 1972, the first franchise is sold.

By 1976, there are 500 restaurants and the company goes public on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol: WEN.

In 1978, the 1000th location opens.

In 1979, Wendy’s was the first chain to introduce a salad bar.

By 1983, there are 2500 locations.

In 1985, the company merges with Tim Hortons.

By 1987, there are 5000 locations.

In 2002, founder Dave Thomas dies.

In 2006, the company headquarters is moved to Dublin, Ohio, where they remain today.

In 2008, the company merged with Triac, owner of Arby’s.

In 2011, the company sold its majority share of Arby’s to the Roark Capital Group due to lackluster sales. The company continues to hold an 18.5% interest in Arby’s.

In 2014, the company decided to close all locations in Russia and begin doing business in India instead, with the first restaurant in Gurgaon.

On May 26, 2016, the company announced that Todd Penegor would replace Emil Brolick as CEO and President. Gunther Plosch will succeed Penegor as CFO.

The company is beta-testing a meatless burger made from black beans in an attempt to lure in vegan and vegetarian customers.

In January 2018, the company announced the opening of its 500th international location in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Due to the coronavirus and subsequent quarantine, the parent company of Wendy’s filed for bankruptcy July 1, 2020.

Flynn’s Restaurant Group acquired Wendy’s in March 2021.

In December 2022, Wendy’s stated that it would do a corporate “overhaul” with possible job cuts.

Today, Wendy’s is the third largest hamburger fast food chain in the world with nearly 7000 restaurants worldwide.