Key Stats Founded in 1908 with discovery of umami by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda Headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan Operates through Seasoning and Foods, Frozen Foods, and Healthcare business sectors Employs more than 30,000 people globally Listed on Japanese stock exchange since 1949 Ajinomoto Co., Inc. is a multinational food and biotechnology corporation specializing in seasoning products, frozen foods, and healthcare solutions. The company pioneered the commercial production of monosodium glutamate and introduced the concept of umami as the fifth taste to global markets. The company traces its origins to 1908 when scientist Dr. Kikunae Ikeda discovered that L-glutamic acid, an…
Author: Darius
Darius
I've spent over a decade researching and documenting the stories behind the world's most influential companies. What started as a personal fascination with how businesses evolve from small startups to global giants turned into CompaniesHistory.com—a platform dedicated to making corporate history accessible to everyone.
Air France-KLM S.A. history, company profile (overview) and corporate video Air France-KLM S.A., also known as Air France-KLM Group, is a Franco-Dutch airline holding company headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, France. It offers its customers a network covering more than 300 destinations through its Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Transavia airlines. HISTORY Air France-KLM’s history can be traced back to 1933 when Air France was formed through a merger of Air Orient, Air Union, Compagnie Générale Aéropostale, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne (CIDNA), and Société Générale de Transport Aérien (SGTA). In 2004, Air France-KLM was created through the…
AIA Group Limited history, company profile (overview) and history video AIA Group Limited is a multinational insurance and finance corporation headquartered in Hong Kong. It provides insurance solutions to both individuals and businesses. HISTORY AIA’s origins date back to 1919 when the group founder Cornelius Vander Starr opened a small insurance agency in Shanghai, China. The company soon extended to life insurance with one simple business idea: people in Asia would find insurance attractive because of their desire to care for their family and be prudent. In 1931, Cornelius Vander Starr founded International Assurance Company, Limited (INTASCO)…
Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) history, company profile (overview) and history video Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), also known as AgBank, is a banking and financial services company headquartered in Beijing, China. HISTORY The predecessor of the ABC is Agricultural Cooperative Bank, established in 1951 through the merger of two banks of the Republic of China, Farmers Bank of China and Cooperation Bank. However, the bank was merged into the People’s Bank of China, the central bank in 1952. The first bank bearing the name Agricultural Bank of China was founded in 1955, but it was merged into…
Agilent Technologies, Inc. history, company profile (overview) and corporate video Agilent Technologies, Inc. is a healthcare equipment and services company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States. Agilent Technologies was established in 1999 as a spin-off from Hewlett-Packard. OPERATIONS The company operates through the following business sectors: Food, Environmental and Forensics, Pharmaceutical, Diagnostics, Chemical and Energy, and Research. Products Analytical Instruments & Supplies;Life Science;Clinical & Diagnostic Testing;Lab Management & Consulting;Lab Software;Lab Supplies;Dissolution Testing;Lab Automation;Vacuum & Leak Detection. Brands Agilent CrossLab;Agilent Dako;Agilent InfinityLab;Agilent OpenLab. With more than 18,000 employees, Agilent Technologies, Inc. is considered one of the Largest…
AGCO Corporation history, company profile (overview) and history video AGCO Corporation is an agricultural machinery manufacturing company headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, United States. HISTORY With roots firmly established in the farm equipment industry, the company has a brand heritage reaching back to the mid-1800s. AGCO was established in 1990 with the purchase of Deutz Allis Corporation from German-based Kloeckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG. KHD, in turn, had purchased portions of the Allis-Chalmers agricultural equipment business five years earlier. In 1992, AGCO was listed on NASDAQ. In 1994, AGCO moved its listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). BRANDS Challenger;Fendt;Grain…
Aetna, Inc. history, company profile (overview) and corporate video Aetna Inc. is a healthcare company, headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, United States. The company operates through the following business sectors: Medicare, Health coverage, Dental, vision and supplemental, Pharmacy, and Medicaid. HISTORY Aetna was established in 1853 as Aetna Life Insurance Company. In 1917, the company changed its name to Aetna Casualty and Surety Co. In 1996, the company changed its name to Aetna Inc. In 2018, Aetna was acquired by CVS Health. SUBSIDIARIES With more than 50,000 employees, Aetna Inc. is considered one of…
Key Stats Adobe achieved record revenue of $21.51 billion in fiscal year 2024 The company employs more than 30,000 people worldwide Adobe market capitalization stands at approximately $145 billion as of December 2025 Over 85% of creative professionals use at least one Adobe product Creative Cloud and Document Cloud generate $15.86 billion in annual recurring revenue Adobe Systems ranks among the world’s largest software companies specializing in creative tools, digital marketing, and document solutions. The San Jose-based company develops applications used by millions of designers, photographers, and marketers globally. Founded in 1982 by two Xerox researchers, Adobe pioneered desktop publishing…
$25.5B 2024 Revenue (USD) $34.6B Market Cap (Dec 2025) 62,035 Employees Worldwide 2nd Global Sportswear Rank 1949 Year Founded Adidas AG stands as the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second largest globally. Founded in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the company designs and manufactures athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories under its signature three-stripe logo. The brand name combines founder Adolf Dassler’s nickname “Adi” with the first three letters of his surname. Adidas operates over 1,900 retail stores across six continents. Footwear generates approximately 59% of total revenue. Adidas competes directly with Nike and sponsors major athletes, teams, and sporting events worldwide.…
Acciona SA history, profile and corporate video Acciona SA is an investment holding company, which engages in providing infrastructure, energy and water services. It operates within the following business divisions, including Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Other Businesses. The Infrastructure division, through ACCIONA Infrastructure, deals with public works and building projects. The Energy division, through ACCIONA Energy, handles the operation of renewable energy power plants. The Water division, through ACCIONA Aqua, focuses on water treatment and reverse osmosis desalination. The Other Businesses division provides financial services, fund management and stockbroking. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Alcobendas, Spain.…