Companies

Kraft Foods Kraft Foods is a major packaged-food company known for cheese, condiments and convenience foods; it has owned brands such as Oscar Mayer and Nabisco and later reorganized into new…

Kress Stores (S. H. Kress & Co.) Kress Stores S. H. Kress & Co., founded in 1896, was an American five-and-dime retail chain noted for low-priced general merchandise, ornate downtown architecture, and many repurposed landmark…

KrioRus — Russian cryonics provider offering human and animal cryopreservation KrioRus KrioRus is a private cryonics organization in Russia that offers long‑term preservation of people and animals at very low temperatures, arranging stabilization, transport and stora…

Krispy Kreme: history, products, and global presence of the doughnut chain Krispy Kreme Krispy Kreme is an international doughnut chain founded in 1937, best known for its warm Original Glazed doughnut. The company operates retail shops, kiosks and supermarket partner…

Kroger: American Supermarket Chain and Retail Company Kroger Kroger is a major American supermarket chain founded in 1883 in Cincinnati. It operates thousands of stores under multiple banners, offering groceries, pharmacy, fuel, private bran…

Kuwait Airways — Kuwait's flag carrier and national airline Kuwait Airways Kuwait Airways is the state airline of Kuwait, founded in 1954. Based at Kuwait International Airport, it serves a regional and international network, operates a mixed fleet, and i…

L'Oréal: global cosmetics company overview, history and activities L'Oréal Profile of L'Oréal, the world's largest cosmetics company: products, history since 1909, research and patents, major brands, global presence, and sustainability and regulatory issu…

LACSA (Líneas Aéreas Costarricenses) — Costa Rica's former flag carrier LACSA LACSA, founded by Pan American in 1945, was Costa Rica's national airline. Later acquired by TACA and integrated into Avianca, its operations and brand influenced Central American…

Lamborghini (Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.) Lamborghini Italian maker of high-performance sports cars and SUVs, famed for V12 engines, bold design, mid-engine layouts and limited-edition supercars. Founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini in 19…

LAN Airlines — Chilean carrier and predecessor of LATAM LAN Airlines LAN Airlines was a major Chilean airline based in Santiago, a regional leader in South America that merged with Brazil's TAM to form LATAM Airlines Group and later unified under th…

Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway A concise overview of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway: its network in Northern England, early electrification, ferry services, merger history, operations and lasting significa…

Lancia — Italian automobile maker known for engineering and rally success Lancia Lancia is an Italian automobile marque founded in 1906. Noted for technical innovation, coachbuilt luxury cars and rally victories, it joined Fiat's group in 1969 and later became…

Land Rover British marque known for rugged four-wheel-drive vehicles and luxury SUVs, originating with a 1949 design by Maurice Wilks and now part of Jaguar Land Rover, with military and civi…

LATAM Airlines Brasil Major Brazilian airline, part of the LATAM Airlines Group. Operates domestic and international passenger and cargo services from a São Paulo base with a mixed Airbus/Boeing fleet.

Lawson (convenience store chain) Lawson (store) Lawson is a Japanese convenience-store chain active across Asia and in Hawaii, known for ready-to-eat food, basic services and a blue-branded retail format. It is Japan's third-lar…

LDV Group — British light commercial vehicle maker LDV Group Overview of LDV Group, a Birmingham-based British van manufacturer (1993–2009), its products, corporate history, administration and subsequent asset sales to Chinese firms includin…

Legendary Pictures (Legendary Entertainment) Legendary Pictures American film and media company founded in 2000 by Thomas Tull, known for co-financing and producing major blockbusters and long-term studio partnerships; headquartered in Burbank,…

Leica Camera: German maker of precision cameras, lenses, and photographic tradition Leica Camera Leica Camera is a German manufacturer known for high-quality rangefinder and digital cameras, precision lenses, and an influential role in 20th-century photography and photojournal…

Lenovo: global PC maker — history, products, and influence Lenovo Overview of Lenovo, a Chinese technology company known for PCs, servers, tablets and smartphones; its origins, major products, acquisitions and market role.

Leonidas (Belgian chocolatier) Leonidas (chocolate maker) Leonidas is a Belgian chocolate company known for its pralines and wide international retail presence. Founded by Leonidas Kestekides, it emphasizes traditional Belgian confectione…

Lexus — Toyota's luxury vehicle brand Lexus Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Toyota, known for premium craftsmanship, hybrid technology, performance variants, and a global focus on quality, comfort, and reliability.

Leyland Motors: British bus and truck manufacturer Leyland Motors Overview of Leyland Motors, a major British maker of buses and commercial vehicles, its products, factories (including Spurrier Works and Workington), history, and legacy.

LG Corporation LG Corporation is a South Korean conglomerate (chaebol) that manages global businesses in electronics, chemicals, telecommunications and services; founded as Lucky and GoldStar, re…

Liberty Mutual Group Liberty Mutual Liberty Mutual Group is a Boston-based mutual insurance company founded in 1912, offering personal and commercial property and casualty coverage with a large global footprint and d…

Lidl — German discount supermarket chain Lidl Lidl is a German discount supermarket chain headquartered in the Schwarz Group. It operates thousands of stores across Europe and beyond, known for low prices, limited assortments…

Lincoln Motor Company — American luxury automobile marque Lincoln Motor Company Lincoln is Ford Motor Company's long‑standing luxury vehicle brand, founded in 1917 and known for upscale sedans and SUVs, distinctive design, and a focus on comfort and quiet cabi…

Lindt & Sprüngli (Lindt) Lindt & Sprüngli Swiss chocolatier Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli, known as Lindt, produces premium chocolate and confections including Lindor truffles, Excellence bars and seasonal specialties…

Lions Gate Entertainment (Lionsgate) Lions Gate Entertainment Lionsgate is a North American film and television studio known for distributing and producing independent, genre and franchise movies and series. Founded in the mid‑1990s, now base…

List of Airlines by Country List of airlines Organized overview of commercial airlines worldwide, how such lists are compiled, common categories (flag, low-cost, regional, cargo), and guidance for using country-based airline…

Railway companies involved in the 1923 grouping (the Big Four) List of railway companies involved in the 1923 grouping Overview and principal pre-grouping companies merged under the Railways Act 1921 into the four major British railway companies effective 1 January 1923.

List of supermarkets (global index and guide) List of supermarkets A concise encyclopedia-style guide to supermarket lists worldwide: organization, formats, history, notable chains by region, and how to use such indexes.

Little Caesars — American pizza chain founded by Mike Ilitch Little Caesars Little Caesars is an American pizza restaurant chain founded in 1959. Known for value-oriented pizza and the 'Hot-N-Ready' model, it grew into a major franchised brand and is a sub…

Littlest Pet Shop (toy franchise) Littlest Pet Shop A Hasbro-owned toy franchise of small collectible animal figures and playsets, introduced in 1992 and relaunched in 2005; known for stylized designs, collectibility and multimedia…

Liz Claiborne, Inc.: American fashion company and brand Liz Claiborne Liz Claiborne, Inc. is a New York–based fashion company founded in 1976, known for its women’s apparel, accessories and fragrances and for its commercial success in late 20th-centu…

Lloyds Bank — British retail and commercial bank within Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank Lloyds Bank is a major UK retail and commercial bank, part of Lloyds Banking Group after a 2009 merger; it operates multiple consumer brands and provides a range of banking service…

Loblaw Companies Limited Loblaw Companies Canada's largest food retailer, operating multiple supermarket and drugstore banners, private brands and related services. Known for President's Choice, PC Optimum and a portfolio…

Lockheed Martin Corporation — American aerospace, defense and technology company Lockheed Martin Major U.S. aerospace and defense firm formed by the 1995 Lockheed–Martin Marietta merger; designs aircraft, missiles, satellites and space systems and is a principal government con…

Locomobile Company of America American automaker founded in 1899 that began with steam cars and later produced gasoline automobiles; known for early engineering, transition from steam to internal combustion, an…

Logitech: Swiss maker of computer peripherals and consumer electronics Logitech Logitech is a Swiss multinational best known for computer peripherals such as mice, keyboards and webcams. This article covers its products, history, brands, uses and notable disti…

London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) London and North Eastern Railway Major British railway company (1923–1948), operator of the East Coast Main Line; noted for Sir Nigel Gresley’s locomotives (Flying Scotsman, Mallard), major workshops and a strong…

London and North Western Railway (LNWR) — history and legacy London and North Western Railway Overview of the London and North Western Railway: formation, routes, operations, and its evolution into later British railway companies and the modern West Coast Main Line.

London and South Western Railway Major British railway company (1838–1922) that built routes from London Waterloo to Southampton and the southwest, later forming part of the Southern Railway in the 1923 Grouping.

London Buses — organisation, fleet, routes and history London Buses Overview of London Buses: the Transport for London brand that plans and regulates bus services across Greater London, its fleet and fares, operating model, history, and cultural si…

London Central (bus operator) London Central London Central is a major bus operator in London that runs services under contract to Transport for London. Formed during late-1980s restructuring, it joined Go-Ahead London in 200…

London General (bus operator) London General London General is a bus operator in Greater London, part of the Go-Ahead Group, running services under contract to Transport for London and named after the historic London General…

London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Historic British railway company (1846–1922) that linked London with Sussex and Surrey, serving seaside resorts, ports and commuter suburbs before becoming part of the Southern Rai…

London, Chatham and Dover Railway A concise overview of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway: its origins as the East Kent Railway, network and services in south‑eastern England, chronic financial struggles, worki…

London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) was a major British railway company from 1923 to 1948, formed by grouping many pre‑existing railways and later nationalised into Brit…