Companies

Bethesda Softworks American video game publisher founded in Bethesda, Maryland, known for The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series; headquartered in Rockville and notable for publishing, development team…

Bi-Lo (Australia): former discount supermarket chain Bi-Lo (Australia) A concise history and profile of Bi‑Lo, the Australian discount supermarket chain founded in Adelaide in the late 1970s, its structure and operations, and its rebranding to Coles S…

Big Four A term used to denote four dominant entities in a field. Common uses include the Big Four accounting firms, major banks, the British railway companies (1923–1947), and sports group…

Big Four banks (United Kingdom) Big Four (banking) The Big Four are the largest retail banks in the United Kingdom—HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest Group—central to UK retail and commercial banking, regulation and p…

The Big Four (British railway companies, 1923–1947) Big Four (British railway companies) Overview of the four major British railway companies created by the 1921 Railways Act, their organization, roles, and legacy leading to nationalisation in 1948.

Billa (Austrian supermarket chain) Billa (supermarket) Billa is an Austrian supermarket chain founded in 1953. Owned by Germany's REWE Group, it operates hundreds of stores across Central and Eastern Europe and offers grocery, fresh fo…

Binter Canarias — regional airline of the Canary Islands Binter Canarias Binter Canarias is a Spanish regional carrier based in Gran Canaria, operating primarily inter-island services within the Canary archipelago and selected nearby international route…

Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company British rolling-stock manufacturer established in 1854 in Birmingham/Smethwick; built carriages, wagons and related equipment and played a long role in railway industry and local m…

Black Hills Corporation Regional energy company headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, providing electric and natural gas utility services across parts of the American West and operating both regulate…

Black Mark Productions: Swedish independent extreme metal label Black Mark Productions Black Mark Productions is a Swedish independent record label founded in 1991, known for releasing and promoting extreme metal artists and influential recordings tied to the Scandin…

Blizzard Entertainment American video game developer and publisher behind Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo and other major franchises; known for Battle.net, BlizzCon, and influential work in MMORPGs, RTS, and…

Blockbuster: History and legacy of the home video rental chain Blockbuster Overview of Blockbuster, the American video and game rental company: its business model, growth, decline with the rise of digital streaming, and the cultural legacy of its stores.

Bloodline Records Bloodline Records is the hip-hop imprint founded by Earl 'DMX' Simmons, associated with the Ruff Ryders collective and distributed through major-label partners such as Columbia/Son…

Bloomsbury Publishing British publishing house founded in 1986, known for fiction, non-fiction and academic works; headquartered in Bloomsbury, London with international offices and multiple imprints.

Blue Islands — Regional airline serving the Channel Islands and nearby destinations Blue Islands Overview of Blue Islands, a Channel Islands regional airline: operations, network, bases, fleet character, history and role connecting Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, the UK and Swi…

Blue Sky Studios American computer-animation studio best known for Ice Age and other CGI features; founded in 1987, acquired by 20th Century Fox and later part of Disney, closed in 2021; known for…

Blue Triangle (bus operator) Blue Triangle Blue Triangle is a bus operator serving East London under contract to Transport for London. It is part of the Go-Ahead Group and runs local routes including the East London Transit…

BMI Regional — British regional airline based at Aberdeen BMI Regional Overview of BMI Regional: origins, ownership, operations, fleet characteristics, routes and legacy as a UK regional carrier based in Aberdeen and linked to British Midland Internat…

Bmibaby — British low-cost carrier (defunct) Bmibaby Bmibaby was a UK-based low-cost airline, a subsidiary of British Midland (BMI). It operated short- and medium-haul services within the UK and to Europe before ceasing operations in…

BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke): German luxury automaker and motorcycle maker BMW Overview of BMW: history, design identity, model families (Series, X, Z, i, M), motorcycles, tuning partners and significance in luxury and performance markets.

BMW in Formula One: history, engines, teams and legacy BMW in Formula One Overview of BMW’s involvement in Formula One from the 1950s through turbo and modern eras, key engines and teams, notable achievements, and the marque’s lasting influence on F1 eng…

The Boeing Company: overview, history, products and significance Boeing Boeing is a major American aerospace and defense company founded in 1916. This article summarizes its origins, organization, main products, global role and notable developments.

Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M): Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) is a Swiss roller coaster manufacturer known for smooth, reliable rides and a family of distinct coaster models. Founded by Walter Bolliger and Claude Ma…

Bomis — 1990s Web Portal and Supporter of Nupedia and Wikipedia Bomis Bomis was an Internet portal founded in 1996 that hosted entertainment and adult-themed content and is chiefly remembered for financially and technically supporting Nupedia and the…

Bookstore: purpose, types, history and cultural role Bookstore A bookstore is a retail place that sells books and related items. This article explains types, layout, historical development, social functions, and distinctions from libraries and…

Bose Corporation Bose Corporation is an American audio company noted for loudspeakers, headphones and active noise‑cancellation technology. Founded by Amar Bose, it is headquartered in Framingham,…

Boulton & Watt: Pioneers of Steam Engineering in the Industrial Revolution Boulton & Watt Boulton & Watt was an influential British engineering firm founded by Matthew Boulton and James Watt in 1775. They developed key steam‑engine improvements that helped power mining,…

Boyhood Productions — Kolkata-based television production company Boyhood Productions Boyhood Productions is a Kolkata TV production house known for producing Bengali serials for Star Jalsha, including Pratidaan and Ke Apon Ke Por. Principal producers: Gurjit Singh,…

Brabham: British racing car constructor and Formula One team Brabham Brabham was a British racing car manufacturer and Formula One team founded in 1960 by Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac. Noted for technical innovation, customer cars and multiple worl…

Brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or other feature that distinguishes a product, service or organisation. This article explains its elements, development, types and practical…

Braniff International Airways American airline founded in 1928 that grew from regional service to an international carrier, became an early all‑jet airline, and ceased operations after financial difficulties in…

Brewery: facility, process, history and cultural role of beer production Brewery A brewery is a facility or company where beer is produced. This article covers its layout, main processes, historical origins, scales of operation, and cultural and economic import…

British Airways: overview, history, fleet, services and notable facts British Airways British Airways (BA) is the United Kingdom’s largest international airline and flag carrier. This article summarizes its history, network, fleet, passenger services and notable mil…

British Broadcasting Company (1922–1927) British Broadcasting Company The British Broadcasting Company Ltd was a private consortium of radio manufacturers formed in 1922 to organize and promote UK radio broadcasting; it was replaced by the public Bri…

British Midland Airways Limited (BMI) British Midland Airways Limited Overview of British Midland Airways Limited (BMI): history, operations, subsidiaries, regulatory status and its acquisition and integration into International Airlines Group/Britis…

British Motor Corporation (BMC) British Motor Corporation Major British vehicle manufacturer formed in 1952, maker of the Mini and many marques; later became British Motor Holdings and part of British Leyland after mergers in the 1960s.

BP plc (British Petroleum): history, operations and impact British Petroleum BP plc, commonly called British Petroleum, is a major international oil and gas company headquartered in London. This article covers its origins, business structure, controversies,…

British Rail: national railway operator of Great Britain (1948–1997) British Rail Overview of British Rail — its origins under the Transport Act 1947, organization, major reforms, services and rolling stock, the move to privatization, and its enduring legacy.

British South Africa Company A chartered company founded by Cecil Rhodes in 1889 to administer and develop parts of southern Africa; it played a central role in colonization, mining, transport and the creation…

British United Traction (BUT) British United Traction British United Traction (BUT) was a mid-20th-century British engineering joint venture supplying trolleybus chassis and rail/traction equipment to UK and export markets.

Brownie Brown — Japanese video game developer Brownie Brown Tokyo-based studio formed by ex-Square staff, known for action-RPGs and simulation titles for Nintendo hardware; later integrated into Nintendo as 1-UP Studio.

Brush Traction: British locomotive manufacturer and maintenance works Brush Traction Brush Traction is a Loughborough-based British company that manufactures, overhauls and maintains diesel and electric railway locomotives and traction equipment, serving mainline,…

Brussels Airlines Belgium's principal carrier based at Brussels Airport, operating European, African and transatlantic services with full-service amenities, alliance ties and a network focused on pa…

BT Group (British Telecommunications) — UK communications provider BT Group BT Group, trading as BT, is a major UK telecommunications company providing fixed-line, broadband, mobile (via EE), wholesale network access and business services. It originated as…

Buddha-Bar: Parisian restaurant-bar, music brand, and international franchise Buddha Bar Buddha-Bar is a Paris-born restaurant and lounge known for Asian-inspired decor, chill-out music compilations, and Pan-Asian fusion cuisine, expanded into a global franchise with n…

Budweiser (Anheuser‑Busch) — American lager brand Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch) Budweiser is an American pale lager created in 1876 by Adolphus Busch. Brewed by Anheuser‑Busch (now part of AB InBev), it is nicknamed the “King of Beers” and sold in several vari…

Budweiser Budvar — Czech lager and the Budějovice brewery Budweiser Budvar Budweiser Budvar (Budějovický Budvar) is a Czech brewery and beer brand from České Budějovice, known for its Bohemian lager tradition and for international naming disputes (sold as…

Bugatti: French maker of high-performance and luxury automobiles Bugatti Bugatti is a historic French automobile maker, founded in 1909, famed for elegant engineering, racing success in the early 20th century, and modern limited-run hypercars such as th…