1989: Brothers Thomas and Andrew Parkinson found Peapod Delivery Systems in a new-business incubator at Northwestern University.
first order.
1990: First Web server built for CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics.
1993: Peapod expands service to three Chicagoland Jewel stores and to Safeway stores in San Francisco.
1993: Mark Andreesen creates Mosaic, the first poin-and-click graphical Web browser for the public.
1993: First New York Times mention of "World Wide Web."
1994: Andreesen creates Netscape; Microsoft counters with Internet Explorer as "Browser Wars" begin.
1994: Online bookseller Amazon.com is founded in Bellevue, Wash.
1996: Peapod launches partnerships with Kroger in Columbus, Ohio, and Randall's/Tom Thumb in Houston, Dallas and Austin, Texas.
1996: America Online exceeds 5 million members.
1997: Peapod goes public on Nasdaq, raising $58.4 million
1997: Amazon.com goes public on Nasdaq, raising $54 million.
1999: Five percent of all U.S. Internet users connect via broadband.
1999: Webvan launched in San Francisco, promises national rollout.
1999: Peapod converts Chicago and San Francisco markets to central distribution, names Bill Malloy CEO.
2000: Webvan buys rival HomeGrocer, expands to 13 cities, including Chicago.
2000: Peapod's $120 million private financing deal collapses as Malloy resigns.
2000: Ahold purchased Peapod for $73 million, names Marc Van Gelder CEO, and announces rollout of Peapod by Stop & Shop and a store-based distribution model in New England.
2000: Streamline.com ceases operations; Ahold/Peapod acquires its assets.
2000: Peapod launches Peapod by Giant in Wasington area.
2001: 2001 Peapod closes San Francisco distribution center.
2001: Webvan ceases operations, files for bankruptcy protection.
2001: Twenty percent of all U.S. Internet users connect via broadband.
2004: Forty-five perent of all U.S. Internet users connect via broadband.
2004: Amazon.com turns first yearly profit.
2004: Peapod turn profit in each of its five mature markets, announces expansion to four new markets.
