Wow. I found this list of brand names that are owned by foreign companies. Incredible.
Ben & Jerry’s (owned by the Dutch & British) : In 2000, Ben & Jerry sold their company to Dutch-British conglomerate Unilever. The sale put it in the hands of the world’s largest ice cream manufacturer, right beside other formerly American ice cream icons Good Humor and Breyers.
Gerber (owned by the Swiss) : In 1994, Sandoz, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, bought Gerber for about $3.7 billion. The merger of Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy in 1996 created Novartis, a drug company. Gerber finally got a new home in 2007, when Swiss conglomerate Nestlé bought Gerber from Novartis.
7-Eleven (owned by the Japanese) : In the 1970s, 7-Eleven was sold out to a Japanese conglomerate. Believe it or not, Japan is now home to more 7-Eleven outlets than anywhere else in the world – even the United States.
Trader Joe’s (owned by Germans) : Since 1979, Trader Joe’s has been owned by German billionaire Theo Albrecht, one of two brothers behind the Aldi discount grocery conglomerates.
Levi’s (owned by Americans, but made elsewhere) : Worldwide demand calls for cheap labor and lower distribution costs. Levi’s has responded by opening more than 50 plants and offices in 35 countries. Check your label – a very few still say “Made in the USA.”
Miller (owned by the South Africans) : In 2002, South African Breweries bought the company for $3.6 billion in stock and assumed $2 billion in debt, taking Miller officially out of American hands.
Firestone (owned by the Japanese) : In 1988, the Japanese tire company Bridgestone bought the struggling Firestone for $2.65 billion. Despite its foreign ownership, Firestone’s headquarters remain in Nashville, Tenn.
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