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We all grow up with beloved brands that remind us of home, especially those that seem distinctly American – the ones that fill us with a deep sense of pride. But, surprisingly, many of these iconic brands are no longer American (or never were!). Here is a list of the top ten most famous American icons that are, in fact, foreign. If you can think of any others, feel free to add them in the comments.
10. Firestone Japan
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was established by Harvey Firestone in 1900, originally to supply tires for wagons, buggies, and other common forms of wheeled transportation of that time. Soon after, Firestone recognized the enormous potential for tires in the automobile market, positioning the company as a leader in tire mass production. It also became the primary tire supplier for Ford Motor Company, while remaining active in the replacement tire market. In 1988, Firestone was acquired by Bridgestone, a Japanese tire conglomerate founded in 1931 in Tokyo. Today, Bridgestone holds the top position in the global tire market, with Michelin in second place, Goodyear in third, and Continental in fourth.
9. Dial Soap Germany
The Dial Corporation, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializes in personal care and household cleaning products. Originally introduced as a deodorant soap by Armour and Company, a renowned meatpacking firm from Chicago, the brand evolved over time through mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. By the 2000s, it became an independent company focused on personal care and household products. In 2004, Henkel KGaA, a major German consumer products corporation, acquired the brand. Other famous Henkel brands include Schwarzkopf, Sellotape, and Persil, the first-ever laundry detergent.
8. Shell Netherlands
Shell Oil Company is the U.S. branch of Royal Dutch Shell, a global oil giant with Anglo-Dutch roots, ranking among the world's largest oil companies. The company employs about 22,000 individuals in the U.S., with its headquarters located in Houston, Texas. Shell Oil holds a 50/50 stake with Saudi Aramco in Motiva Enterprises, a joint venture focused on refining and marketing, which operates three refineries along the Gulf Coast. Royal Dutch Shell's origins can be traced back to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
7. Church’s Chicken Bahrain
Church’s Chicken is an American fast-food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken. It was founded by George W. Church, Sr. on April 17, 1952, in San Antonio, directly across from The Alamo, under the name Church’s Fried Chicken To Go. The brand now operates over 1,600 locations globally, and its slogan is ‘I know what good is.’ In 2004, the company was acquired by Arcapita (formerly Crescent Capital Investments), an Islamic venture capital firm. As a result, pork products were removed from the menu to align with halal dietary laws. Additionally, Church's Chicken adheres to Sharia law, avoiding investments in businesses related to credit, interest, pornography, alcohol, or pork. The company also owns Caribou Coffee.
6. Toll House Cookies Switzerland
Toll House is a well-known brand of cookies and brownies, now under Nestle’s ownership. It is named after the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts, where Ruth Graves Wakefield unintentionally invented the chocolate chip cookie in the 1930s in a nearby Rhode Island town. After the cookie became popular, Ruth Graves reached out to Nestle, and in exchange for the recipe, she received a lifetime supply of chocolate. Nestle, a Swiss company, now holds the rights to both the cookies and the recipe.
5. Holiday Inn United Kingdom
The original Holiday Inn hotel chain was established in 1952 by homebuilder Kemmons Wilson in Memphis, Tennessee, to provide affordable family lodging for American travelers. Wilson came up with the idea following a family road trip to Washington, DC, where he was dissatisfied with the quality and reliability of roadside motels. The name ‘Holiday Inn’ was suggested as a joke by his architect, Eddie Bluestein, inspired by the Bing Crosby movie. Today, Holiday Inn is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, a British corporation that manages several hotel brands.
4. The Chrysler Building United Arab Emirates
The Chrysler Building is a striking art deco skyscraper in New York City, easily recognizable to anyone familiar with American films. It held the title of the tallest building in the world for 11 months and remains the tallest brick building in the world. In 2007, the American Institute of Architects ranked it ninth on the List of America’s Favorite Architecture. As an integral part of the New York City skyline, the Chrysler Building has appeared countless times across various mediums—including film, photography, video games, art, advertising, music, literature, and fashion—immediately conveying the location where the action takes place. This iconic American landmark is now owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, which acquired a 75% share for more than $800 million. The council oversees the vast oil reserves of the emirates, valued at $1 trillion.
3. Budweiser Belgium
Budweiser, a highly popular beer in the United States, is an American-style lager brewed from a combination of barley malt and rice. Produced in various breweries across the U.S. and internationally, the name 'Budweiser' derives from the German word meaning 'from Budweis,' a city in Bohemia. On July 14, it was announced that Anheuser-Busch, the producer of Budweiser, would be acquired by the Belgian brewing giant InBev for $52 billion, marking the largest U.S. brewer being bought by a Belgian company.
This article is licensed under the GFDL, as it includes excerpts from Wikipedia.
7-Eleven operates worldwide with an impressive number of stores, outpacing even McDonald's. With locations across 18 countries, the brand is a household name, offering everything from beverages to snacks, with signature items like the Slurpee and Big Gulp continuing to be consumer favorites.
7-Eleven, a global convenience store chain, holds the title of the largest store network worldwide, surpassing McDonald's by 1,000 locations. It operates in 18 countries and offers a variety of private-label products such as Slurpee, a frozen beverage introduced in 1967, and the Big Gulp, a large soft drink option available in sizes ranging from 20 to 64 ounces. The chain is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd., a major Japanese retailer that also owns Denny's and White Hen Pantry.
Trader Joe’s was founded in 1958 under the name 'Pronto Market,' but the idea of a store featuring exotic foods, inspired by Joe Coulombe's vacation in the Caribbean, led to the creation of the first Trader Joe’s in 1966. This original store is still in business today, and the chain is now under the ownership of a family trust connected to Theo Albrecht, the German billionaire behind Aldi.
Trader Joe's, originally launched in 1958 as 'Pronto Market,' was reimagined by founder Joe Coulombe during a Caribbean vacation. He envisioned a unique market featuring exotic foods, which was rare among the existing chains at the time. The first Trader Joe’s store, located in California, opened in 1966 and continues to operate today. The chain is now owned by a family trust of German billionaire Theo Albrecht, who also owns the Aldi supermarket chain.
