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Top 50 oldest companies still in operation today, sorted by their founding year, how each company started, their initial product, and their most successful or notable product
Below is a table listing the top 50 oldest companies still in operation today, sorted by their founding year. The table includes details on how each company started, their initial product, and their most successful or notable product. These companies span various industries and countries, demonstrating remarkable longevity through adaptation and innovation.
|
Company
|
Founding Year
|
Country
|
How They Started
|
Initial Product
|
Successful Product
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kongō Gumi
|
578 AD
|
Japan
|
Founded as a temple construction company by a Korean immigrant.
|
Buddhist temples
|
Construction services (now a subsidiary)
|
|
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan
|
705 AD
|
Japan
|
Started as a hot spring inn by Fujiwara Mahito.
|
Hot spring baths
|
Hotel and hospitality services
|
|
Hoshi Ryokan
|
718 AD
|
Japan
|
Established as a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).
|
Ryokan accommodation
|
Hotel and hot spring services
|
|
Genda Shigyo
|
771 AD
|
Japan
|
Began as a paper production company.
|
Traditional Japanese paper
|
Ceremonial paper goods
|
|
Staffelter Hof Winery
|
862 AD
|
Germany
|
Founded as a winery by the Abbey of Stavelot.
|
Wine
|
Wine
|
|
Monnaie de Paris
|
864 AD
|
France
|
Established by King Charles the Bald to produce coins.
|
Coins
|
Coins and medals
|
|
The Royal Mint
|
886 AD
|
United Kingdom
|
Started under King Alfred the Great to standardize coinage.
|
Coins
|
Coins, medals, and collectibles
|
|
Sean’s Bar
|
900 AD
|
Ireland
|
Began as a tavern along the River Shannon.
|
Alcoholic beverages
|
Pub and bar services
|
|
Tanaka-Iga
|
885 AD
|
Japan
|
Founded to produce Buddhist goods.
|
Butsudan shrines
|
Buddhist religious goods
|
|
Marinelli Bell Foundry
|
1000 AD
|
Italy
|
Started as a bell foundry for churches.
|
Church bells
|
Bells
|
|
Affligem Brewery
|
1074 AD
|
Belgium
|
Founded by monks as a brewery.
|
Beer
|
Beer
|
|
Munke Mølle
|
1135 AD
|
Denmark
|
Began as a mill owned by the Benedictine monks.
|
Flour
|
Flour and milling services
|
|
Aberdeen Harbour Board
|
1136 AD
|
Scotland
|
Established to manage the port of Aberdeen.
|
Port management
|
Port and harbor services
|
|
Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House
|
1153 AD
|
China
|
Started as a restaurant serving chicken.
|
Bucket chicken
|
Restaurant services
|
|
Tuttle Farm
|
1632
|
United States
|
Founded as a family farm in New Hampshire.
|
Agricultural products
|
Farm equipment (before sale)
|
|
Shirley Plantation
|
1638
|
United States
|
Founded as a tobacco plantation by Edward Hill.
|
Tobacco
|
Agricultural products and tourism
|
|
Zildjian Cymbals
|
1623
|
Turkey (now USA)
|
Founded by Avedis Zildjian as a cymbal manufacturer.
|
Cymbals
|
Cymbals
|
|
Lloyd’s of London
|
1688
|
United Kingdom
|
Began as a coffee house where merchants insured ships.
|
Marine insurance
|
Insurance services
|
|
Twinings
|
1706
|
United Kingdom
|
Started by Thomas Twining as a tea shop.
|
Tea
|
Tea
|
|
Sotheby’s
|
1744
|
United Kingdom
|
Started by Samuel Baker as an auction house for books.
|
Book auctions
|
Art and collectibles auctions
|
|
Hartford Courant
|
1764
|
United States
|
Started as a newspaper by Thomas Green.
|
Newspaper
|
Newspaper
|
|
Bank of New York Mellon
|
1784
|
United States
|
Founded by Alexander Hamilton as the Bank of New York.
|
Banking services
|
Financial services
|
|
King Arthur Baking Company
|
1790
|
United States
|
Started as Sands, Taylor & Wood, importing European flour.
|
Imported flour
|
Flour and baking products
|
|
Cigna (INA)
|
1792
|
United States
|
Founded as the Insurance Company of North America.
|
Marine insurance
|
Health and life insurance
|
|
Colgate
|
1806
|
United States
|
Started by William Colgate as a soap and candle company.
|
Soap and candles
|
Toothpaste
|
|
HarperCollins (Harper & Brothers)
|
1817
|
United States
|
Started by James and John Harper as a book publisher.
|
Books
|
Books and magazines
|
|
Brooks Brothers
|
1818
|
United States
|
Founded as a men’s clothier by Henry Sands Brooks.
|
Men’s clothing
|
Business attire
|
|
Con Edison
|
1823
|
United States
|
Founded as the New York Gas Light Company.
|
Gas lighting
|
Electricity and energy services
|
|
Yuengling
|
1829
|
United States
|
Founded by David Yuengling as Eagle Brewing.
|
Beer
|
Beer
|
|
Pabst Brewing Company
|
1844
|
United States
|
Founded by Jacob Best as a brewery.
|
Beer
|
Pabst Blue Ribbon beer
|
|
Johnson & Johnson
|
1886
|
United States
|
Founded by Robert, James, and Edward Johnson.
|
Antiseptic surgical dressings
|
Healthcare products
|
|
Coca-Cola
|
1886
|
United States
|
Started by John Pemberton as a medicinal drink.
|
Coca-Cola beverage
|
Soft drinks
|
|
Avon
|
1886
|
United States
|
Founded by David McConnell as a perfume company.
|
Perfume
|
Beauty and personal care products
|
|
Sears
|
1893
|
United States
|
Started by Richard Sears as a mail-order watch business.
|
Watches
|
Retail goods (now struggling)
|
|
Louis’ Lunch
|
1895
|
United States
|
Founded as a lunch wagon, later became a restaurant.
|
Hamburgers
|
Hamburgers
|
|
PepsiCo
|
1898
|
United States
|
Started by Caleb Bradham as Brad’s Drink.
|
Pepsi-Cola beverage
|
Beverages and snacks
|
|
Walgreens
|
1901
|
United States
|
Founded by Charles Walgreen as a drugstore.
|
Pharmaceuticals
|
Retail pharmacy
|
|
Nordstrom
|
1901
|
United States
|
Founded by John Nordstrom as a shoe store.
|
Shoes
|
Retail clothing
|
|
JCPenney
|
1902
|
United States
|
Started by James Cash Penney as a dry goods store.
|
Dry goods
|
Retail clothing
|
|
Ford Motor Company
|
1903
|
United States
|
Founded by Henry Ford to produce automobiles.
|
Automobiles
|
Automobiles
|
|
Harley-Davidson
|
1903
|
United States
|
Founded by William Harley and Arthur Davidson.
|
Motorcycles
|
Motorcycles
|
|
Kraft Foods
|
1903
|
United States
|
Started by James L. Kraft as a cheese delivery service.
|
Cheese
|
Processed foods
|
|
Neiman Marcus
|
1907
|
United States
|
Started by Herbert Marcus, Carrie Neiman, and A.L. Neiman.
|
Luxury goods
|
Luxury retail
|
|
UPS
|
1907
|
United States
|
Founded as American Messenger Company.
|
Messenger services
|
Package delivery
|
|
IBM
|
1911
|
United States
|
Founded as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company.
|
Tabulating machines
|
Technology and consulting services
|
|
Whirlpool
|
1911
|
United States
|
Founded by Lou and Emory Upton with a patent for a washer.
|
Washing machines
|
Home appliances
|
|
L.L. Bean
|
1912
|
United States
|
Started by Leon Leonwood Bean with a single boot design.
|
Boots
|
Outdoor clothing and equipment
|
|
Boeing
|
1916
|
United States
|
Started by William E. Boeing as Aero Products Company.
|
Aircraft
|
Commercial and military aircraft
|
|
Disney
|
1923
|
United States
|
Founded by Walt and Roy Disney as an animation studio.
|
Animated films
|
Entertainment and media
|
|
Marriott
|
1927
|
United States
|
Started by J. Willard Marriott as a root beer stand.
|
Root beer
|
Hotel and hospitality services
|
Notes:
-
Selection Criteria: Companies were chosen based on their founding year, continuous operation, and current relevance. The list prioritizes those founded before the 20th century where possible, with some notable 20th-century examples included to reach 50.
-
Adaptation: Many companies shifted from their initial products to more successful ones (e.g., Colgate from soap to toothpaste, Royal Mint from coins to collectibles).
-
Global Representation: The list includes companies from Japan, Europe, the United States, and beyond, reflecting diverse industries like construction, hospitality, finance, and manufacturing.
This table highlights the resilience and adaptability of these businesses, some of which have thrived for over a millennium by evolving with the times while maintaining their core identity.
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