You won’t believe these US brand owned by foreign companies

There are a few popular brands in the US that feel as American as apple pie, but in reality, the parent companies and owners are from other countries.

However, often the marketing of these products is done in a way that obscures their relationship to a foreign owner. For instance, the supermarket chain Aldi is actually owned by a German company with the same name. That doesn’t stop them from having a massive presence in the US with over 2,000 locations across the country.

The store sells products similar to other supermarkets, or in other words, there is not necessarily something German about the customer experience, even if such an offering were to appeal to customers. Additionally, Aldi acquired Trader Joe’s in the late ’70s, which was started in California, expanding their presence in the industry on an even greater scale.

The case of Nestlé

Food conglomerates which own many brands can be an easy way to obscure the market power of a food giant, like Nestlé. The Swiss brand, known for its chocolate, also owns DiGiorno Pizzas, Stouffer’s, San Pellegrino, and Purina pet food. The company’s history dates back to 1866 when it was founded by Henri Nestlé in the Swiss city of Vevey.

What’s more American than Bud Light?

Bud Lite, which forms part of the Budweiser brand, which has been the target of conservative consumer boycotts in the US in recent years, is owned by the Anheuser-Busch, which is a subsidiary of the Belgian company, AB InBev.

Budwiser was purchased by Anheuser-Busch in 2008, but its roots are traced back the 1800s in St. Louis, Missouri.

One company that have taken their business elsewhere

There are also two brands who have switched national affiliation over the course of their history.

One of the most notable examples is the sunglass maker, Ray-Ban, which was founded in Rochester, New York, in 1936, but sold to the Italian brand Luxottica Group in 1999.

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