Quiz: Do you know the country these companies are from?

See next slide for answer.

Months after Japan surrendered to end World War II, a little company named Sony was founded with about 20 workers. Over the next seven decades, Sony morphed into an electronics giant and helped boost Japan’s economy. Today, one of Sony’s biggest sellers are PlayStation video game consoles, with a fifth-generation model due in 2020.

See next slide for answer.

Aldi is popular throughout Europe, but even if you’ve never shopped at one in the U.S., you may have stopped into one of Aldi’s grocery store cousins. Trader Joe’s, like Aldi, is owned by the Albrecht family. The Albrecht family purchased Trader Joe’s in 1979.

See next slide for answer.

Nokia is known for its cellular phones, but the Finnish company began as a paper mill. Nokia, now a publicly-traded company, has also produced tires, rubber boots, and other products. Although American football isn’t all that popular in Finland, Nokia sponsored the Sugar Bowl for more than 10 years.

See next slide for answer.

Chinese tech company Huawei was founded in 1987 by a former officer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, according to NPR. Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer, is embroiled in a U.S. extradition case because of alleged fraud.

See next slide for answer.

BHP's roots trace back to a small tin mine in 1851. BHP expanded to the Gulf of Mexico 166 years later, further cementing its role as a world leader in mining and petroleum. Currently, BHP is facing a probe over coal safety.

See next slide for answer.

Founded in 1938, Samsung, a name synonymous with electronics, once exported dried fish. Today, Samsung is recognizable by its Galaxy phones, and as a sponsor for the Olympics and Juventus Football Club.

See next slide for answer.

As the Cold War drew to a close, the U.S.S.R. Gas Industry Ministry became Gazprom. Currently, Gazprom is leading the construction of a pipeline project under the Baltic Sea. Gazprom has come under scrutiny for its monopoly-like control over European gas markets.

See next slide for answer.

Michelin was founded in 1889, and for over 120 years, has been one of the most popular brands in the tire industry. At the turn of the 20th century, Michelin began publishing guides for travelers; today, being a Michelin-rated restaurant is one of the highest honors an establishment can receive.

See next slide for answer.

Fiverr is an online marketplace for freelancers. Founded in 2010, Fiverr is one of many companies getting in on the emerging gig economy. Fiverr is based in Tel Aviv, which has become an international hub for tech startups.

See next slide for answer.

Vale claims to be the world's largest iron ore and nickel producer. However, last year the company became embroiled in controversy when one of its dams collapsed and killed over 250 people.

See next slide for answer.

In 1917, Konosuke Matsushita produced his first sockets and installation fans in Osaka. One century later, Matsushita’s Panasonic is one of the most revered names in electronics. Matsushita’s brother-in-law, Toshio lue, with whom he made those first sockets, later founded Sanyo Electric.

See next slide for answer.

Jarritos, the familiar colorful soft drinks that go down well with tacos and burritos, was first made in 1950. Fans of Jarritos should be happy to know that soon the sugary soft drinks will be more widely available, as 7-Eleven will offer flavors in fountain machines.

See next slide for answer.

In 1863, a pair of dye salespeople founded Bayer. Soon, Bayer workers expanded their range of chemicals and became a world leader in pharmaceutical sales. Recently, Bayer merged with agrochemical giant Monsanto.

See next slide for answer.

Giorgio Armani’s iconic fashion brand launched in 1975. When Richard Gere sported Armani from head-to-toe in “American Gigolo,” Armani styles burst onto the American scene. With staying power among celebrities, Armani is reportedly worth over $1 billion.

See next slide for answer.

Although Tata may not have the same recognition in the U.S. as Toyota, Volvo, or other international automakers, they have been in business as a public limited company since 1945. Tata has forged many notable relationships with other automakers; first Daimler-Benz, and then in 2008, Tata acquired Jaguar Land Rover.

See next slide for answer.

Twenty-one years ago, a former English teacher and 18 colleagues found Alibaba. One of those co-founders, Joseph Tsai, is now one of the company’s most public faces. In 2019, Tsai agreed to purchase the Brooklyn Nets for a reported $2.35 billion.

See next slide for answer.

In 1926, Fage began as a small, family-run dairy shop in Athens. Fage yogurts finally reached the U.S. in the 1990s, and they now operate a huge production facility in upstate New York.

See next slide for answer.

Dangote is one of Africa’s biggest conglomerates, producing cement, sugar, flour, petrochemicals, and many other products. Founder Aliko Dangote is reportedly Africa’s richest man, worth about $10 billion.

See next slide for answer.

Swedish textile mainstay H&M began selling clothing in 1947. By 2000, H&M reached the U.S. with a flagship store in Manhattan. Soon, Karl Lagerfeld and many other fashion icons began collaborating with the relatively affordable store.

See next slide for answer.

When Jollibee opened their first Manhattan location in 2018, lines were out the store waiting for fried chicken, spaghetti, and other company staples. Jollibee's chicken joy is beloved by foodies (including the late Anthony Bourdain), as are the sides of gravy served with fries.

See next slide for answer.

Founded in 1847 by J. C. Jacobsen, Carlsberg has been brewing beer for almost 175 years. Currently, Carlsberg reaches over 150 markets with brands in China and Ukraine.

See next slide for answer.

In 2006, Al Jazeera, which is partly funded by the Qatari government, became a public utility, private corporation. Thus, the newly formed Al Jazeera Media Network was formed, and soon the network had 70 bureaus around the world. Al Jazeera has been criticized for broadcasting explicit images.

See next slide for answer.

Tencent was founded in 1998 and has grown into a worldwide leader in media and technology. One of Tencent’s more notable partnerships is with the NBA; however, earlier this year, Tencent briefly stopped broadcasting NBA content after Houston Rockets' general manager Daryl Morey tweeted his support for Hong Kong protesters.

See next slide for answer.

Four years after World War II ended, German inventor Adi Dassler founded Adidas. Over the next 70 years, Adidas' three-stripe layout became one of the most iconic looks in athletic and urban fashion. David Beckham, James Harden, and Aaron Rodgers are among the athletes signed to Adidas sponsorship contracts.

See next slide for answer.

Nintendo reached worldwide fame in the 1980s thanks to "Super Mario Bros.," but the company was founded almost 100 years earlier. Nintendo first produced playing cards, but made their nut and then some with video games. Nintendo Switch software alone has sold over 300 million units.

See next slide for answer.

The name Vodafone was first announced to the media in 1984; within three years, it became the largest mobile network in the world. Today, Vodafone counts for almost 444 million customers in 26 countries. Because of Vodafone’s global reach, the company was criticized in 2013, when some customer access was blocked during the Arab Spring.

See next slide for answer.

In 1867, Henri Nestle developed a new infant formula that set his namesake company on its way. By 1904, Nestle was selling chocolate; today, the Nestle portfolio includes bottled water, ice cream, and pet care products. With a huge carbon imprint, Nestle announced plans in 2020 to reduce its plastic use.

See next slide for answer.

In 2018, LG scored a big coup when they signed BTS to an endorsement deal. Before K-pop, LG first entered the Korean market in 1947, selling cosmetics. Today, LG is best known for manufacturing electronics, with over $54 billion in global sales in 2018.

See next slide for answer.

Reliance manufactures fibers, textiles, petrochemicals, and many other products. Founded in the 1970s, Reliance now employs over 24,000 workers. Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani is considered Asia’s richest man and has plans to challenge Amazon in India.

See next slide for answer.

Commonly known as Santander in the U.S., Banco Santander was founded way back in 1857. Spain's Queen Isabella II signed a royal decree that allowed the incorporation of Banco Santander, which was intended to increase trade with Latin America. In 2013, American-based Sovereign Bank became Santander.

See next slide for answer.

Phillips’ initial purpose, in the late 19th century, was to manufacture “incandescent lamps and other electrical products.” Today, the Dutch conglomerate has moved past just light bulbs and makes headphones, electric toothbrushes, medical equipment, and much more. In 1979, Phillips introduced the concept of a CD player.

See next slide for answer.

Anglo American is recognized for mining, investing heavily in minerals and metals. At times, Anglo American has been the world’s leading miner of platinum. Sir Ernest Oppenheimer founded the company in 1917.

See next slide for answer.

Grupo Bimbo, founded in 1945, counts among its brands Entenmann’s, Sara Lee, and Takis. In January 2020, Grupo Bimbo added Lender’s Bagels to its stable. Over the years, Grupo Bimbo products were stocked in 95% of Wal-Marts, Costcos, and Krogers.

See next slide for answer.

Eugene Schueller founded L'Oréal in 1909. Since then, L'Oréal has become the world’s largest cosmetics company. Viola Davis, Helen Mirren, and Celine Dion are some notable names who’ve modeled in L'Oréal campaigns.

See next slide for answer.

Chung Ju-Yung, founding chairman of Hyundai, was born in North Korea in 1915. Fifty-two years later, more than a decade after the Korean peninsula was separated into two countries, Chung launched Hyundai Motors. Hyundai morphed into a chaebol—the Korean term for a family-run conglomerate—and now operates luxury department stores.

See next slide for answer.

Dietrich Mateschitz, inspired by Far East energy drinks, founded Red Bull in 1984. In 2019, Red Bull sold 7.5 billion cans of its energy drink. The company has grown to sponsor a wide variety of sporting events and teams.

See next slide for answer.

Twenty-two years ago, Lululemon was founded in Vancouver. In 2018, Lululemon's revenue reached $3.3 billion. The yoga-wear remains popular, but Lululemon has come under scrutiny in the past for false advertising.

See next slide for answer.

Founded in 1927, Volvo produces automobiles in 18 countries. In 2018, Volvo reported over $40 billion in net sales. During the latest Super Bowl, Volvo ran an advertisement offering the possibility of $1 million worth of free cars.

See next slide for answer.

Not to be confused with outdoorsy sandals, Teva Pharmaceutical was initially called “Assia,” an Aramaic word for doctor. After almost 120 years of success, Teva has run into some obstacles in the market, with shares trading at about $10.

See next slide for answer.

Anheuser-Busch InBev technically was formed through a 2008 merger, but Anheuser-Busch is over 165 years old. Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Hoegaarden are just some AB InBev brands. Recently, the company entered the hard seltzer market.

See next slide for answer.

Founded in 1920, Mazda was initially a cork company. Mazda’s first vehicle was released in 1931, a tricycle truck. According to the Mazda website, the company name is derived from “Ahura Mazda, the god of harmony, intelligence, and wisdom from the earliest civilization in West Asia.”

See next slide for answer.

Thomas Sutherland, a Scotsman working in Hong Kong, sought to create better banking facilities when he launched HSBC in the 1860s. HSBC, which stands for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, is now traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange. However, HSBC may soon leave Turkey.

See next slide for answer.

Since 1860, Campari has produced liquors. Brands like Aperol, Grand Marnier, and Wild Turkey now reach over 190 countries. In particular, Aperol Spritz drinks have become a point of debate in the U.S. and are popular in the Japanese show “Terrace House.”

See next slide for answer.

Luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessey merged in 1987, but the conglomerate’s roots trace back to the 16th century. However, the two luxury icons don’t just specialize in opulence. LVMH recently became an investor in Target beauty products and the soccer club A.C. Milan.

See next slide for answer.

Lenovo launched in 1984 with an initial capital outlay of about $25,000. Two decades later, Lenovo completed its acquisition of IBM, which was one of the world's leading computer companies in 1984. Lenovo also produces smartphones and is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

See next slide for answer.

A&W, a favored root beer of Snoopy, opened its first roadside stand in California in 1919. A&W is the initials of the surnames of founders Roy Allen and Frank Wright. Known for serving a variety of burgers and chicken meals, A&W recently started selling Cod sliders.

See next slide for answer.

UBS history traces back to 1862 as the Bank in Winterthur, and in the 1890s, the Swiss Bank Corporation was founded. The Union Bank of Switzerland started operations in 1912 when Winterthur merged with Toggenburger Bank; then, in 1998, Swiss Bank Corporation and Union Bank of Switzerland merged to form UBS. Recently, UBS has been struggling with investors losing faith in the company and withdrawing large sums from hedge funds.

See next slide for answer.

The 125 S, Ferrari’s first car, was built in 1947. In 2019, the film “Ford v Ferrari,” which chronicles Ferrari’s dominance as a powerful sports car in the racing circuit, received four Academy Award nominations. Even before the release of “Ford v Ferrari,” the Italian sports cars have been a symbol of luxury in films for decades. (Remember the desired red car in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”?)

See next slide for answer.

Billabong, a small surfing company when it was founded in 1973, caught a huge wave when it became publicly traded in 2000. Eventually, Billabong was bought by Quiksilver, another major name in outdoor sports apparel and equipment. Today, Billabong sponsors some of the world’s best surfers.

See next slide for answer.

Ritesh Agarwal was only 19 years old when he founded OYO Hotels in 2013. Now, Agarwal is worth over $1 billion, with Airbnb as an early investor in his vision. However, expansion in the U.S. and U.K. has been rocky, with some OYO staff being cut as the company readjusts.