In an age where startups rise and fall rapidly, some companies have endured for over a century. These companies have navigated world wars, technological revolutions, and global economic shifts – emerging stronger and continuing to evolve. Here are 25 notable companies that are over 100 years old, along with brief overviews of each.
Summary
Here’s a summary table of the 25 companies over 100 years old, including their founding year, country of origin, and industry:
| Logo | Company Name | Founded | Country | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | General Electric (GE) | 1892 | USA | Industrial/Energy/Healthcare |
 | Coca-Cola | 1886 | USA | Beverages |
 | Ford Motor Company | 1903 | USA | Automotive |
 | IBM | 1911 | USA | Technology/Computing |
 | Nestlé | 1866 | Switzerland | Food & Beverage |
 | Shell | 1907 | UK/Netherlands | Oil & Gas |
 | Siemens | 1847 | Germany | Engineering/Technology |
 | J.P. Morgan Chase | 1871 | USA | Finance |
 | Peugeot | 1810 | France | Automotive |
 | Johnson & Johnson | 1886 | USA | Pharmaceuticals/Healthcare |
 | DuPont | 1802 | USA | Chemicals |
 | Heineken | 1873 | Netherlands | Beverages (Beer) |
 | Levi Strauss & Co. | 1853 | USA | Apparel |
 | L’Oréal | 1909 | France | Cosmetics/Beauty |
 | BASF | 1865 | Germany | Chemicals |
 | Brooks Brothers | 1818 | USA | Apparel |
 | Tata Group | 1868 | India | Conglomerate/Various |
 | Nintendo | 1889 | Japan | Gaming/Entertainment |
 | Crédit Agricole | 1894 | France | Finance/Banking |
 | Kikkoman | 1917 | Japan | Food (Soy Sauce) |
 | Schweppes | 1783 | Switzerland/UK | Beverages |
 | General Mills | 1866 | USA | Food Processing |
 | Colgate-Palmolive | 1806 | USA | Consumer Goods |
 | Beretta | 1526 | Italy | Firearms Manufacturing |
 | The New York Times Co. | 1851 | USA | Media/Publishing |
These companies that have stood the test of time, each operating for more than 100 years representing resilience, adaptability, and a deep-rooted legacy in their respective industries.
1. General Electric (GE) – Founded 1892 (USA)
Originally co-founded by Thomas Edison, GE became a powerhouse in electrical appliances, aviation, and healthcare technologies. It remains a key player in energy and industrial sectors. Now, it’s been spun off to three separate companies – GE Aerospace, GE Vernova, and GE HealthCare.
2. Coca-Cola – Founded 1886 (USA)
Invented by pharmacist John Pemberton, Coca-Cola transformed from a tonic to the world’s most recognized beverage brand, with operations in over 200 countries.
3. Ford Motor Company – Founded 1903 (USA)
Founded by Henry Ford, this company revolutionized automobile manufacturing with the assembly line. It remains a major global car manufacturer today.
4. IBM (International Business Machines) – Founded 1911 (USA)
Initially a tabulating machine company, IBM evolved into a pioneer in computing, data systems, and AI. It played a pivotal role in the early computing revolution.
5. Nestlé – Founded 1866 (Switzerland)
Originally a baby formula company, Nestlé is now the world’s largest food and beverage company, owning brands like Nescafé, KitKat, and Gerber.
6. Shell (Royal Dutch Shell) – Founded 1907 (UK/Netherlands)
Created through the merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport, Shell is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world.
7. Siemens – Founded 1847 (Germany)
Started as a telegraph company, Siemens is now a global leader in automation, energy, healthcare, and transportation technologies.
8. J.P. Morgan Chase (formerly J.P. Morgan & Co.) – Founded 1871 (USA)
One of the oldest financial institutions in the U.S., it played major roles in stabilizing markets during economic crises. It’s now a banking giant.
9. Peugeot – Founded 1810 (France)
Originally a coffee mill company, Peugeot evolved into one of Europe’s oldest car manufacturers, now part of Stellantis.
10. Johnson & Johnson – Founded 1886 (USA)
A leader in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods, J&J is famous for products like Band-Aid and Tylenol.
11. DuPont – Founded 1802 (USA)
Started as a gunpowder mill, DuPont became a major chemical company, known for inventions like nylon, Teflon, and Kevlar.
12. Heineken – Founded 1873 (Netherlands)
One of the world’s most iconic beer brands, Heineken has grown into a global brewing empire with presence in nearly every country.
13. Levi Strauss & Co. – Founded 1853 (USA)
Famous for inventing blue jeans, Levi’s remains a major force in global apparel and denim fashion.
14. L’Oréal – Founded 1909 (France)
Started by a young chemist developing hair dye, L’Oréal is now the world’s largest cosmetics and beauty company.
15. BASF – Founded 1865 (Germany)
A chemical industry giant, BASF produces products ranging from plastics to agricultural solutions. It is one of the oldest industrial firms in Europe.
16. Brooks Brothers – Founded 1818 (USA)
America’s oldest clothing retailer, known for dressing presidents and redefining classic men’s fashion – though it has faced challenges in the modern retail era.
17. Tata Group – Founded 1868 (India)
A massive Indian conglomerate with interests in steel (Tata Steel), automotive (Tata Motors), technology (Tata Consultancy Services), and more, it has helped shape India’s industrial landscape.
18. Nintendo – Founded 1889 (Japan)
Originally a playing card company, Nintendo transformed into a gaming titan with franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon.
19. Crédit Agricole – Founded 1894 (France)
One of the largest cooperative banks in the world, it began as a rural banking system and now offers full banking services globally.
20. Kikkoman – Founded 1917 (Japan)
The world’s leading soy sauce producer, Kikkoman combines traditional methods with modern innovation, exporting to over 100 countries.
21. Schweppes – Founded 1783 (Switzerland/UK)
Invented the first carbonated water and later expanded into tonic waters and mixers. It’s now a major beverage brand under various global beverage companies.
22. General Mills – Founded 1866 (USA)
Known for household food brands like Cheerios, Betty Crocker, and Häagen-Dazs, it has been a cornerstone of American food manufacturing.
23. Colgate-Palmolive – Founded 1806 (USA)
Started with soap and candles, it is now a leading global provider of oral care, hygiene, and pet nutrition products.
24. Beretta – Founded 1526 (Italy)
One of the oldest manufacturing companies still in operation, Beretta is a leading firearms maker, supplying military, police, and civilian markets.
25. The New York Times Company – Founded 1851 (USA)
This iconic newspaper company helped shape journalism worldwide and has transitioned successfully into the digital news age.
Conclusion
These companies offer lessons in durability, innovation, and reinvention. Their ability to adapt across generations, markets, and technologies is a testament to strong leadership, enduring values, and relevance in changing times. While the business landscape is ever-evolving, these centenarian companies show that longevity is still possible – with the right mix of vision, agility, and purpose.
