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The 10 Corporations That Control Almost Everything You Buy

Tyler Durden's picture




 

We know the ten "people" that run the world, that 25 cities represent over half the world's GDP, and that the world's billionaires control a stunning $33 trillion in net worth... but who controls what the average joe-sixpack on Main Street buys? As PolicyMic notes, these ten mega corporations control the output of almost everything we buy - from household products to pet food and from jeans to jello. The so-called "Illusion of Choice," that these corporations (and their nepotistic inter-relationships) create is remarkable...

(click image for gigantic legible version)

(Note: The chart shows a mix of networks. Parent companies may own, own shares of, or may simply partner with their branch networks. For example, Coca-Cola does not own Monster, but distributes the energy drink. Another note: We are not sure how up-to-date the chart is. For example, it has not been updated to reflect P&G's sale of Pringles to Kellogg's in February.)

 

Via PolicyMic,

Here are just a few examples: Yum Brands owns KFC and Taco Bell. The company was a spin-off of Pepsi. All Yum Brands restaurants sell only Pepsi products because of a special partnership with the soda-maker.

 

$84 billion-company Proctor & Gamble — the largest advertiser in the U.S. — is paired with a number of diverse brands that produce everything from medicine to toothpaste to high-end fashion. All tallied, P&G reportedly serves a whopping 4.8 billion people around the world through this network.

 

$200 billion-corporation Nestle — famous for chocolate, but which is the biggest food company in the world — owns nearly 8,000 different brands worldwide, and takes stake in or is partnered with a swath of others. Included in this network is shampoo company L'Oreal, baby food giant Gerber, clothing brand Diesel, and pet food makers Purina and Friskies.

 

Unilever, of soap fame, reportedly serves 2 billion people around the world, controlling a network that produces everything from Q-tips to Skippy peanut butter.

 

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Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:42 | 4186800 mofreedom
mofreedom's picture

Ma and Pa (Corp) ain't even married, in fact bro and sis kissin.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:45 | 4186811 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

You know what happens when offspring are born from such a marriage yes? Extra chomosome anyone?

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:53 | 4186833 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

What an Awesome post horseman! Soon, all products will inter-breed and have this stamp!

http://www.orlandosbestdeals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/acme-Logo.png 

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:57 | 4186841 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

Our dinner tonight...

Eggs, mustard greens, cheese, and onions, all of which we grew, raised, and made, with some local bacon to make a nice quiche.

It is easier than fascist America would ever allow you to imagine.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:04 | 4186869 Richard Chesler
Richard Chesler's picture

It's a small club and you ain't in it. bitchez.

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:41 | 4187028 Surly Bear
Surly Bear's picture

This is not a recommendation to buy, and I am not currently bolding any position in any market, but that chart tells me which 10 equities to purchase.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:14 | 4187134 Theosebes Goodfellow
Theosebes Goodfellow's picture

After the market crashes anyway...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 05:20 | 4187200 0z
0z's picture

I don't buy any of those brands ...

Who's "you" ?

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 07:10 | 4187245 koperniuk666
koperniuk666's picture

I agree - there are only 5 products on the chart that I buy. Almost all the rest I would not  use or 'eat' even if I was dying.......

Is 'eating' the right word for that shit?

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:08 | 4187356 Race Car Driver
Race Car Driver's picture

Yes, 'eating' is the right word to use for ingesting.

However, 'food' is not the right word to use for that shit. 'Shit' is the correct word.

So, you were correct on all points.

Frightening that 10 corporations control most everything that the sheeple eat.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:04 | 4186871 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

I bet your woman knows and plays her role, as do you.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:12 | 4186881 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

OK, no one knows their role, but somehow mysteriously it all works out.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:07 | 4186875 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

I was gonna make dinner in an hour, but you got me hungry now with that quiche. Good thing I have this beer. ;)

We have a shitload of oranges about to come in. And I'm gonna juice the shit out of em.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:10 | 4186883 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

I had an orange today.  It was amazing.  I may have another before bed.  It is hard to beat a good orange.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:17 | 4186900 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

You're not helping the dumb fat American meme.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:19 | 4186903 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

I love how the orange flavored citric acid splashes everywhere when you rip up a good orange. We used to squirt that shit in each others' eyes as kids. Wack shit.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:51 | 4186921 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

Nothing nourishes and wakes your body/senses like eating fresh raw food grown on good earth.  That's how we function at our optimal.  btw- wackshit would be lighting it as you squirt it, but I grew up in dehood.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:28 | 4186917 tony wilson
tony wilson's picture

hedgeless_horseman

you aint know cowboy you is eatin what dem fenchies call a quiche lorraine

you is a brokeback cowboy and a traitor to the flag.

only girls french men or homosexualists eat dat crap.

get wid the programme soldier or ship out back to fag town



Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:45 | 4186941 FEDbuster
FEDbuster's picture

Call it Scrambled Egg Pie, if you need to.  I bet it tasted as good as it looked.  

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:48 | 4186949 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

No sarc?  I'll give you a -1 Fuck you for the horseman.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:15 | 4186994 RideTheWalrus
RideTheWalrus's picture

"Give quiche a chance"

- John & Yoko

 

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:19 | 4187139 Theosebes Goodfellow
Theosebes Goodfellow's picture

"You say free toe-toe and I say frittata..."

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:17 | 4187138 Doña K
Doña K's picture

Real men eat quiche, wear man's clogs, pink shirts, speedos but not thongs and skip the cologne. Women love that.

Strange that these comments come from someone with the name "Tony"

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:57 | 4187168 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

"man's clogs"

:) I had to look that one up.  I'll be happy she stops wearing my shirts, how's that.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:46 | 4187164 Adahy
Adahy's picture

Pitiful troll is pitiful.  Go over to "accredited times" to see how it's done.  Don't come back until you've improved.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:09 | 4187094 yofish
yofish's picture

You really make me laugh with your food posts. The average stupid fuck ZH'er doesn't even cook, so your entrees have a certain power over the less inclined. Can we see your horses? Now that, would tell us something real. 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:25 | 4187103 Joe A
Joe A's picture

Hmmmm, yummy!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:43 | 4187160 Adahy
Adahy's picture

You know, I never knew I liked mustard greens until I started the garden and planted some for the seed.
Nowadays, I cultivate 4 different kinds and eat it in damn near every meal in some way or another.  Bonus:  It grows all year around here (and probably most anywhere in the continental US).

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 07:26 | 4187252 BennyBoy
BennyBoy's picture

Eat whole foods  (not from Whole Foods corp.)

Don't eat processed foods. It aint healthy for you or your wallet.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:19 | 4187370 Cash-NonCash
Cash-NonCash's picture

To HH

You and me sir/ma'am,

I make three at a time and freeze two- from all homegrown or locally sourced food stuffs. Two cups of kale per quiche.  I feed my family without participating in mass-produced rat kibble as much as possible and we even feel a little smug about it!  When I have to go to a store I get ill looking at the contents of the carts... but the people pushing them are already ill...

Cheers

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:33 | 4187109 Joe A
Joe A's picture

People should become prosumers. I am against communism but all for communityism. People should produce for themselves and their community and barter for the things they cannot produce themselves. This is actually happening in the place called the cradle of democracy, Greece. Forced by the crisis caused by their corrupt elite, some communities have resorted to barter and to becoming prosumers.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 06:15 | 4187226 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

hedgeless-

Is your 4x8 hutch man-portable (or by 1 man and a wife who's about a buck wet)?

I'm working on a design for some convertible hutches/coops but the application is on a terrace which is inaccessible to tractors and very difficult for ATVs, so I need human powered and am not a huge fan of detachable side pens. Thanks

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:13 | 4187358 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

Yes, I can lift it up on to the end with the wheels and drag it.  It isn't easy.  If you don't move it frequently, then it gets hard to pull it through the dirt from the rabbit scrapes.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 11:21 | 4187728 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

Thanks for the info, that means I can lift, while the wife places some OSB strips, and then I can move it 1 length over to fresh grass...

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:42 | 4186801 dogmete
dogmete's picture

I don't buy any of those sleazy corporations' toxic, carcinogenic waste. 

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:43 | 4186807 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

For serious man. Most of what they make is goop, glarp, and glurp.

Eat stuff that doesn't come in packages!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 07:53 | 4187265 Running On Bing...
Running On Bingo Fuel's picture

Sugar and Sodium Fluoride. Add some gum base and GMO corn syrup and you too can make billions and keep in uncle sam's good graces.

Oh, yea. Make sure to hire some tribe members to liaison with the money men on wall st and you're golden. Automate all else.

Over

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:50 | 4186829 mofreedom
mofreedom's picture

You must stuff moss rolls in your vagina when menstrating.  Just joking, but serious.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:11 | 4186884 mofreedom
mofreedom's picture

I hate to hate, as I watch the American Music Awards with my wife and I really, really want it all to end with me never waking up again, but come on what's wrong with a Twinkie, a can of Coke (with whiskey), a Mig Mac (or a McRib), or TP, or Old Spice deod, oh, and so on and so forth?

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:09 | 4186988 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

"I hate to hate, as I watch the American Music Awards with my wife.."

Good point.  Why do you think I'm here right now bustin chops?  Sitting there was just too much to bear.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:33 | 4186927 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

You must stuff moss rolls in your vagina when menstrating.

Mrs. Horseman prefers Natural Cozy.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:36 | 4186932 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

I never imagined I would pass on tampon recommendations to females... whoa man.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:08 | 4186985 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

I like the cute colors, but I'm sticking with Kotex til the grid goes down.

(Did I just say that on ZH?  LOL.)

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:29 | 4187107 JohnnyBriefcase
JohnnyBriefcase's picture

It starts with keesh and tampons.

 

Next it'll be homegrown hemp panties...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:51 | 4187124 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

LOL.  I bet Mrs. HH makes her own clothes.  That woman is amazing!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:16 | 4187136 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

Who in the hell would down arrow me for that?  I was giving the woman a compliment! 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 05:47 | 4187214 greatbeard
greatbeard's picture

>> homegrown hemp panties...

Now there's some panties I could eat right off the bitch.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:26 | 4187105 Joe A
Joe A's picture

I was afraid to click, expecting something involving bunny ears....

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:11 | 4186990 DogSlime
DogSlime's picture

Not to mention Cargill... but no-one ever seems to mention Cargill, which seems weird considering their size and power.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:32 | 4187148 Theosebes Goodfellow
Theosebes Goodfellow's picture

No one mentioned Cargill because Cargill, (like most of the grain companies), is privately held.

Read: Merchants of Grain

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/merchants-of-grain-dan-morgan/1005442523

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:29 | 4187009 Nassim
Nassim's picture

I would love to know how many millions of tons of sugar - and high-fructose corn syrup - end up in the products of these companies. These are the people profiting from the obesity epidemic.

Any politico who tries to limit the damage is sent off.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:32 | 4187574 Bollixed
Bollixed's picture

And Americans throw 40% of that stuff out and get fat anyway. God knows how fat Walmartians would be if they weren't such wasteful sots...

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:43 | 4186804 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

If you like your conglomerate, you can keep your conglomerate. PERIOD!

Are these not all available at Wal-Mart? Wal-Mart is like the whore house for these prostitutes yes?

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:43 | 4186805 Alcoholic Nativ...
Alcoholic Native American's picture

Go Go gadget ConAgra

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:43 | 4186806 starfcker
starfcker's picture

how about letting us know which 3 banks own all their stock?

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:46 | 4186815 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

They are Credit Unions yes?

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:55 | 4186843 starfcker
starfcker's picture

uh, no

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:58 | 4186857 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

Okay cool! Let me go #AskJPM real quick and find out!

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:45 | 4186813 Ralph Spoilsport
Ralph Spoilsport's picture

Over 90% of the food products on that diagram are inedible crap.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:46 | 4186818 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

Yes indeed! The same assholes who send coupons every Sunday for shit you never ever buy.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:50 | 4186830 analyzer_66
analyzer_66's picture

As a former employee of one of the companies on the list I know these companies spend millions upon millions of dollars in lobbying efforts. They shyt on their workers in every way they can and I'm most pleased to not be involved in any kind of corporate life anymore. Self employment is much more rewarding.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:53 | 4186836 Trimmed Hedge
Trimmed Hedge's picture

At the very least, buy the private label (supermarket brand)..

Same exact shit as the branded, minus the advertising & high price...

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:06 | 4186874 cocoanut
cocoanut's picture

not always. Pvt label items are often made by companies whose own brands can't sustain shelf spots. For example, Cott makes the majority of Pvt label sodas or Mulder Naturals in cereals 
This is true for any product that has a recipe/formulation at its core 

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:55 | 4186849 cocoanut
cocoanut's picture

come on tyler, you're better than this. This has been making the rounds for atleast 3 years. Heck it still shows an undivided Kraft

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:11 | 4186885 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

Yep. I used this picture in a Jamba Juice case study presentation two or three years ago. Old news brah.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:47 | 4187444 superflex
superflex's picture

It's been on my coworkers' office door for almost 2 years.

I guess it's still good to inform, even though it's old news.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:01 | 4186974 Constitutional ...
Constitutional Republic's picture

Perhaps it's the timing that matters now. More people are waking up, paying attention, receptive to facts instead of the usual propaganda.

Facts and figures are difficult to come by, and always worth repeating.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 05:56 | 4187219 CuttingEdge
CuttingEdge's picture

Aye, but had Tyler not posted it, I wouldn't have seen HH's quiche, got off my arse and made bacon, sausage egg and tomato, wrapped in two doorstep slices of homemade granary. Which I am eating now. So a thumbs up from me.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 22:59 | 4186860 Caviar Emptor
Caviar Emptor's picture

Yes, being forced to buy goods from the company store using all of your wages is a time-honored tradition.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:01 | 4186862 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

It's moments like these when I reflect and remind myself how I love Hemp Soaps, Method Cleaning Supplies, and RC Fucking Cola.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:15 | 4186894 Jlasoon
Jlasoon's picture

Love Method cleaning products. 

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:57 | 4186964 Emergency Ward
Emergency Ward's picture

cadbury fucking schweppes dr pepper snapple now owns the RC brand.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:59 | 4186966 Emergency Ward
Emergency Ward's picture

dr pepper fucking snapple now owns the RC brand.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:59 | 4187169 Adahy
Adahy's picture

A good method for cleaning:  Vinegar and baking soda (individually) can clean most anything.  Vinegar for soaking, stains, and wipe-downs; and baking soda for the scrubbing.  Baking soda is cheap (clean, sifted hardwood ashes work as well).  And, with fruit trees, vinegar is free and plentiful.  Use a homegrown luffa sponge to scrub with and you're good to go with virtually no expense.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:02 | 4186865 Running On Bing...
Running On Bingo Fuel's picture

Soon you will see on your little list, Clandestine Industries, LLC.

Over.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:02 | 4186866 Kirk2NCC1701
Kirk2NCC1701's picture

One thing that all of these 10 have in common, is that they have an utterly AMAZING Marketing and PR Machine.

They have things down to a science!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:05 | 4186982 Seer
Seer's picture

When they have the amount of P&E that they do they HAVE to be certain that they can keep it going.

Bigger entities can better leverage certain operations/equipment.

As downward pressures increase the folks at the top of these entities are really going to be pushed to "earn" their salaries.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:04 | 4186870 HulkHogan
HulkHogan's picture

Now show one more the media industry. Just a few companies own everything Americans see, hear, and read (just joking about that last one, American's don't read).

 

 

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:08 | 4186877 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

Oh Americans read alright...it's the comprehension they are a bit short on is all. 

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:31 | 4186924 W74
W74's picture

I'm starting to think about 60% of American's don't even know the difference between your and you're.  Been on the internet lately?

 

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:00 | 4186973 WOAR
WOAR's picture

It used to be that I could type out the proper you're or your without thinking about it. The internet has truly changed that over the years.

I haven't fallen back on spellcheck, though. I still know when I make a mistake.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:06 | 4186981 Jlasoon
Jlasoon's picture

Was asked by a grown man (mid 30s) of latino origins what 20% off of $10 was the other day in the clothing store. I just stood aghast. Couldn't believe I was being asked such a question. What the fuck has happenend to this country? 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:51 | 4187038 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

I hope you told him dos equis.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:05 | 4186873 NIHILIST CIPHER
NIHILIST CIPHER's picture

Never go down the snack chip and soda isle myself......dangerous stuff. Try to stay away from dead food, dead in reference to nutriants and enzymes. That quiche looks mighty good HH.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:14 | 4186893 57-71
57-71's picture

I can only count 3-4 brands on there which I buy a product from - paper products and pharma - and just that many products as well.

The rest I have no use for; we buy raw products and make our own food. Local butchery, local bakery for finished goods we don't make. They are both high quality and owner farms.

I think it was more than 25 years ago that store bought fast frozen food crossed our doorstep. (I still buy frozen fish without coatings) Good riddance to that rubbish!

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:20 | 4186904 Crash Overide
Crash Overide's picture

All that poison, chemicals, GMO, processed crap being pushed on the world, it's overwhelming I think. Grow a garden, know a farmer or eat the garbage they provide. :(

And the world wonders why the cancer, and disease rates around the world are skyrocketing, I mean the chemicals in Tide detergent alone is enough to give you cancer.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 04:20 | 4187181 Adahy
Adahy's picture

Liquid clothes washing detergent:  Get 6 cups water hot on the stove in a pot.  Grate/shred/chop to tiny pieces 1 bar of soap (Fels Naptha on laundry aisle works best for me) into the water.  Stir until melted.  While the soap is melting, fill a 5 gallon bucket mostly full of hot water and mix in 1 cup of washing soda (found in laundry aisle, in a box).  Add 1 cup of Borax (again, in the laundry aisle) to the pot on the stove once the soap is dissolved, and remove from heat, stirring in the borax.  Add the contents of the pot to the 5 gallon bucket and stir thoroughly.  Add 1 oz essential oil for additional fragrance if needed (It actually smells pretty good on its own).
Cover and store.  Use about 1/2 cup or so per load depending on how dirty it is.
For a thicker detergent, use a bit more borax and soap.
One 5-gallon batch costs about $2.00

Bar of soap =               ~$1 makes 1 batch
Box of Borax =             ~$3-4 makes 6-8 batches
Box of Washing soda = ~$3 makes 6-8 batches

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:25 | 4187294 Best Satan in Town
Best Satan in Town's picture

Very useful, thanks.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 20:56 | 4189376 Shigure
Shigure's picture

Thanks Adahy, I've copied and pasted your post and will give it a try.

I am trying out vinegar as a weedkiller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoztFMUvso (3.51)

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:22 | 4186905 tony wilson
tony wilson's picture

whats the beef chief?

someone gotta run things udderwise it bee kaos.

der jewish men are are natural leaders.

edwyne rothschild der head of the families jacob a close 2nd.

let um bee eye say.

if they want us dead eye say they are intelgence see they must have a good reason for hating us maybe we just not worth savin.

i sure would like to go to one of those eyes wide shut fuck parties before i chemtrails die.

some of dem mk ultra mind control bitches is hot i wish i new the trigger fuck words.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:50 | 4187331 Husk-Erzulie
Husk-Erzulie's picture

Maybe not everybody gets your humor but some do...

wish i new the trigger fuck words <--

I find this hilarious. :-)

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:25 | 4186910 TyrannoSoros Wrecks
TyrannoSoros Wrecks's picture

All the TV commercials for that stuff shows a bumbling, incompetent White guy not knowing what to do, then along comes some cool, hip negro who shows the White guy's wife what products she should buy her effeminate husband to make him more like a cool, hip black guy. Then the White guy goes rolling away like a retard and his wifes stares after the magic jigaboo with lustful eyes.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:30 | 4186919 Nostradumbass
Nostradumbass's picture

There are very few items pictured in the holdings of those ten corpserations that we ever purchase.

Until Trader Joe's, the local health food store, farmer's markets and friends with fruit trees and vegetables get under the umbrella of those corpserations, we won't be supporting them at all.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:45 | 4186938 Constitutional ...
Constitutional Republic's picture

Oh, what the heck, let's just chuck some names on that Anonymous shall we?

Rothschild, Warburg, Oppenheimer, the House of Saxe Coburg Goethe (re-branded Windsor UK after their Nazi relatives excited too much attention), the Vatican (arguably the world's biggest single landowner with related corporate ties. No disrespect intended toward Pope Francis, the Jesuit General trying to clear up the mess).

I like an old Chinese wisdom: first you must name something accurately before you address it correctly, or words to that effect.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:47 | 4186947 Bárðarbunga
Bárðarbunga's picture

I wonder how Pepsico and Kraft both own A&W. Doesn't A&W restaurants serve A&W sodas? And the two products are owned by two different corporate entities? I bet the bookeeper and auditor pull their hair out every quarter.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:55 | 4186953 Constitutional ...
Constitutional Republic's picture

Monopoly is the name of the game. Winning is not enough. Bankrupting your rival is the ultimate aim. 

Details like accounting are for the grunts to manage. Also: monopolists juggle their brand names to avoid tax.

Heiress Leona Helmsley summed up their view: 'Only little people pay tax.' That's Lena Rosenthal (her real birth name),  born to Polish jewish immigrants who did rather well for themselves in the new country, and showed no social conscience whatsoever, as their brat kid displayed in court documents.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:20 | 4187141 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

A&W is a YUM brand

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 14:54 | 4188387 malek
malek's picture

And I believe Dr. Pepper belongs to Pepsico, not Kraft.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 23:55 | 4186962 thisandthat
thisandthat's picture

Dig deeper and you'll find those companies are all owned by the same shareholders

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:09 | 4186987 steelrules
steelrules's picture

Sad part is that many of those brands were small independent companies that had to put quality and workers before profits, doing that they became sucessful, which in turn led to buy outs by the big brands who only answer to Wall Street.

I'd rather see a 1000 small companies creating jobs than 10 looking for ways cut labour and production costs.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:21 | 4187000 Bobbyrib
Bobbyrib's picture

Reminds me of the Walmart episode of South Parek where they burn down WalMart and shop at a local drug store then that grows to a ridiculous size and they burn that store down too.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:30 | 4187013 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

Small companies have to look for ways to cut labor and production costs, too, you know.  Probably WAY more than big companies.  

Small companies are neither more or less virtuous or evil than large companies.  And NONE of them have EVER put quality and workers before profits.  Not for long, anyway.  :)

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 01:34 | 4187076 fencejumper
fencejumper's picture

The profits at my local hardware and lumber yard stay here!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:22 | 4187143 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

How do you know that?  The owner of that local store might have put all those profits right into MF Global.

If you save money at another store, then those profits stay right in your pocket.

:)

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 06:40 | 4187238 Quantum Darwinism
Quantum Darwinism's picture

So true from my personal work experiences. Most private small businesses I worked for left me with a comtempt for management. Blatant lack of organization, incompetent management that waste enormous ressources and leaves those actually working to make up the difference, highly dubious business practices, frequent disregard of labour laws, etc.

On the other hand, working for large multinational publicly-owned corporations has been all the opposite; very organized, much more structured, incompetent management usually gets rightfully fired, follows most laws and rules to the letter, generally care more about their image in general to avoid PR disasters, etc.

Both are profit-driven, but the small & medium businesses are MUCH more likely to do shady shit and get away with it... At least proportionally...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:03 | 4187495 overmedicatedun...
overmedicatedundersexed's picture

quantum, perhaps you missed one small factor in your big international corps are better citizens, less likely to do shady shit...I would ask you to guess but that would assume you are an honest poster..the big co's write the damn laws and regs to control the small co's ..get it? one or two glaring examples BP and a chemical giant who killed thousands in India, I will let you guess which one was a small business..ass

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:25 | 4187005 Kreditanstalt
Kreditanstalt's picture

I can't think of anything much from any of those companies in my house...except some Kellogg's cereals, which I only bought on deep, deep discount on sale.

We buy clothes on trips overseas.  Cheaper & just as good.  Don't have pets, so no Friskies.  Don't eat out - can't afford it.  Cook all our own food at home from scratch.  No one in the family drinks soda pop, eats packaged snacks, uses North American-bought makeup, mouthwash etc. & we have no babies.  Walmart is too expensive compared to the local no-frills superstore.  Have ten tons of overseas toothpaste.

But you know what?  Life is good & we enjoy it even without P&G.

You'd have to be a couch potato American zombie consumer to have all that stuff...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:27 | 4187007 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

I just don't understand this new (is it new?) meme of hating corporations.  Corporations are not inherently evil, just as small businesses or farmers markets are not inherently virtuous.  

The irony is that everyone expects these same corporations to make enough money to support the stock market and everyone's retirement.  Not to mention things like, you know, employment.

Don't people learn about economies of scale anymore?  If Costco hasn't proven this concept, then nothing will.

Who cares if it's ten corporations?  As long as it's more than three, then you avoid a monopoly or an oligopoly.  Not to mention that they don't FORCE you to buy anything.

I guess it's just popular right now to bash corporations and romanticize living a third world lifestyle.  I live on a tiny island, and let me tell you:  It's not as fun as you might think to have to drive an hour and a half (one way) to find the brand of toilet paper you prefer.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:37 | 4187022 Kreditanstalt
Kreditanstalt's picture

Everyone is a "99%"...everyone is an oppressed "little guy", right??  This is The Modern Mainstream Party Line.

It's all CAPITALISM'S fault...

WRONG.  It's all part of the responsibility-avoidance, "searching-for-villains-to-blame" game.  Thus all the problems are supposed to come from "capitalism", "banksters" and "evil corporations" - never from the "beloved, beneficial but bought" GOVERNMENTS.  The line goes: "Our President is a GOOD man, corrupted by evil corporate advisors and capitalists, and the well-meaning and benevolent politicians have been BOUGHT by big corporate money" - or some nonsense like that...

Overspending, over-consuming, debt-ridden, unproductive individuals are to blame for their own imagined plight.  Them - AND the Fed -and GOVERNMENT.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:04 | 4187091 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

You are so right.  Everyone wants to blame someone or something.  I say, spend your money where and how you want.  If you want to get your rice from Chinatown, then go for it!  If you want to buy the highest end coffee machine at Macy's, have fun!  I CHOOSE to drive for three hours to get that toilet paper I want, and I am damn glad that there is ONE store on this island that has it.  

The "evil" corporations haven't put the Chinatowns or Goodwill shops out of business.  Do small businesses suffer sometimes?  Yes, but so do the large ones.  Our Sears just closed down.  A large corporation, no doubt.  You don't bring the competition, you go out of business.

I think customers feel it more when it's a small business, because it's more personal.  I get that.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 01:09 | 4187053 SilverCoinLover
SilverCoinLover's picture

Corporations may not be evil, but their Human Resources Departments are.

In 1990, while working for an insurance company, we were all required to watch an AIDS video, which was nothing but pure pro-homosexualist propaganda and so emotionally upsetting that a few women in the room with me actually started to cry during the viewing.

At a different company in the NYC metro area, just after the 9/11 attacks, we had grief counselors come in. First it was voluntary, then they required that we all attend. It was nothing more than a witch-hunt, looking for people to speak out against the Muslims, and when they did, get accused of being a hater. They were afraid that we might take revenge on the 1 or 2 Muslims that worked there. The same company required us to read the book "Who Moved My Cheese" when they decided it was time to have mass layoffs.

F*ck all Human Resourse Departments.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:56 | 4187127 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

Another very good point.  Human resource departments are just legal departments trying to comply with government regulations.  Right, wrong, or indifferent, that's what they are.

Corporations would not have such things if government didn't mandate compliance.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 01:28 | 4187068 fencejumper
fencejumper's picture

Giant corps become monopolies. How many mom/pop businesses has WalMart/Costco/Lowes/Home Depot etc. put out of business? Many! I prefer to pay a little more at local businesses, and do so regularly at local lumber yard and hardware that limp along despite Home Depot only 5 miles distant.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 01:59 | 4187088 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

You bring up a good argument.  (One I used to make all the time.)  But over the years, I have realized that most of those mom and pop stores WERE the monopoly at the time, and they got some competition and went out of business.  Most of those stores never had competition.  Small towns had one department store, one shoe store, one bookstore.  Should the "rule" be that you can only grow as large as your nearest competitor?  I don't believe in controls like that.

I believe in the free market.  I don't hate corporations because they are large.  Millions of corporations are not large, of course, but people ignore that.

If I have a local business where I get something for paying more money (better service, better food, better products, I know the owner/workers, whatever), then sure I'll pay more.  But I won't do it just out of hatred for corporations.  

But to each their own.  I'm not trying to persuade anyone here to support corporations.  I just don't believe they are more or less evil or virtuous than a small business.  

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:10 | 4187131 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

I wanted to add something to my post.  When big stores (or any big business, for that matter) comes to a small town, yes, it does kill small businesses who can't compete.  I, too, have struggled with this notion for years.  But looking at these small towns now, I realize that notion is just wrong.  Most of those small towns are thriving.  

You have one or more store owners who go out of business.  That is terrible.  But on the other side of the equation you have an entire town/county that has more jobs, lower prices, and that allows THOSE people to start new businesses.  

Things are not static.  They change.  Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.  It's a fluid situation.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 11:36 | 4187785 Singelguy
Singelguy's picture

I agree with you to the point that the big businesses become so big that they have the financial muscle to buy the government, structure the laws for their benefit, and to squeeze out the competition. Then they raise their prices and screw the consumers. Even though monopolies are supposedly illegal, big business has monopolized consumer goods. I agree that the situation is fluid and when the masses finally wake up and see the rising prices, shrinking package sizes, and decreasing quality, they will stop buying the crap, and the big companies will lose their customer base.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 05:06 | 4187196 SeekingNuNormal
SeekingNuNormal's picture

The problem with big corps. is the life sucking nature imposed on the workers.  I travel to asia frequently where small business still exists.  And people are HAPPY and PROUD of their small little shop.  It makes it a pleasant experience for the customer and for overall society its a major plus.  Wal-mart sucks the humanity out of society, full stop.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 06:25 | 4187235 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

I would argue that small business workers work WAY harder than big corporation workers.  You didn't say where in Asia you travel, but I lived in Japan for two years.  They have Costco.  They have the Daiei.  And they love it.  I've also been to Korea.  They love shopping malls.  The bigger the better, man.  They love it.  It's universal.  

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 04:01 | 4187170 tradewithdave
tradewithdave's picture

Pre-SIFI you may have had a point. Sorry, you sir are no longer "important" and that business cycle... it is no longer cleansing the market. I own a food company and the great American housewife is catching on and yes these corps are trying to stay one step ahead. Nestlé just bought one of our key independent supplier/producers.

The food safety modernization act and the codex alimentarius are closing in fast but there is a revolution going on with 50 year old women and twenty-somethings in the food realm that is quite disruptive to any food product that is not recognizable from its original form. Farm-to-table may be a slogan but you can't undo the knowledge of pink slime or the origin of chick'n nuggets once revealed.

What "distribute the print" is to the 3-D gun printing industry (as opposed to print then distribute) optimizing to freshness rather than 18 wheeler container economics is to the food supply.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 04:26 | 4187185 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

I can tell that you know what you are talking about.  But I didn't quite get your post.  Is your point that it's damn hard to be in business?  Because that's my point.

I hope you will post more.  Thanks.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 07:28 | 4187255 starfcker
starfcker's picture

ok douchebag, i'll waste the time to explain it to you. you have a world where there are two sets of rules. global monopolies utilize slave and child labor, evade taxes, dump whatever filth into the environment, and can borrow unlimited amounts of money for free, and are given free access into american markets to "compete" with businesses that pay employees, pay taxes, pay interest if they want to borrow capital, and basically are the engines of a healthy economy. when the big boys can borrow unlimited free money they can buy up everything and corrupt our politics.  see, i don't enjoy pleasant conversations with the stupid or paid for. i'd rather you know in your heart you are trash

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:00 | 4187342 Amagnonx
Amagnonx's picture

Small business is far more efficient than any mega-corp - but the mega-corps buy the legislation that drives small business to the wall.  Increasingly complex tax codes, and compliance with every kind of BS regulation under the sun.

 

The big corps would be completely wiped out without the complicity of govt to provide them with protection, they do not have economy of scale - they lack agility, and carry too much over head.  They win because they can monopolise supply, and force input prices down - they monopolise regions and can crush opposition by lowering prices below cost for long enough periods to destroy competition.

 

They grow on the carcasses of far more efficient and labor friendly small business.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:08 | 4187507 overmedicatedun...
overmedicatedundersexed's picture

serenity now- looks like you  must think  FREE TRADE makes products cheaper, thus a better life for the consumer..just don't open your eyes wide shut to the economy of the usa today which is a result of this thinking,, no listen to CNBC it's all good.

Wed, 11/27/2013 - 07:05 | 4193217 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

I'm not for free trade.  It is a myth.  I have lived in Japan and traveled in Asia, and I can tell you that free trade does not exist.  

My comments on this thread were about the anti-corporate sentiments that are very popular right now.  

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:36 | 4187021 Jugdish
Jugdish's picture

I don't use condoms and I sleep naked. And I'm white.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 00:44 | 4187034 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

OK.  So how much $ do you have to pay to get laid.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 01:13 | 4187057 The Heart
The Heart's picture

Ten corporations...on the wall...

Ten corporations...on the wall...

Take one down...

Watch it crash...

Nine corporations left on the wall.

Nine corporations...on the wall...

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 01:17 | 4187060 Dazman
Dazman's picture

I LOVE TACO BELL.

That's pretty much the only thing from these brands that I buy on a consistent basis. The rest is whole foods.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:09 | 4187095 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

No judgment whatsoever, but that really surprises me.  Taco Bell always made me sick (not that I eat it anymore).  How do you do it when the rest of your diet is whole foods?

Like I said, no judgment.  I'll eat a Twix for dinner if I want.  :)

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:17 | 4187099 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

"Like I said, no judgment."

That tells me that you indeed ARE judgemental.  I'm not picking on you, I just noticed your comment and found it interesting.  That you were concerned about placing judgement.  Are you a female? just curious, not that it matters.  actually it does, there's a difference in our perception.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:02 | 4187128 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

Yes, I'm a woman.  And I'm judgmental as hell.  Hahaha!  Just kidding.  I said "No judgment" kind of like you said, "just curious, not that it matters" when you asked me if I'm female.  Just trying to be nice, not confrontational.  I assume you said your comment for the same reason.  I like the non-confrontational spirit when it comes out here on ZH. 

To be specific, I was trying to let that person know that I don't judge him/her eating Taco Bell.  A lot of the other comments were VERY anti junk food and commercial products.  I'm not one of those people.  I love Cheetos.  

What is our difference in perception?  

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:36 | 4187155 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

Too late to go into.  I just got that you were a woman by your question.    I was having this discussion earlier with my GF.  I was comparing the diffferences between my work and others (competitors).  She thought I was being judgemental.  I wasn't, I was comparing my work to others.  Interestingly, she doesn't see herself as being judgemental, she is, very.  That's OK, it doesn't surprise me, I have many sisters.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 01:22 | 4187064 fencejumper
fencejumper's picture

I don't buy ANY of the products listed. I grow a lot of food (just made an awesome butternutt soup tonight ;-) and buy the rest from farmers mkt and local food co-op. I quit drinking soda when I was 15 and always go for whole, non-processed food.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 01:39 | 4187079 herman55
herman55's picture

...........they forgot Cargill.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:10 | 4187096 yofish
yofish's picture

Didn't we see this post last month?

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 02:32 | 4187108 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

Couple of surprises, that Mars owns Uncle Ben's Rice, and P&G owns Lacoste, Nestle owns Ralph Lauren!?  As long as Trader Joe's doesn't appear on this list, I spend remarkably little on most of them.  You guys ever hear of Chevron or Exxon?  Weyerhauser that makes the packaging these guys all use?

OK, I've been known to buy and consume Kraft DiGiorno/Tombstone frozen pizzas, when you catch them on sale I'm tellin' ya they are not half bad for what you pay.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:24 | 4187142 q99x2
q99x2's picture

I think people would survive quite well without most of those products. Arrest the owners and re-distribute their stolen wealth.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 03:36 | 4187154 Bioscale
Bioscale's picture

Who are the people owning this companies, this would be a bit more interesting reading. Do Rockefellers, Rotschilds and other big cabal families owning them? Are there any available sources which would just partially uncover that stinking corpse? I mean, just thinking about how the power is centralized in the US, there can't be sooo many top people/families giving orders..

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 04:21 | 4187183 Trampy
Trampy's picture

 

SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS

Inmate of open-air prison run by lunatics and populated almost entirely by zombies is desperately seeking a pen-pal ... because God gave Eve to Adam, and Aldous Huxley gave someone to Winston Smith.

For mutual support in these trying times, am seeking fellow non-zombie intelligent, open-minded, and well-informed inmate for discussing topics of mutual interest, such as:

  1. Both actual and notional nuclear accidents, and nuclear technology of all sorts;

  2. Historical Revisionism of WW1 and WW2 as a battle of truth-telling historians versus the well-funded OSS/CIA myth-telling “historians” per Harry Elmer Barnes, 1889–1968;

  3. John Kenneth Galbraith as an exceptionally honest economist, JFK's ambassador to India;

  4. Bankers v. The People going way back to Andrew Jackson;

  5. contemporary Capitalist Crisis as predicted by Karl Marx;

  6. 1984, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz as works of history;

  7. Newspeak, shunning, straw man, murder, etc. as effective social controls;

  8. zerohedge.com as island of sanity, albeit sorely lacking collegiality; and

  9. identifiable weaknesses in the prison system which might allow its escape.

SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 04:33 | 4187187 Serenity Now
Serenity Now's picture

Wow.  I'm tempted to think you are an algorythm.  ;)

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:11 | 4187511 Reader1
Reader1's picture

SWM ISO conspiracy theory indpendent-minded SWM/F 4 convo re 1984, Tyrants, The CFR and Trilateral Group, MJ12, Economics, ALT-Energy, firearms, and TEOTWAWKI.  Can cook.  Have DirecTV+sweet couch.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 05:33 | 4187208 falak pema
falak pema's picture

the Nine Oligarchy families of China and the TEN corporations that run Pax Americana into the ground.

That is what the Nixonian handshake, the Dear Henry shuttle diplomacy rape of Cambodia, ME Oil patch and South America, the Gorbatcheved dislocation of Central Asia, the deregulated mayhem of welfare state of West under Reagan-Thatcher, the NWO of slave labour outsourcing under Bush-Clinton have bequeathed to the world.

Now as cherry on the cake we have the "NSA NSA" mantra to save the "free world".

Thank you very much Nixon, Reagan, Bushes, Clinton and Barry for having created this wonderful Oligarchy neo feudalism.

I feel I have a grandstand seat in the Coliseum watching the Fall of Constantinople and reliving the demise of western civilization. 

What Oppenhiemer's toy forbids man to do, Friedman's helicopter dumped fiat bonanza is ensuring; in derivative fueled exponential orgy.

Why read Rome's history or Constantinople's demise while they debated about pin heads and angels.

We are reliving it first hand right in front of our eyes.

Those whom the Gods condemn...its time somebody pushed the button on the renewables revolution bigtime before its too late! 

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 05:44 | 4187212 Dr_D
Dr_D's picture

Gladly I dont (have to) buy (almost) anything from them...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 06:07 | 4187222 smacker
smacker's picture

The anti-trust laws that govern these mega-corps are totally inadequate and have lacked enforcement for decades. Not surprising given a political cross-party intention to allow them to become huge for the purposes of expanding around the world.

From a consumer point of view, it's a disaster.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 07:52 | 4187264 Its_the_economy...
Its_the_economy_stupid's picture

Cross reference the above chart w this one, then consume carefully.

 

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/which-food-companies-are-for-or-again...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 07:53 | 4187266 22winmag
22winmag's picture

I don't eat/use any of that shit... except Q-Tips.

 

I'm addicted to them.

 

So good at cleaning my ears... and guns.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:03 | 4187347 El Hosel
El Hosel's picture

Its a big club, those in the club are getting bigger... You are still not in it.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:07 | 4187502 TrumpXVI
TrumpXVI's picture

Paper products and Pharma; J&J, P&G and a bit from Unilever.  Surprisingly not all that much even from those companies although I kind of dread what my life would be like without Motrin!

Almost no "food" products from that list with the exception of my recent craving for "Sno-caps" (Nestles).

My pet peeve is the cost of replacement cartridges for shaving equipment.  I've made a point of waging total unrestricted warfare against that one.  I offed Gillette last year and bought a Merkur shaver ($80) and 200 Wilkinson Sword double edge blades online for $37 (an eight year supply for me!).

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:07 | 4187505 Reader1
Reader1's picture

I don't eat much of their food, either, but bandaids, shampoo, the wife's tampons, and dish soap don't grow on trees...

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