10 American Icons Not Owned by America Anymore

By Alex in Everything Else on Aug 28, 2008 at 1:43 pm

Diana Wolf of mental_floss asked "When you think of 7-Eleven, the Chrysler Building, and Budweiser, what country comes to mind? "

If you answer the United States, of course – then you’re in for a big surprise. The icons this country holds dear are not owned by Americans. Case in point, Budweiser’s maker Anheuser-Busch:

1. Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
You’ve likely seen the Anheuser-Busch commercials that were shown during the Olympics. You know, the ones that are oozing with everything American – football, tailgating, the Statue of Liberty, riding motorcycles, playing in a garage band, and, of course, a fat slice of apple pie. In case you didn’t get the hint, they’re reminding you that their All American Ale is still All American. But it’s not American at all! Earlier this year, Anheuser Busch Inc was bought by InBev, the Belgian brewer. The deal, soon to close, will make the new combined company “Anheuser Busch InBev” the largest beer company in the world.

Read more about the 10 (un)American Icons at mental_floss: Link

Neat stuff from the NeatoShop:

MJ
Aug 28th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
The same in Australia as well – two of our biggest food icons are no longer owned by Australia. Arnott’s buscuits were bought out by Campbell’s soup, and Vegemite has been bought by Kraft.

Yankees have a lot to answer for.
Paul in Boca
Aug 28th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Wow, maybe this means Bud might actually taste good…..nah, too much to hope for.
Some Canadian Skeptic
Aug 28th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Molson Canadian is also owned by a Belgian company. I’m not particularly fond of Canadian, but jezzus krist, talk about national irony!

To all my american friends who cry about American iconographs, I feel the need to remind you that American companies have been apropriating foreign cultural icons for decades…maybe you’re finally starting to get the hint about what the rest of the world has being dealing with.
sirwebster
Aug 29th, 2008 at 3:25 am
and what part of the name Anheuser-Busch was American to begin with? It was made what it is by two Germans.
Polx
Aug 29th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Can’t get more English than Rolls Royce now can you?

GERMAN.

Anyway it seems churlish to my eye for Americans to have a whinge about gloabal trade when all the trade rules they forced through, function as intended.

Breaking down trade barriers, homogenising the world, selling your granny to the knackers yard.
gt
Aug 29th, 2008 at 9:29 am
ok, some issues to resolve here – I may be wrong but:
Molson is really co-owned by Coors, you really are referring to Labatt who is owned by the same company as the bottle above (Inbev, the largest beer co. in the world)
and
Budweiser was stolen (label colors and style, recipe, name, the works) from one of the oldest Czech beer co.’s, Budvar, which is from the town of Ceske Budejovice… that theft has been disputed for eons, with the American company keeping the Czechs at bay with legalese/money… will probably never get resolved.
Both Molson and labatt make p*ss for beer, buy from a local small brewer and avoid the corporate crap beers
No. 1 beer in Canda-duh? Coors Light, the least beer tasting beer I’ve ever had
g
Craig
Aug 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
@ gt, Like making love in a rowboat..

Keep track of the comments with

Don't Miss: New Stuff | Bestsellers | The Cute Store
Funny T-Shirts

Need a gift? Get unforgettable gifts for:
Geeks | Pranksters | Kids | Hipsters | Shutterbugs

The latest from NeatoBambino: