10 Classic American Brands that were Annexed by Foreigners, the List is Unexpected

JAKARTA – Many global companies have purchased American company to complete their portfolio. This means that brands you might think of as all-American are actually owned by companies overseas.

Here are 10 fire America a surprising classic, it turns out it has been bought by an international company.

List of 10 American Brands Bought by Foreigners

1. Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co. was acquired by the French luxury goods brand LVMH in 2021. The first Tiffany jewelry store opened in New York City in 1837, and has since become an iconic American brand.

With its signature Tiffany Blue box, the brand has become part of American pop culture. Starting from his contribution to the Great Seal of the United States, the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy, and campaigns with Beyoncé and Jay-Z. And of course, who could forget Audrey Hepburn’s starring role as Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”?

But despite its impact on American life and culture, the company began losing revenue in 2015, Fast Company reports, ultimately leading to its acquisition by LVMH, or Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, for $15.8 billion in 2021.

Tiffany & Co.’s headquarters, however, still remain in New York City and under Alexandre Arnault’s leadership, the company has once again begun to expand in the world of luxury products — the company even reopened its flagship store in April 2023.

2. Panera Bread

German conglomerate JAB Holding Company, is now the owner of Panera Bread. This popular fast food restaurant was founded by Ronald M. Shaich and Louis Kane in 1987 under the name St. Louis Bread Company.

The brand has become known for their focus on fresh ingredients and in 2017, JAB Holding Company purchased Panera Bread for USD 7.5 billion. JAB then groups Panera with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros.

Panera Bread has since late 2023 been under scrutiny for its ‘Charged’ drinks, after some customers accused the company of failing to properly display the drinks’ high caffeine content.

The drink was hit with three separate lawsuits. A Panera spokesperson previously said that the company is concerned about the safety of its products, although it added additional warning labels in October 2023.

In May 2024, it was reported that Panera would discontinue production of Charged drinks, replacing them with new items. Panera told Bloomberg that the changes are part of a “menu transformation.”

3. Marc Jacobs

American designer Marc Jacobs sold a majority stake in his namesake brand to LVMH in 1997. From 90s grunge influences to The Tote Bag, Marc Jacobs has been a part of the American fashion scene for decades.

He was the youngest designer to win the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent in 1987. After Jacobs and his business partner Robert Duffy joined Louis Vuitton in 1997, he sold his majority stake to LVMH.

LVMH continues to own the Marc Jacobs brand, as well as other luxury fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Givenchy, Celine, Fendi, and Loewe. In January, the company reported its brands had broken revenue records in 2023, generating 86.2 billion euros, or about $90 billion.

4. 7-Eleven

Now 7-Eleven is owned by Seven & i Holdings, a Japanese company. Originally, 7-Eleven was founded in Texas in 1927 and grew exponentially to become one of the largest and most recognized retailers in the world.

Surprisingly, the store is becoming more popular internationally, especially in Japan. In 2005, 7-Eleven, Inc. purchased by SEJ Asset Management & Investment Company, which is owned by Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo.