Let us take a close look at the list top 10 American icons that are not American yet have become symbols closest to home.
1. Budweiser, Belgium
It is one of the most admired beer in the United States. It is generally classified as the American style of lager and is made from the perfect blend of rice and barley malt. It was recently bought the Belgian company giant InBev for $52 billion.
2. 7-Eleven, Japan
It a chain of convenience stores that is present in many countries around the globe and is bigger than McDonald’s exceeding the latter with 1,000 more stores combined. It is owned by the Japanese company Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.
3. Trader Joe’s, Germany
Trader Joe’s started in 1958 as a “pronto market.” The store chain is owned in trust by the family of German tycoon Theo Albrecht.
4. The Chrysler Building, United Arab Emirates
This eminent American symbol and the most recognizable structure of the New York skyline is actually owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council.
5. Holiday Inn, United Kingdom
The original hotel chain started in Memphis, Tennessee in 1952 by developer Kemmons Wilson. The present Holiday Inn hotel chain is owned by InterContinental Hotel Group PLC.
6. Toll House Cookies, Switzerland
Toll House cookies is the product group that is distributed by Nestle. Nestle is a Swiss company that has the license to the brand and the recipe in making the cookies.
7. Church’s Chicken, Bahrain
This U.S. fast food chain specializes in fried chicken. It was founded in 1952 in San Antonio and just across The Alamo. The company was later sold to the Islamic venture capital outfit Arcapita.
8. Shell, Netherlands
The Shell Company in the US is the affiliate company of Royal Dutch Shell. The Royal Dutch Shell is actually a multi-national company which has its roots in Britain and Holland.
9. Dial Soap, Germany
The Dial Company is the maker of popular household cleaning and personal care items. The company was recently bought by a German consumer company, Henkel KGaA.
10. Firestone, Japan
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. was started in 1900 by Harvey Firestone. The tire company was later bought by Bridgestone, a Japanese tire company that is headquartered in Tokyo.
