Metallgesellschaft AG founded in 1881 by Wilhelm Merton in Frankfurt. GEA AG established in 1920 by Otto Happel for de-dusting equipment. Company lost foreign investments during World War I
Colonel Sanders founded KFC in 1930 by selling fried chicken in Corbin, Kentucky. Sanders developed unique pressure fryer and Original Recipe of 11 herbs. First franchise opened in Salt Lake County, Utah in 1952. Sanders sold company to John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey in 1964
Founded by Adolf Dassler in 1915 in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Developed spiked running shoes using canvas and rubber. Supplied Wehrmacht with shoes during World War II. Split from brothers in 1949, forming Adidas AG and rival Puma
Founded in 1949 as American Standard's foreign fixtures brand. Name derived from American Radiator Company's "Ideal Boilers". Headquartered in Belgium with over 10,000 employees by 2014
Founded by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937 as Toyota Automatic Loom Works. Developed first product Type A engine in 1934 and first passenger car in 1936. Changed name from "Toyoda" to "Toyota" in 1936 for simplicity. Survived World War II by producing trucks for Japanese Army
First SAS hotels opened in Copenhagen in 1960. Group name changed to Carlson in 1962. Partnership with SAS International Hotels launched in Europe in 1986. Headquarters moved to Brussels in 1989