Hellman’s
Hellman’s mayonnaise is probably what you’re familiar with! Even if you don’t, chances are you have some in your fridge right now. As early as 1905, Richard Hellmann’s created his own recipe for Dijon mustard by taking a French condiment and giving it a twist for the American market. Because his customers loved it, he began selling it on its own. As early as 1932, Best Foods purchased the company and remained in operation for the next seventy years. Unilever paid $20.3 billion for Hellman’s in 2000. This is quite good for a New York City-made dip!
Hellman’s
7-Eleven
Every successful business has had a founder who had a vision. 7-Eleven was no different. While working at Southland Ice in 1927, Jefferson Green, a regular Joe, saw an opportunity to expand his product line. He expanded his offerings to include things like bread, eggs, and milk. He was a generous man. That business strategy worked well, and his Dallas-based company grew even more successful once he changed the name to 7-Eleven to reflect the store’s operating hours. It’s still a mainstay in American pop culture decades later. When the economy crashed in 1987, it hit a tough stretch. This is when Ito-Yokado, a Japanese business, stepped in to help. This is the reason Seven & I Holdings has since acquired it.
7 Eleven
