Hayakawa (Japan), 705

Japanese hotel (onsen) at the hot spring. Engraving by Toyohara Chikanobu. 1890sThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

General view of the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan Hotel today© pop-picture.blogspot.com

The private outdoor bath at the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan Hotel today© Keiunkan Inn

One of the baths at the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan Hotel with hot spring water today© pop-picture.blogspot.com

Until 2011, the oldest hotel in the world (and the oldest company in general) was considered a Japanese traditional ryokan hotel Ryokan- a type of inn, and later a hotel, which is distinguished by simple rooms with tatami mats instead of beds and the presence of a hot spring, in which there is a bath for guests."Hoshi". It was opened in the city of Ko-matsu in 717 and for 13 centuries offered visitors accommodation near the hot springs. The title of the oldest was awarded to him in 1994 by the Guinness Book of Records, after which "Khosi" even joined the so-called "Enoch" club. Enoch Club- an unofficial organization that arose in France in 1981 and received its name in honor of the Old Testament patriarch Enoch, who lived, according to the Bible, for 365 years., uniting companies that are over 200 years old. However, in 2011, representatives of the Gin-ne-ss Book of Records reconsidered their decision and gave the title of the oldest hotel to the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan ryokan (“Ni-shiyama onsen keiunkan”) in the Haya-kawa village in the central part of Japan. Owned by the 53rd generation of the same family since its founding in 705, this hotel is still a classic ryokan offering traditional service and furnishings, as well as hot spring baths.

oldest bank

Siena (Italy), 1477

Finances of the municipality in peacetime and in wartime. Painting by Benvenuto di Giovanni. 1468Archivio di Stato di Siena, Museo delle tavolette di Biccherna / Wikimedia Commons

The main entrance of Palazzo Salimbeni, where the Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank is located. 2006© Vyacheslav Argenberg / CC BY 2.0

The Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank ("Monte dei Paschi di Siena") was founded in 1477. This is almost 120 years earlier than its closest neighbor on the list of the world's oldest banks, the German Berenberg. The bank was founded in the Republic of Siena, an Italian city-state that existed in the 12th-16th centuries and was considered one of the largest financial centers of the Italian lands. Banking there developed rapidly from the 12th century, and the banking houses of the city operated throughout Western Europe, lending to the Vatican, the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire and the royal court of France. The Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank was created already at the end of the Republic of Siena and at first functioned as monte di pieta- so in medieval Italy they called a special “charitable” pawnshop, where a person could take money, leaving property as collateral covering a third of the loan. If the borrower did not repay the funds on time, only this part of his property was sold at the auction and no other measures were taken. For a long time, the church supported such monte di pieta: it did not approve of growth and encouraged financial assistance to the poor. However, by the 17th century, Monte dei Paschi di Siena had become a full-fledged bank, after which it was reorganized many times. It now has branches in 20 Italian cities and is known, among other things, for its extensive collection of Italian paintings, which has been collected throughout the history of the bank.

The oldest pharmacy

Tallinn (Estonia), ca. 1420

Town Hall Pharmacy. Tallinn, 1966© Roman Valdre / Kultuurimälestiste riiklik register

Interior of the Town Hall Pharmacy. Tallinn, 2011© Tom Wright / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Medicines in the Town Hall Pharmacy. Tallinn, 2013 Wikimedia Commons

Town Hall Pharmacy. Tallinn, 2008 Wikimedia Commons

The Town Hall Pharmacy (Est. Raeapteek) has been located on the Town Hall Square in Tallinn since at least 1422. Over the six centuries of its existence, it has changed dozens of owners, the most famous of whom was a native of the Hungarian lands, Johann Burkhart Belavari de Sekava. As a chemist and doctor, he moved to Tallinn in the 1580s, and in 1583 the city council appointed Burchart the chief apothecary of Tallinn, leasing the Town Hall Pharmacy to him. For more than a hundred years, his descendants rented a pharmacy from the city, and only in 1688 did Johann Burchart IV manage to buy it from the city. In the future, the enterprise was inherited until the middle of the 19th century, however, in the 1890s, Johann Burchard X died without leaving a male heir, and his sisters were forced to sell the business in 1911. After that, the pharmacy changed several owners, was owned by the state, and in 2003, after a long reconstruction, it reopened in its original place.

The oldest watchmakers

Geneva (Switzerland), 1466

Halle Watch Factory. Switzerland. 1900s galletwatch.com

Watchmakers La Chaux-de-Fonds at work. Late 19th century Wikimedia Commons

Little is known about Humbertus Gallet, considered the founder of Gallet & Co. In 1466, he received the right to live in Geneva, where he took up watchmaking, which he later passed on to his son. Several generations of the Galle family were engaged in the manufacture of watches, and in 1826 a direct descendant of Humbertus Galle, Julien Galle, officially registered a trademark and moved the enterprise from Geneva to the Swiss royal city of La Chaux-de- Fon, known today as a city-factory for the production of owls, where about a third of the working population is employed in the watch industry. Thanks to this circumstance, La Chaux-de-Fonds even ended up in Marx's Capital, where he analyzed the division of labor in the watch factories of the city. Since the end of the 19th century, Gallet & Co. began to consider the United States as the main market for its products. The most famous model of the factory - the Flying Officer Chronograph - was created in 1939 by order of Harry Truman (at that time - Senator from Missouri) for combat pilots: one of its features was a rotating a dial with the names of cities, which allowed pilots to easily calculate the change in time zones. Truman himself, who became President of the United States in 1945, also wore this watch; they are now in his museum.

oldest newspaper

Stockholm (Sweden), 1645

Issue of the newspaper "Regular Post News", No. 15, for April 9, 1645flickr.com/elcromaticom/CC BY 2.0

Two editions of Post- och Inrikes Tidningar - 1835 and 2006Centro de Documentacion Publicitaria

The newspaper Ordinari Post Tijdender (that is, "Regular Post News") was founded by order of the Swedish Queen Christina in 1645 - nine years after the creation of the Royal Post Office, which also exists to this day. At first, the newspaper was the main supplier of news in Sweden, and the collection of this news was largely entrusted to local postmasters, who were instructed to collect all the news that fell into their field of attention and transfer it to edition. The distribution of the newspaper was carried out by the same post offices: they were obliged to post fresh issues in public places. In 1821, the newspaper was merged with the Swedish Inrikes Tidningar ("Local news"), giving a new edition - Post- och Inrikes Tidningar ("Post and local news"). After that, the newspaper experienced two more important events: in 1922, unable to withstand competition from commercial newspapers, it began to publish only state decrees and court decisions, and since 2007 it has been published only in in electronic format.

The oldest shipbuilders

Heraklion (Greece), 1438

Parking of boats in Chioggia at the fish market. Venice, 1890–1900s Library of Congress

Building a Camuffo boat today bisiacivan.blogspot.com

Camuffo, the oldest operating shipbuilding company, was founded in 1438 on the island of Crete, which then belonged to the Venetian Republic. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the strengthening of the Ottoman Empire in the Aegean, the son of the founder transferred the production of ships to the Italian Chioggia near Venice. At that time, this city was the largest trading port in the Adriatic Sea, and the Camuffo craftsmen provided themselves with orders for the construction of fishing boats, barges, pleasure, merchant and transport boats in the Venetian style for several hundred years. At the moment, the company, which was owned by 18 generations of the same family, produces only three models of motor yachts from 18 to 20 meters in length. Until now, many valuable types of wood are used in their manufacture, for which, in the second half of the 20th century, Camuffo received the nickname “Stradivarius on the Sea” from profile magazines, which it uses in its advertising materials.

The oldest carrier

Aberdeen (Scotland), 1498

St. Catherine's Dock. Illustration by Gustave Doré for Douglas Jerrold's London. 1872 The Victorian Web

The Shore Porters Society car in the middle of the 20th century hiveminer.com

The Shore Porters Society of Aberdeen, Scotland, was founded six years after Columbus's first voyage to America, and has not changed its name since. For a long time the company was a simple association of workers in Aberdeen Harbor, but by 1666 it had grown so much that two divisions were created: the department of transportation, which owned horses and carts, and the department of property and warehousing. Until the middle of the 19th century, the Port Loaders Society belonged to the Aberdeen City Council, but then the company became a private partnership, after which its profile changed somewhat ---. Now, in addition to transportation across the UK, services of loaders and home moving services, the company is also engaged in expert transportation of antiques and art objects. Its services are used by both private buyers and auction houses.

The oldest gunsmiths

Gardone (Italy), 1526

Venetian arquebuser. Illustration from Cesare Vecellio's book Ancient and Modern Costumes from Around the World. 16th century greatestbattles.iblogger.org

Beretta gunsmiths. 1880s© Beretta

At the Beretta arms factory. 1960s© Beretta

The history of the Beretta company began in 1526, when the gunsmith Bartolomeo Beretta from the Italian Gardone received an order from Venice for 185 barrels for arch-bouzes - matchlock smoothbore guns. On this, he earned 296 golden Venetian ducats, and the contract that sealed the deal is still kept in the company's archive. Subsequently, in 1571, the gunsmiths again rendered a service to Venice, casting cannons for the Venetian fleet, which took part in the famous battle of Lepanto. Battle in the Ionian Sea between the Holy League Holy League- a coalition of Catholic states, which was created in 1571 at the initiative of Pope Pius V to fight the Ottoman Empire and lasted until 1573. and the Ottoman Empire ended in a crushing defeat of the Turks, and the Venetians showed themselves heroically in it. In the next five centuries, the company, owned by members of the Beret-ta family, developed rapidly. Beretta's current CEO, Hugo Gussalli Beretta, is a direct descendant of founder Bartolomeo Beretta, and one of his two sons is expected to take over the company in the future.

The oldest publishing house

Cambridge (England), 1534

The invention of printing. Engraving by Jan Kollaert I. Late 16th centuryThe Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cambridge University Press. 1900–1916danielcaruanalupi2.blogspot.com

The publishing house at the University of Cambridge was founded by order of King Henry VIII in 1534: the monarch issued a patent letter to the university for the right to "print all kinds of books." However, the first printed books appeared half a century later - after the scientist Thomas Thomas became a Cambridge printer. In May 1582, he received a position, and the first book - "Dialectics" by the French philosopher Pierre de la Rama - was published by him in 1585. In 1591, Thomas's follower, John Legate, printed the Cambridge Bible, which began the centuries-old tradition of university publication of the Bible. Since then, Cambridge has annually published dozens and hundreds of books, among which were, for example, the works of John Milton and Isaac Newton, as well as scientific periodicals, monographs, reference books and textbooks of the English language, which are now distributed throughout the world. However, it was not until 1992 that the University of Cambridge opened its own store in the historic city center at 1 Trinity Street. some researchers consider this shop the oldest bookstore in Great Britain.

Zil, meaning "cymbals", and affix dji with the meaning "one who does", to which the Sultan added the suffix "yan" characteristic of Armenian surnames. Shortly after Avedis started making cymbals, Osman II was killed by rebellious Janissaries. After that, for more than two centuries, the descendants of Ziljyan made various percussion musical instruments, including combat kim-shafts, which were beaten to intimidate the enemy. Only in the 19th century did the company completely switch to musical plates, and at the beginning of the 20th century, the descendants of Avedis moved to the USA. Here, in September 1929, a company was registered under its modern name - Avedis Zildjian Company, or simply Zildjian. Since then, she has gained worldwide fame, and in the United States has become a prominent part of the musical culture. During World War II, when copper was considered an important strategic resource and its purchase by companies was limited, the US government issued special permission to Zildjian to purchase raw materials.

The material was prepared with the support of Promsvyazbank, a reliable business partner that plans to exist for centuries.

A comfortable environment for development, assistance in foreign economic activity and bank guarantees give Promsvyazbank clients the opportunity to write their own success story.

Images: Pharmacy. Illustration from the manuscript of Matthew Platearius. Amiens, 1300-1325. british library

Nefedov Yu.V., Ph.D.,
Small Business Development Center MFPA

Moscow, 2005

ANNOTATION

Most of the old family companies have survived in the UK - British firms make up exactly one fourth of the entire list. In second place in terms of the number of oldest family businesses represented is France (19 firms). It is followed by Italy (17 companies), 12 companies in the list are German, see fig. 1. Thus, these four leading countries of Western Europe account for 73 companies out of a hundred represented in the list.

In general, there are only 13 non-European firms in the rating, and seven of them are Japanese. Of the remaining six, three represent the North American continent (Canadian Molson and Wilson Fuel at 89th and 90th respectively) and Mexican tequila maker Jose Cuervo at 73rd. There are no US companies on the list.

Rice. 1. Shares of countries with the most oldest family companies

The stories of the two oldest companies on the list are closely connected with religion. The construction company Kongo Gumi, founded 1426 years ago, dates back to the time when the Japanese prince Setoku brought members of the Kongo family from Korea to Japan more than fourteen centuries ago to build a Buddhist temple, which, by the way, is still standing. Since then, Kongo Gumi has been involved in the construction of many famous buildings over the centuries, including the 16th-century temple in Osaka. At the present time, the company continues to work on the construction and restoration of religious buildings. According to the slightly younger Hoshi company, according to an ancient legend, once upon a time, the god of Mount Hakusan descended on a priest, who ordered him to find an underground hot spring on this mountain. The source was found, and the priest turned to the Hoshi family so that its members would build a resort there, where people could go to be treated on the water. The Hoshi Spring Hotel now has 100 rooms that can accommodate 450 patients in need of treatment at any one time.

The rest of the companies, apparently, also survived in history thanks to the preservation of their traditions, which turned out to be stronger than wars and revolutions. However, the factors that allow the company to remain viable for such a long time still require careful study.

In his recent research, D. Collins studied the factors that allow companies to:
1) Maintain its leadership in the market, several decades after its foundation (work "Built to last", jointly with D. Porras);
2) Make a breakthrough in the leaders, taking an ordinary place in your industry (work "From good to great").

The factors that allow companies to survive by adapting to change were studied by A. de Geus (work "The Living Company"). All three books in Russian translation were published by the Stockholm School of Economics in 2001-2004. However, there are no answers to the question of how companies can survive through the millennia in these works.

It remains to add regret that there are no Russian companies on the list. There are no traditions of entrepreneurship in Russia. The reasons for this are known, however, I would like to once again note the need to absorb foreign entrepreneurial culture as the only lesson to study, and not dismiss it.

Today, the business world lives much less than it was 50 years ago. Relying on research by the Boston Consulting Group, it can be concluded that approximately 10% of operating companies close each year.

Ari DeGius, formerly Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia at Shell, wrote in The Living Company, which he authored, that current companies live an average of about 12 and a half years, and companies included in the Fortune 500 (ranking of world companies in terms of revenue), live about 40 - 50 years.

Of all the above, there is also a positive, for example, in 2015, 967 companies were recorded that were founded before 1700, namely:

• 517 companies are located in Japan;
• 19% of all companies operate in Germany;
• and no more than 5% for each developed country.

The secret of longevity

There is no such company that would be insured against ruin. The question arises, why exactly in the current years are companies dying more and more often? The answer is given in his book by Ari De Geus. He tells us that today's businessmen and managers, chasing the increase in revenue, forget about the most important thing - about people.

The main principle of the longevity of the company is the attitude towards employees. In Japan, the management of companies by centenarians often passes from generation to generation of the same family.

The fact of the longevity of Japanese companies is also noticed by others. For example, Denis Shcherbakov, Deputy Head of the HSE School of Oriental Studies, believes that the longevity of Japanese companies is also affected by something else, namely:

• isolationism;
• special business environment;
• state policy in the field of support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Rating of long-lived companies

Let's introduce you to the 10 oldest companies in the world.

1. Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan - active since 705

In 705, Fujiwara Mahito established an inn at the hot springs of Hayakawa City. The hotel still operates today and is owned by the descendants of Mahito. This is the oldest company in the world. Confirmation of this is its inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records.

2. Koman - has been working since 717

In second place is also a Japanese hotel. During the construction of this hotel, workers discovered a source of thermal waters near which the Hyuga family built their hotel.

3. Hōshi Ryokan - active since 718

In third place again the hotel and again Japanese. This inn is located in Komatsu. This hotel is owned by the same Hoshi family. And the current owner is called the same as the founder of Zengro.

4. Tech Kaihatsu - working since 760

Tech Kaihatsu manufactures equipment for machines, and once it was just a forge according to the owners of the company.

5. Genda Shigyo - active since 771

Genda Shigyo now produces the same thing 1000 years ago, these are paper bags and "mizuhiki", colorful ribbons for decorating invitations to weddings, funerals and other events.

6. Stiftskeller St. Peter - active since 803

Restaurant Stiftskeller St. Peter in Salzburg is the oldest company in Europe. The atmosphere of the Middle Ages has been preserved in the Restaurant.

7. Staffelter Hof - in operation since 862

Staffelter Hof is a family winery in the German town of Krov. This enterprise is the oldest winery in the world. The archives of the city still contain documents proving that in 862 the distillery worked, and in 1890 a real factory was launched.

8. Tanaka-Iga - active since 885

This Japanese company from the city of Kyoto has conquered the market for religious objects. Now, as well as 1131 years ago, it produces bells, amulets, special furniture, lamps and other things that are necessary for the operation of a Buddhist temple. On the official website, the company explains the secret of its longevity with customer loyalty. Tanaka-Iga's main competitor is Shumiya-Shinbutsuguten. It was also not founded yesterday - it has been operating since 1024.

9. Sean "s Bar - has been operating since 900

This Irish bar is said to be the oldest drinking establishment in the world. The age is indicated by numerous mugs and coins found here during excavations. The researchers explain the secret of longevity with an ideal location - the bar is located in the heart of the country, in the city of Athlone, on the banks of the picturesque Shannon River.

Regular visitors to Sean's Bar are U2 musicians, politicians, football stars. Photos of the most famous guests adorn the walls of the pub along with a Guinness Book of Records certificate confirming the status of the oldest tavern. Soon another such document will appear nearby - the venerable age of the institution promises to confirm the National Museum of Ireland .

10. The Bingley Arms - in operation since 953

In the 20th century, English pubs did not do well: now there are less than 50,000 establishments in the country, 100 years ago there were twice as many. But they won't disappear entirely - they are an important part of the cultural code laid down by establishments like The Bingley Arms in the village of Bardsey.

This pub was opened at a time when the Vikings were rampant on the island - hundreds of years ago it was called a haven for wandering monks. In addition to the glorious history of tourists, The Bingley Arms helps to attract a good location - it is close to all the main attractions of Leeds and York.

1. *Wal-Mart Stores1
The Walton family, USA
The world's largest supermarket chain (about 4400). More sales than Sears, Kmart and J.C. Penney combined.
Founded: 1962, founder Sam Walton.
The family owns 38% of the shares, the chairman of the board of directors is the son of the founder, Robson Walton.
Profit: $217.8 billion
Employees: 1.38 million
2. *Ford Motor Co.
Ford family, USA
Automotive.
The company was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford, who relied on the mass production of cheap cars.
A controlling stake in 1999 was acquired by Volvo Cars, in the hands of the family (fourth generation) about 40% of ordinary voting shares.
Profit: $162.4 billion
Employees: 354431

3. *Samsung Group
Lee family, South Korea
South Korea's largest family conglomerate
Electronics (electrical equipment, mobile phones, computer memory, etc.).
The group was founded in 1938, the largest division is Samsung Electronics.
Profit: $98.7 billion
Employees: 175,000

4. LG Group (formerly Lucky Goldstar)
Ko family, South Korea
Electronics, energy, telecommunications, chemical industry, banking services.
It is one of the five largest conglomerates in South Korea.
LG Chemical is the largest manufacturer of chemicals in South Korea, LG Electronics is one of the leading manufacturers of household appliances.
Profit: $81 billion
Employees: 130000

5. *Carrefour Group
The Deffort family, France
The largest European supermarket chain (represented in 25 countries). The name of the company literally means "crossroads". The controlling stake is jointly owned by about 60 family members.
Profit: $61.6 billion
Employees: 382821
6-7. *Ifi Istituto Finanziario Industriale S.p.A.
and *Fiat Group
Two places in a row in the list of family businesses belong to the Agnelli family (Italy), the profit of each company is $ 59.2 and $ 54.7 billion, respectively, the number of employees in each is approximately 198 thousand.
The family holding company holds 20% of Fiat and 50% of Finanziaria di Partecipazioni (Ifil), which in turn owns another 12% of Fiat.
In addition to the production of the famous Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati, the family business is engaged in retail, construction equipment, publishing, insurance, and a number of other areas.
Giovanni Agnelli (third generation) continues to be the Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fiat; the death in 1998 of Agnelli's nephew and heir presumptive calls into question the continued management of the family.

8 Cargill Inc.
The Cargill/Macmillan family, USA
Year of foundation: 1865, founder - William Cargill.
Profit: $50.8 billion
Employees: 97000
The largest family business in the world, whose shares have never been put up for sale. The history of the company began with two enterprising brothers who, before the Civil War, traded grain elevators, and after it significantly expanded their range.
Now in its fourth and fifth generations, the company is now the world's largest trading firm in grain, poultry, beef, steel and salt. Until recently, the main "family office" was located in a 63-room country French-style mansion.
Today, the family owns 85% of the shares, the rest belongs to key employees. It is also famous for being one of the first (since the mid-1930s) to introduce personnel training programs.

9. *PSA Peugeot Citroen S.A.
Peugeot family, France
Second car sales company in France (after Renault) and second in Europe (after Volkswagen). The family holds 37% of the voting shares.
Profit: $45.8 billion
Employees: 192500
10. Koch Industries
The Koch family, USA
The main directions are oil, gas, agriculture.
The company was founded in 1918 by Fred Koch. The firm is notorious for protracted family wars between second and third generation brothers.
Profit: $40 billion
Employees: 11500

11. *BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG)
Kundt family, Germany
One of the largest auto exporters in Europe. The famous BMW accounts for only about 60% of the concern's profits, the rest is sales of motorcycles and software products. In the hands of the widow Kundt 47% of the shares; there are rumors about the sale of family shares.
Profit: $34.1 billion
Employees: 97275

12. SCH (Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A.)
The Botin family, Spain
Emilio Botín inherited from his father a small bank in the province and built on its basis the largest banking group in Spain. The group is represented in Europe, Chile and Mexico. Emilio's 41-year-old daughter was elected chairman of the board of Banesto Bank in 2001, which has been the family's first family bank since 1857.
Profit: $32.7 billion
Employees: 114927

13. Robert Bosch GmbH
Bosch family, Germany
Bosch is one of the leading manufacturers of auto parts in Europe, and also produces tools and equipment.
98% of the shares are owned by the Bosch Foundation, and only 8% are held directly by family members.
Profit: $30.143 billion
Employees: 218377

14. *Motorola
The Galvin family, USA
After founding his company in 1928, Paul Galvin initially sold car radios; his son Bob moved from television production to high-tech electronic equipment. Since 1997, the company has been run by grandson Christopher, who is now in his 50s.
Profit: $30.004 billion
Employees: 111000

15. ALDI Group
Albrecht family, Germany
The largest grocery supermarket chain in Europe (3100 stores in Germany and another 600 in the USA).
The founders are the brothers Theo and Karl Albrecht (they are the owners to this day), Theo's two sons command the European division.
Profit: $30 billion

16. *Pinault-Printemps Redoute
Pinault family, France
Retail and catalog trade (Printemps, Fnac, Conforama, Redoute). The company owns a 53% stake in the Gucci Group and several perfume lines (including Yves Saint Laurent).
The family owns 45% of preferred and 59% of common shares of the company through the holding company Artemis.
Profit: $24.6 billion
Employees: 107571

17. *J Sainsbury
The Sainsbury family, UK
The second largest food supermarket chain in the UK (after Tesco), Sainsbury has over 600 stores and a bank of the same name. After the death of the founding father (Sir Robert Sainsbury) in 1999, 37% of the shares passed to his son and his family, but the son left the company a year earlier, in 1998.
Profit: $24.5 billion
Employees: 174700

18. *Viacom
The Redstone family, USA
One of the largest media companies in the world (television, radio, Internet).
Michael Redstone began his business in 1954 with the organization of a drive-in theater (a platform where viewers watch movies from their cars). Today, the company owns BET (Black Entertainment Television), CBS, Paramount Pictures, United Paramount Network (UPN), MTV Networks (MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon), Showtime Networks and Comedy Central (50%), as well as 39 TV channels, publishing house Simon & Schuster, and 82% of Blockbuster (the largest videotape rental chain in the US).
The son (who is also the head of the company) owns 68%, and his 48-year-old daughter now heads the National Amusements cinema chain, from which the glorious history of the company began.
Profit: $23.2 billion
Employees: 122770

19. Auchan
Muyet family, France
One of the largest retail chains. In addition to 280 supermarkets in Europe (several supermarkets have already opened in Moscow), the family conglomerate opens small specialized stores, of which there are already more than 640.
More than 350 family members work in the business. The founder of the company, Papa Muyet, encourages the business initiative of his numerous relatives: with Papa's money, one of them has already promoted the postal service, the other is very successful in selling goods through catalogs. Today, the family owns 84% ​​of Auchan, the rest is owned by employees.
Profit: $23.196 billion
Employees: 136000

20 Tengelmann Group
Haub family, Germany
The current head of the firm, Erivan K. Haub, and his family have inherited 100% of Germany's fourth largest distribution network. Today, the network has 7,300 supermarkets, clothing stores and pharmacies. The Tengelmann Group was the first in Germany to build "American style" stores. The group owns 54% of the American retail chain A&P.
Profit: $22.6 billion
Employees: 186000

21. *Ito-Yokado
Itoh family, Japan
In 1974, Masatoshi Ito opened the first convenience store in Japan. The idea of ​​late-night shops turned out to be money-making. The 7-Eleven ("from seven to eleven") network today has about 9,000 stores in Japan and 5,800 in North America.
Today, the Ito family owns 15% of Ito-Yokado, and Masatoshi Ito serves as honorary chairman of the board of directors.
Profit: $22.4 billion
Employees: 106911

22. *Loew's
Tisch family, USA
The interests of the family are diverse: two brothers, Lawrence and Preston (Bob) Tisch, started in 1919 with real estate trading, in 1959 they acquired a controlling stake in Loew's Theaters, later invested in tobacco production, insurance, oil, hotels,
a television. The family today has about 30%, and the second generation is showing enviable business activity: James (Larry's son) became director in 1999, and his brother Andrew and Bob's son Jonathan shared the post of company president.

23. *Novartis Group
Landolt family, Switzerland
It is one of the five largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
Profit: $19.3 billion
The Landolt family today has only 4%.

24. *Bouygues
Bouygues family, France
One of the largest construction companies in Europe. The company has more than 40 subsidiaries operating in 80 countries around the world. Chairman of the Board of Directors Martin and his brother Olivier indirectly control about 22% of the company.
Profit: $18.1 billion
Employees: 125000

25. *Hyundai Motor
Chung family, South Korea
The original Hyundai (meaning "current") conglomerate was broken up into five companies by the Korean government in an effort to reduce the role of the Chung family. Hyundai Motor Company (cars) is considered to be fully autonomous. Chung Yu Jung, founder of the conglomerate, died in 2001.
Profit: $17 billion
Employees: 50000

26. Mars
Mars family, USA
Founded in 1923, the company began to flourish when Minnesota confectioners Frank and Ethel Mars invented the Milky Way. Their son Forrest could not find a common language with his parents and even founded his own confectionery company from England. In 1964, a merger was carried out, and since 1973, the three children of Forrest actually began to manage the company. Forrest himself died in 1999 at the age of 95, and Mars is second only to Hershey in the American sweet market.
Profit: $16.5 billion
Employees: 30000

27. *News Corp
Murdoch family, Australia
Respected journalist Sir Keith Murdoch created the largest media company in Australia in his lifetime; however, his son Rupert managed to "surpass" him too, creating on the basis of the business inherited in 1952 the fourth largest media empire in the world (the first three, respectively, are Time Warner, Viacom and Disney). Today, under the roof of News Corp. television channels (Fox Broadcasting), film companies (20th Century Fox), newspapers (London Times, New York Post), magazines (Weekly Standard), publishing houses (HarperCollins) and even the Los Angeles Dodgers sports team are combined.
Rupert, who is in his 70s, is still in business, and his heir presumptive is in his 30s. The family has 31% of all shares and 40% of the voting power.
Profit: $16.3 billion
Employees: 30000

28. Otto Group
Otto family, Germany
"Mail order" is what the Otto family has always been doing most successfully of all, vigilantly following fashion and market trends. They were the first in their field to accept orders via the Internet, as well as sell groceries via the Internet with same-day delivery. The family owns 65% of the German Otto Versand, they also own the American Spiegel catalogs.
Profit: $15.6 billion
Employees: 75962

29. Publix Super Markets
The Jenkins family, USA
Founder George Washington Jenkins, dreaming of getting into real estate, hitchhiked from Georgia to Florida. But as a result, he got a job at the Piggly Wiggly chain store and even rose to the position of senior manager. After a falling out with the owner, a frustrated George opens a rival shop. A network of 700 stores is gradually being built. Now the company is run by the son of George Howard. 27% of the company's shares are owned by its employees.
Profit: $15.4 billion
Employees: 126000

30. *Weyerhaeuser Co.
Weyerhäuser family, USA
One of the largest timber producers. Founded in 1900, family-controlled for the fourth generation.
Profit: $14.5 billion
Employees: 44800

To work for several or even a couple of decades, especially since studies have shown that even the most successful enterprises and firms find it difficult to overcome the half-century mark of independent existence. As a rule, the lion's share of them is abolished, broken up, ruined or sold, becoming part of larger business entities.

Therefore, a figure of 100 or more years seems completely unattainable, but, nevertheless, today there are many companies whose age is calculated for centuries! Sometimes such a phenomenon can be explained by the release of products of consistently high quality that are in demand at all times, but sometimes the reasons for longevity are simply incomprehensible.

1. Sotheby's

Sotheby's is known as one of the world's most prestigious auctions, but few people know that it began its long life as early as 1744 with a small sale of books by the Englishman Samuel Baker. That year, the entire Stanley library was sold there for £800 and a change, and since then Sotheby's has consistently acted as a reliable auction house, selling famous works of art, luxury goods and rare rarities at the highest prices.

Twinings is considered to be the oldest British tea brand, the birth of which dates back to 1706, when the first Twinings store was founded. For over 300 years, the company's headquarters have been located there, and the logo has not changed at all over all these centuries. Today this tea is one of the synonyms of Great Britain.

An astonishing longevity is shown by the oldest English ceramics company, maintaining premium quality since 1653, acquiring today a reputation as a truly royal brand. By the way, the company has received the official seal of approval of the Dutch monarchical dynasty.

Shirley Plantation is said to be the oldest family business in the agricultural sector throughout the United States, dating back to 1638, having experienced civil war and revolution, the Great Depression and other upheavals in the life of the country in its history. For almost four centuries of existence, the plantation was owned by 11 generations of the Shirley family.

Although Grolsh is far from the largest beer producer, the brand has earned a reputation as one of the best in the premium class.

Beer is sold in containers with special flip-top lids to preserve freshness. The company was founded in 1615 and before becoming a subsidiary (which it still is) for about 250 years "Grolsch" worked independently on the market.

If you have ever played drums or any other percussion instrument, then you are probably familiar with the Zildjian brand, which belongs to the cohort of the best drum cymbal manufacturers. Their products were used by all world stars: from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones.

The company was founded in Turkish Istanbul back in 1623, but only relatively recently moved to the United States, where it gained worldwide fame.

The roots of the most authoritative and second-oldest Italian company come from the island of Crete, which belonged to Venice in the 15th century, but the son of the founder had to move the business to the metropolis, due to the growing confrontation between the Venetians and the Ottomans in the Aegean Sea.

At that time, Chioggia, which became the new home of Camuffo, was considered the most important commercial port of the Adriatic.

Since 1438, the company has been building barges and fishing boats, pleasure yachts, merchant ships and transporters, successfully promoting the brand in the vast Adriatic, Black and Eastern Mediterranean Seas.

The durability and safety of Camuffo boats have become almost legendary and a household name in the marine environment, as evidenced by the saying: "Camuffo boats always return to port."

German journalists, having visited the company's shipyard in 1977, were greatly impressed and even compared these boats with Stradivari violins.

Fishermen today still pay tribute to the company's products, but for the most part they use inflatable boats made mainly of PVC, the variety of which is simply incredible, some of which can be found, for example, at http://vodnik.1000size.ru/naduvnye- lodki, but "Camuffo" is considered more exotic, retro and VIP-class than watercraft for the mass consumer.

The oldest whiskey distillery in the world, Bushmills, still located in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, has been operating since 1608, when its founder and first owner, Thomas Philip, received permission to produce alcohol directly from King James the First. Over 400 years of activity, hundreds of brands of whiskey have been released, including their signature Irish Honey.

The oldest foundry for the manufacture of bells, the date of birth of which is considered to be 1570. Since then, they have created many bells commissioned by churches, famous people, governments and royal dynasties. Their products are used in Westminster Abbey, they also created the infamous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, which cracked from ringing.

10. Cambridge University Press

Pick up any British academic book or important scientific work and chances are it will be printed by Cambridge University Press. It is the oldest publishing house in the world and the second largest in the university environment after Oxford University Press. It was created in 1534, when Henry VIII granted the University of Cambridge a patent for printing.

11. "Beretta"

Anyone who is at least a little familiar with the world of weapons is familiar with the name "Beretta", which is the brand of one of the best manufacturers of small arms and in particular pistols, which are still widely used today in the army, police, security agencies and private individuals for self-defense.

This one dates back to 1526, when its founder, Bartolomeo Beretta from Italian Lombardy, completed his first commission from the Doge of Venice to make 185 arquebus barrels, using quality iron from ore mined in the surrounding mountains.