"Manifestation of Limited Options: A Look at the Eleven Businesses Dominating Most of Your Consumption"
In a survey published by The Mind Unleashed on 12.16.2018, it was revealed that Americans may not have as much freedom of choice as they think when it comes to consumer goods. The study found that many individuals struggle to correctly identify the owners of major brands, often assuming they are owned by companies with healthy or organic-sounding names.
One such example is Honest Tea, a brand that a combined 54% of Americans believe is owned by a tea company. However, the truth is that Honest Tea is actually a subsidiary of Coca-Cola, founded in 1892 and known for its iconic Coca-Cola and Minute Maid brands. Only 30% of respondents correctly identified Coca-Cola as the owner of Honest Tea.
Another misconception surrounds General Mills, a company founded in 1928 and known for brands like Betty Crocker, Bisquick, and Cheerios. General Mills was incorrectly identified as the owner of Annie's Homegrown by 73% of respondents.
The survey also highlighted the perception of unlimited choice in consumer goods, which is, in fact, manufactured. Major companies such as Kellogg's, General Mills, Kraft-Heinz Company, Mondelez International, MARS, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Johnson & Johnson, and Nestlé collectively hold numerous well-known consumer brands across food, beverage, personal care, and household sectors.
Kellogg's, founded in 1906, has major brands such as Cheez-It, Eggo, and Keebler. Kashi was the brand respondents came closest to identifying correctly, with 48% correctly identifying Kellogg's as the owner.
Unilever, founded in 1929, has major brands such as Ben & Jerry's, Klondike, and Popsicle. PepsiCo, founded in 1898, has major brands including Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Quaker, and Tropicana.
The article, penned by Matthew McIntosh, also shed light on the fact that consumer goods brands aren't the only industries controlled by major companies. Media and movies studios, high-end beauty, and luxury fashion are also dominated by conglomerates.
Nestle owns a majority of bottled water brands, including Perrier and S. Pellegrino. Mondelez International, spun off from Kraft Foods Inc. in 2012, has major brands including Cadbury, Chips Ahoy!, and Nabisco. Procter & Gamble, founded in 1837, has major brands like Pampers, Tide, Downy, Charmin, Gillette, and Crest. MARS, founded in 1911, has major brands such as M&Ms, Snickers, and Dove.
The survey suggests that Americans may need to reconsider their assumptions about the ownership of consumer goods brands. With 11 billion-dollar consumer good and food companies controlling over 400 major brands, the landscape of brands may be more consolidated than many realise.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
