To survive in the big bad world of business, you need staying power. We wanted to know which businesses around the world have stood the test of time and were the oldest in their respective countries. Behind the dates and finances, we found fascinating stories that illuminate the histories of each continent.
Click here to view this map in full size || Click here for the map colour-coded by industry type
1. Oldest companies in Europe
Located in the walls of St Peter’s Abbey in Salzburg, St. Peter Stifts Kulinarium opened in 803 and remains the oldest restaurant in Europe that you can still eat in. The inn is rumoured to have served Christopher Columbus, Johann Georg Faust, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A short leap forward in time and over the border to neighbouring Germany, you’ll find Staffelter Hof Winery, a winery established in 862.
It‘s not all food and drink though: money is another perennial concern! Slovakia’s Kremnica Mint commenced trading in 1328, when the land was under the rule of the Kingdom of Hungary. France’s longest-running business is also a mint: Monnaie de Paris, established in 864. Monnaie de Paris has moved with the times, producing Francs and then Euros – and even producing German currency during the Nazi occupation.
Click here for the map colour-coded by industry type
2. Oldest companies in North America
North America is home to businesses dating back to the 16th century. The oldest company still in business is La Casa de Moneda de México, a mint established in 1534 in Mexico. Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza founded the national mint of Mexico by decree from the Spanish Crown, and it became the first mint in the Americas. The mint’s coins circulated widely and became the basis of many modern currencies, including the United States dollar, the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan.
Edward Hill raised a farm on Shirley Plantation beginning in 1638, and his descendants still occupy and manage the land and business today. The plantation itself dates back to 1613, making it the oldest in Virginia. The ranch still operates as a plantation but is also open to the public, and features the only Queen Anne-style architectural details to still exist in North America.
Click here for the map colour-coded by industry type
3. Oldest Companies in South America
The Casa de Moneda de Colombia (Spanish for Colombian mint) is a Colombian currency museum based in the city of Bogotá. It was founded in 1621 and remains South America’s oldest company to still be in business. In 1694, The Casa da Moneda do Brasil, was founded to provide Brazil with its own coinage – until then, most of the coins in circulation had been brought in by foreigners.
Hurtling forward into the 19th century, 1811 to be exact, and we have FAMAE – Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército (“Factories and Workshops of the Army”). FAMAE is a Chilean state-owned firearms manufacturer, making weapons for use by the Chilean armed forces and the local police. Argentina’s longest-surviving business opened 11 years later. The Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires, or Banco Provincia, is a publicly-owned bank, the second-largest in the nation.
Click here for the map colour-coded by industry type
4. Oldest Companies in Asia
Asia is home to the oldest still-functioning business in the world: a construction company named Kongo Gumi. In 578 Buddhism was on the rise in Japan; but the Japanese had no experience in building temples. The royal family invited a renowned Korean temple builder, Shigemitsu Kongo, to construct the country’s first government temple. Shigemitsu stayed to maintain the building and passed his unprecedented knowledge of the art down the line, so that 14 centuries later temple-building still accounted for 80% of the Kongo Gumi’s US$60m business. With mounting debts, the company was absorbed into a bigger construction conglomerate in 2006 – but continues to pair traditional temple building techniques with the latest technology.
Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House opened in Kaifeng, China, in 1153AD – and today it is thought to be the oldest ‘restaurant’ in the world – although today it is primarily a takeaway joint. Over the course of nine centuries, the business has survived war, political turmoil, and even the might of KFC – whose 5,000 Chinese chicken joints make it China’s leading fast-food outlet (according to the Colonel, that is.)
Click here for the map colour-coded by industry type
5. Oldest Companies in Africa
A huge continent needs a solid postal service, so it’s no surprise that half of the top 10 oldest businesses in Africa are postal companies. Oldest of them all is Mauritius Post, opening all the way back in 1772, when Mauritius was still under French rule. The new service started small with eight messengers and rural post offices were established in 1790. Fast forward to 1814 and Namibia also gets its own postal service. NamPost are still managing the post over 200 years later.
Food production and exports is also big business in Africa. Premier FMCG is a South African food manufacturer and their story begins all the way back in 1820, with the formation of a humble bakery. They now own many well-known South African food brands, including Blue Ribbon and Lil-lets.
Click here for the map colour-coded by industry type
6. Oldest Companies in Oceania
Australia’s oldest business has a colourful history, starting when Isaac Nichols, a former convict, was appointed Postmaster for New South Wales. He used his own home to sort mail and he opened the first Post Office soon after. Australia’s disparate post services were eventually merged to become Australia Post, now also known as AusPost.
On 29 July 1861, just over 50 years after Nichols’ opened his post office, an act to incorporate the proprietors of ‘The Bank of New Zealand’ was passed by Parliament. This allowed the new corporation to start carrying out the usual activities of a bank, and also to issue its own bank notes. The bank is still in business and is one of New Zealand’s big four banks.
Click here for the map colour-coded by industry type
Top 10 oldest companies in the world that are still open for business
The average lifespan of a company in the S&P was around 60 years back in the 1960s. Today that number is closer to 20 years, reports Fortune. Yet some firms have managed to thrive for centuries and even millennia. Take a look at 10 of the world’s oldest companies that are still operating today.
| YEAR | COUNTRY | COMPANY NAME | INDUSTRY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 578 | Japan | Kongō Gumi | Construction company |
| 803 | Austria | St. Peter Stifts Kulinarium | Restaurant |
| 862 | Germany | Staffelter Hof | Winery |
| 864 | France | Monnaie de Paris | Mint |
| 886 | England | The Royal Mint | Mint |
| 900 | Ireland | Sean’s Bar | Pub |
| 1040 | Italy | Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli | Bell foundry |
| 1074 | Belgium | Affligem Brewery | Brewery |
| 1135 | Denmark | Munke Mølle | Mill |
| 1153 | China | Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House | Restaurant |
So much can be learned about a country from the history of its industries, and even more is revealed in the stories of individual businesses. The further you go back, the more fascinating the stories become, and the more insight into the unique histories of each place you’ll find. Do you know the oldest place of business near you?
METHODOLOGY & SOURCES
To create these maps, we started by reviewing various sources on the internet to locate the oldest company in each country. Once we had a list of business for each country we began researching each individual company to discover if they are still operational. If we were unsure about a company or could not discern if it was still open, we did not include it in the maps. We included both independent and state-run businesses in this list. This includes national mints, which produced coins for merchants and international customers as well as the state.
Those countries where it wasn’t possible to identify the oldest business have been greyed-out on the map. Additionally, some countries have changed names or didn‘t exist at the time the oldest company opened. In all cases we have used the current country names.
We created broad industry categorisations that grouped similar businesses together. Every step has been taken to ensure that the information contained within our research is as accurate as possible. However, it is possible that there are businesses still operating that predate the ones listed here.
For the full research behind these maps, please click here.
Larry Cohen says
I don’t see Israel on your map?
Peter Szasz says
I do. But no data from there.
JC says
Look into the Bible. There must exist a construction company that built Solomon’s Temple
Babak says
Haha! That was royal army of Persia, during Cyrus the Great!
Garry says
Looks like an intentional smack to me.
Ry says
There are several countries with no information. Most of South America, 2 in Africa, etc..
Gabriel says
I can see it now – Cafe Abu Salem 1914. It seems like they keep updating the article with new info.
Jon says
A unknown cafe in Nazareth from 1914!! Must visit, it must be good. Incorrect though as off the top of my head, Bank Leumi has been in business from 1902 and I didn’t even do any research to search any deeper.
Magdi Hanna says
Israel didn’t exist in 1914, it was Palestine then.
Israel was created only in 1948.
Historical facts.
John Andres says
Israel was created around 2700 BCE not1948 when it was resurrected (bun intended 🙂
Palestine didn’t arise until 3000 years later after multiple Roman invasions and suppressions of the Jews who built orchards after the Babylonian and Egyptian occupations and exiles.
But by that measure, probably the oldest company in the world would be the Roman Catholic Church!
Yoav says
It doesn’t change the fact that the bank was opened in 1902. Did you even look at the above maps? Noticed how many companies were created before the countries they’re now in?
Dina says
Ironically they do have it on the map and the oldest there is cafe Abu Salem (100% Palestinian cafe)… but it depends where on the map he’s looking for Israel… is he looking at its current borders or its optimistic borders!
khelil says
… you mean PALESTINE
paulo says
Line 15 on Asia sheet
Israel Café Abu Salem 1914 6143 St 7-15, Nazareth, Israel
joanc says
are you blind?
BPM says
It’s there.
LW says
Cafe Abu Selam 1914
matyasa says
I don’t see the Parajd’ Salt Mine.
Gabor says
Hungary is innacurate. The oldest operational company is called BÁV. It’s a pawnshop and auction house with several branches around the country. They continuously operate since 1773.
Takács Miklós says
Hungary: the Hollóházi Porcelángyár (Hollóházi Porcelain Manufacture) founded in 1777, and still works. The Hollóházi is oldest than Zwack Unicum (1790).
http://www.hollohazi.hu
Greg says
Zwack in Hungary? Why not a printing company from Hungary from 1561?
http://www.anyrt.hu/en/
Also the “Slovakian” mint is Hungarian, but never mind the facts…
Bela says
Slovakia exist since 1993. They where not even an etnic like slovak in the 14th century. The oldest company of present Slovakia was founded in a Hungarian Kindom by Karoly Robert Hungarian King!
Gabriel says
The objective of the article is to pick the oldest company IN THE CURRENT COUNTRY which operates at the same location since it was established and not who founded the company.
And by the way, “independent” Slovakia existed also between 1939-1945.
Facts says
Slovakia is more European than Hungary. At least they’ve been in Europe long before migrant hungarian nation came in. fact.
Anon says
The Kremnica Mint (Slovak: Mincovňa Kremnica, Hungarian: Körmöcbányai pénzverde) is a state-owned mint situated in Kremnica, Slovakia. The predecessor of current Mincovňa Kremnica, š. p. (štátny podnik = state company) was established in the Kingdom of Hungary in 1328, and for nearly seven centuries it has continuously been producing mint articles.
Slovakia founded: January 1, 1993 (Czechoslovakia: October 28, 1918)
Real slovakian success story.
tomja says
your 1000% right ,at least theres one that knows
Ács László says
The Eurpean map is bullshit: Slovakia 1328. The slovak territory at that time and the next 700 hundred years is part of Hungarian Kingdom.
Ben says
It appears that Israel is grayed-out. Any reason?
Nosmo King says
Read the whole article. It states the reason some countries are not included.
Ry says
Most of South America is grayed-out. Must not have had access to the information.
Ariel says
I don’t see Israel (or Palestine for that matter)
Jaime Sirgany says
Turks claimed it – it’s been named multiple times.
Dave says
A lot of the “companies” on these maps are state owned, and therefore should not be counted. Come up with a real list of private sector companies.
David Cohen says
There has never been an independent Country called Palestine. There has been an Israel three times.
RDF says
Awed on that oldest company in the world…. Nice research.
Just how accurate are these date and how can they proven they are these old ?
B says
I wonder why Staffelter Hof Winery in Germany (862) is stated oldest in Europe on the map, while it’s written that St. Peter Stifts Kulinarium opened in 803….
Digadigadig says
I’m amazed that no one caught this large error or has explained it yet, as it is now being repeated in articles like a recent Fast Company magazine article that linked here. Either the oldest company in Europe is really the Austrian restaurant, not the German winery, or one of the dates is wrong. And I don’t understand how yours is the first and only comment to point out this error. Was glaringly obvious to me.
Editor says
We totally missed it when reviewing the final design, thank you for pointing it out! We have updated the map now.
Michael Lamont says
Very interesting. As far as I know Blaauwklippen wine estate in South Africa ha s been operating since 1692
Yotam says
The sources listed mention Café Abu Salem as the oldest *café* in Israel, not the oldest company.
The oldest company in Israel is Galilee Wine Cellar Joseph Gold & Sons Ltd., established in 1824 and still operating.
Berman’s Bakery was established in Jerusalem in 1875.
El'ad says
In regards to Israel/Palestine, if you count the old city of Jerusalem than Razzouk’s Tattoos, which dates back to 1300, operated by a Coptic family, may well be the oldest. At least it is significantly older than any other place I know. (Than again, Jerusalem’s status by international law might not be a fight worth getting into.) Still, its worth knowing that Jerusalem has a really historic business.
Wef says
Romanian: Temeswar Brewery (1718) and not Ursus Brewery (1878):
Established in 1718, at the initiative of the Austrian authorities ruled by Prince Eugene of Savoy, Timisoara Brewery has gained an important position, namely satisfying a widely-spread need: to supply the town with drinking water.
From the time of its establishment and as far as to the 1800 the production capacity was of approximately 5.000 hl/year. The current location preserves the traces of the ancient times through the presence of the former buildings (the administrative building, the building where the beer was boiled and the chimney of the direct fired boiler).
Throughout its existence the brewery was credited with the well-deserved recognition of the brewers, due to certain technological premieres: the beer filter (1920), new brewery premises endowed with state of the art equipment (1960-1962), the aluminum keg replacing the wooden one (1968). Further to 1975, the investments were directed towards introduction of new technologies in the bottling line and keg packaging.
Banat says
If you want to be correct you would change the company for Romania: The oldest company Romania is not the Ursus brewery (1878) but Timisoreana brewery (1718), as Wef suggested above.
To err is human, but to persist is diabolical
Luisa says
Hey, just to let you know that the oldest in Europe is not in Germany, unlike it says on the map. It’s in Austria.
Cheers!
Editor says
Thanks Luisa! We fixed it now: https://businessfinancing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/World-Map_The-Oldest-Company-in-Every-Country_World.png
Alex says
I see the winery in Germany as the oldest but the company in Austria reads a founding date of 803 (older than the winery in Germany)?
Austrian boy says
Austria – 803
Germany – 862
Still Germany gets the oldest?
Editor says
You’re right, we made a mistake there so thank you for pointing it out! We fixed it now.
Attila Kovács says
Hello, the European part does not seem well researched. E.g. in case of Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine. Ukraine did not exist in 1250. Slovakia was part of Hungary in 1328. I think this needs some rework.
Demian says
Kievan Rus’ did. The Salt Plant exists on Ukraine’s territory right now. Same argument goes for Slovakia and Hungary. Old territorial split can be debated forever, but not the current one.
hugh sheehy says
I confess some scepticism about a pub in Ireland being in business since 900. A nice claim for the tourists…but I have my doubts.
Norman Serff says
The National Museum is investigating the claim. They say that the building is at least a thousand years old. During renovations in 1970, the walls were found to be made of “wattle and wicker”, dating back to the 9th century. The question is has the building always been a pub.
Elizabeth Peck says
Fascinating idea for a map! By their very nature, map updates are always needed when better information is uncovered….. Looking forward to seeing the map evolve! Thanks!
Joe Shmo says
Must be nothing special in Iran
Babak says
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astan_Quds_Razavi
Betterbee says
The Shore Porters Society https://www.shoreporters.com/history/ was founded in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1498, nearly 200 years before the date given for the Bank of Scotland.
Betterbee says
The Royal Mint is in Wales, not in England (somehow “Wales” has been omitted from its address), though it was founded in England, and moved to Wales in about the 1960s.
Emmanuel says
For Switzerland, I don’t see Vacheron Constantin (1755) the world oldest watch company with a continuous activity since its beginning
Rhys says
The Royal Mint is in Wales, which is a country that is not England. I would’ve accepted Great Britain/United Kingdom, but Scotland and Ireland have been included?
Kate Keller says
Where could I purchase the larger map for my classroom?
IanWright says
Unfortunately, we don’t have this available yet.
Tomasz Olejniczak says
Guys, first of all – what a great map! And kudos for the enormous effort in data collection! I have been doing research on business longevity for some time now, and unfortunately there are no widely acknowledged or agreed upon standards or criteria for judging an establishment date or date of business closure. For example some say that Kongo Gumi in Japan went bankrupt in 1990s, others will say that it continues to operate after it was taken over by Takamatsu in 2006. Since there are no hard criteria they both be right… So I am afraid You opened a can of worms and You will get a bunch of comments, questions and suggestions in the next few days! Btw. in my country (Poland) the oldest company would be Wieliczka est. in 1044 (at least this is the date of the oldest known document in which the name of the company appears). It still exists today and is very much in operation but rather as one of the main tourist attractions, hotel and spa business rather than salt mining (due to the mine flood in 1992 they had to stop production in 1996). And to make matters even more confusing both Wieliczka and Bochnia (that you found) were originally part of the same “salt mine belt” owned by the Polish king… So thank You for the great map and good luck in responding to all the comments!
Gilson Rangel says
Please correct the article. The oldest company in Brazil is called the Brazilian Post and Telegraph Company – ECT, or simply Correios, founded on January 25, 1663.
Font: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empresa_Brasileira_de_Correios_e_Tel%C3%A9grafos
Rodrigo says
For Guatemala: the brewery “Cervecería Centroamericana” was founded in 1896, long before the company listed on this map.
Philip Owen says
Wales (not listed): Red Lion, Llanafan Fawr. A pub known to be open in 1188 and certainly older. This is well attested. For example it is mentioned in the books of the priest Gerald of Wales an early geographer and historian.
Less certainly, Margam Abbey steel works, circa 1130 as an iron works.
Lee says
Too bad that most of Oceania is missing.
Here in Fiji, it’s likely that the oldest company still operating is the Fiji Times newspaper (1869).
Japanese says
J A P A N _ I S _ W R O N G !
It’s closed since 2006 🙁
Edgar says
Hello. I’m from Dominican Republic. I was curious after I see that in the maps were no data about the oldest company founded in DR.
So I started researching, and I found that the oldest company founded in DR is “J. Armando Bermúdez & Co., S.A.”(18252) a company of rums, and still running.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berm%C3%BAdez_%28rum%29
In spanish: https://m.diariolibre.com/actualidad/presidente-fernndez-reconoce-60-empresas-con-ms-de-50-aos-CIdl339931
mk says
I don’t know about other countries but quick search in wikipedia shows that there are companies in Russia that are established earlier than in 1721. For example Nevyansk Mechanical Plant is established in 1701 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevyansk_Mechanical_Plant).
Alice says
In Finland, Posti was established in 1638, that would be 11 years earlier than Fiskars 🙂
Really fun going through this!
Garry Steedman says
In Scotland, the Shore Porters Society was founded in Aberdeen in 1498 and is still operating:
https://www.shoreporters.com/history/
J Lopez says
According to this page, even though Kongo Gumi is no more, the next oldest business in the world is Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan, a Japanese inn established in 705.
https://soranews24.com/2013/08/17/top-10-japanese-companies-over-800-years-old/
D W says
Not sure about the accuracy of this report; I checked the UK first companies listed and the oldest Company in Scotland would appear to be the Incorporation of Goldsmiths – http://www.incorporationofgoldsmiths.org/
D W says
actually, what Garry said!
Viktor says
Would you mind fixing the oldest company in Russia? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevyansk_Mechanical_Plant
krist0ph3r says
interesting that the oldest “company” in the US is a farm, I’m sure there are farms that have been operational for a few centuries in India, yet the oldest businesses for India is listed less than 300 years old.
Preacher says
Hi there!
In Brazil there is a company called Eberle, founded in 1896, that is still operating.
http://www.eberle.com.br/
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal%C3%BArgica_Abramo_Eberle
Chow says
it can’t be true. China’s Mayuching refers to 马豫兴，it self claimed just hundreds-year-history.
David McLennan says
Scotland, Shore Porters in Aberdeen, 1498 I think
Dwain says
My goodness. So many one-upping in comments and fuss over what and who is the oldest! And Homo sapiens have barely made a flash-in-the-bucket footprint compared to so, so many other still living species on the planet! Well, I guess we youthful primates still have deeply embedded in our genetics our need and obsession for unshared territory and resources as well as huge pride, arrogance, and egocentric domination-exploitation. If aliens arrived to take and study one species from Earth, they’d clearly take all the ants given their astounding Eusociality and Superorganism collaboration. They’d avoid humans like the plague as far inferior! Hahahaha!
Nevertheless, this map and history HAD to require an immense effort and dedication! Bravo to you at Business Financing UK. I found it all very intriguing and inspiring. And as is always the case in writing “human history,” it is a messy business by the mere fact that ALL human beings are fantastic story-tellers, despite how abundantly imperfect we are as a whole! HAH! Even the wise adage “History is written by the Victors” only scratches the surface of what and how we primates have done and will do to each other… including other’s histories.
Again, great work Business Financing UK!
Shees Bin Shahid says
Did you really forget Nokia or my eyes couldn’t see it?
NR says
In Portugal, the oldest company is the Portuguese Mint
Adrian S says
Not so fast. Collegiate School in NYC is in business since 1628 so the research is superficial like any millennial garbage. But it’s got pretty colors and graphics, very nice…..
q says
“Slovakia”
Show me pls. “Slovakia” on the map in 1328….
scott says
Where can I buy that world map?
David Reich says
Wonderful.
You should add a note that educational institutions are excluded.
According to Wikipedia:
Oxford – 1096
Harvard – 1636
Lorrel Elian says
This was an excellent conversation. Loved learning from it and the comments were excellent. You should post it on Social media. I would share it!
justice... says
“Apatin Brewery, Serbia, 1756”
Have a look at a 1756-map…
Hm…yes.. was Hungary….in the 1918-robbed “Délvidék”….
“Slovakia 1328”???????
That is Hungary….
“Ursus Breweries, Romania, 1878”
Hm…Kolozsvár…Hungarian Kingdom….
Stolen history…robbed countries and companies….!
Pleas upload a real map!!!!!!!!
Ronin says
I don’t see Beretta, the Italian arms company, which was founded in 1526.
Lwówek Slaski says
So I guess you’ve ignored polish oldest company “Browar Lwówek” 1209
dave says
cafe abu salem, 1916. its there
Greg Breht says
Slovenia
company Zlatarna Celje 1844
Nathan says
Wow! This is so disrespectful and
Georgia is an independent stage and you have it as part of Russia on the big map! and then on some maps you show it without it’s full internationally admitted territories! You show 2 piece of the country that is Russian occupied as part of Russia!
I’m American and love Georgia and it’s history and you are insulting this proud and independent nation! Shame on you!!! I’ll report this site and these maps
Mohamed Abdelshakour says
I see you made a big mistake in the Muslim world
The oldest civilizations in the world which have the oldest cities in the world and you say the oldest companies they have are from two centuries ago!!
Amy Kitcher says
Hi,
The oldest company in Wales is The Black Boy Inn in Caernarfon, it dates back to 1522 and is still operational as a hotel and restaurant today. Please could you include this as you have included an entry from Scotland.
Many thanks
Amy
Angus Milner-Brown says
Scotland appears to be incorrect. The Shore Porters Society was founded in 1498 and still operates all over the UK today. Based in Aberdeen. https://www.shoreporters.com/history/
Tim Anderson says
Interesting two mints on the list, wonder how long they will be in business for ?
norman rentrop says
sweden – stora enso was incorporated (first record date) as Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags in 1288
Sam says
Stora Enso mainly Finnish company nowadays; HQ in Helsinki, biggest stock owners are Finnish etc.
Babak says
Wow! it is a nice work and an awesome map.
About Iran one thing that comes to my mind is this company: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astan_Quds_Razavi
They were founded April 11, 1510
James Burns says
Scotland is incorrect. The oldest company is Aberdeen Harbour Board was established in 1136. It is the oldest company in Britain and still operates today.
https://www.aberdeen-harbour.co.uk/about-us/history/
AllyPally says
The Shore Porters’ Society in Aberdeen was founded in 1498, quite a while before the Bank of Scotland.
Sam says
Finland, oldest companies top-3:
1. 1638 Posti Group Finnish Post)
2. 1649 Fiskars
3. 1723 Willhelmsin apteekki (pharmacy)
So, you have put number 2 in your map.
Mateo says
The Uruguay data is incorrect, there are a handful of companies still in business that were founded before 1877.
https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/mas-de-150-anos-y-tan-campantes-2017111500 <– Spanish, translate and check.
Beebake Amatya says
Nepal- Birātnagar jute industry is older by year
Fred says
Lil-lets is not a food brand. It’s tampons.
Mikhail says
The Chilean Mint (Casa de Moneda de Chile), being founded in 1743, is our oldest company. FAMAE is still the oldest weapons manufacturer of the Americas, though.
https://www.casamoneda.cl/cmoneda/site/edic/base/port/historia.html
Enrique says
You guys have The wrong company in Guatemala,
Cantel a textile company which still functions was founded in 1880
The brewery Cerverceria Centroaméricana was foundeD in 1886
The electric company EEGSA in 1894
The cement company progreso (novella) In 1897
All of them are still operating and older than multi inversiones all you had to do was the correct research.
Here is the link where you can do it
https://cig.industriaguate.com/institucional/historia/
Stuart says
Shore porters aberdeen is older than the bank of scotland. Shore porters were est in 1498
Kotaro says
No quite inaccurate There is besides from kongo gumi the world’s oldest
The 2nd Oldest companies in the world “Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan”
The second oldest company in the world is Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, a hot spring hotel in Hayakawa, Japan. It was founded in 705 AD. In 2011, it was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest hotel. This 37-room hotel has been managed for over 1,300 years by the same family. It is located near the Akaishi mountains and derives its hot water from the nearby Hakuho Springs.
4rth Oldest Companies in the World Hoshi
Hoshi Ryokan is another traditional Japanese hotel which was founded in 718 AD, making it the fourth oldest company in the world and the third oldest hotel. It is located in the Awazu Onse region of the Ishikawa prefecture in Japan. Management of this hotel has stayed in the same family for 46 generations.
5th Oldest Companies i the World Genda Shigyo
Genda Shigyo, a ceremonial paper goods company, was founded in 771 AD. In 794, it moved its headquarters to Kyoto when the city became the capital of Japan. Today, its offices can be found between the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle. This company specializes in mizuhiki, colorful paper twisted into cords. These cords are used at events such as funerals and weddings.
source: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-oldest-companies-still-operating-today.html
Rich Thompson says
Incredible and very well graphic review. Thanks for sharing this, is with no doubt a truly helpful reference to anyone’s in the business field / area.
caco says
Amazing work! Of course there might be some inaccuracies but it’s really difficult to gather all these information correctly. And as always with history, it will open to discussion. For example Cemberlitas Hamami in Turkey wasn’t started as a company. It was a public bath in Ottoman era. Today it is a main tourist attraction and run by a for profit organization, but I think it’s history as a company is not that old.
Avedis Zildjian is one of the oldest companies founded in Istanbul. It is still in operation and most of the drummers today are using its cymbals. But the company is not in Turkey currently, it’s in the USA. It was founded in Istanbul in 1623 to manufacture cymbals for Ottoman military marching band which called Mehter. They became very successful and opened their business in Europe. In the early 1900s, some of the Zildjian family members immigrated to the USA, and continued their business in Massachusetts until today. And some of the Zildjians remained in Istanbul. Two of their apprentices, Agop and Mehmet each started their own companies in the 1980s.
Susanna Viljanen says
The oldest company in both Sweden and Finland is Stora Enso (a paper giant), originally founded as a mining corporation (Stora Kopparberg Bergslag) in 1288. Stora and Enso merged 1998, creating the modern corporation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stora_Enso
IanWright says
Hi Susanna,
Thanks for reaching out. This was suck a tricky task and really appreciate all the feedback with even older companies!
Ian