The World’s Oldest Family Companies
Convincing evidence that smaller firms usually outlast larger ones.
By William T. O’Hara and Peter Mandel
“Companies come and companies go,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill remarked
when the Enron scandal broke last winter. For Secretary O’Neill and everyone else who
subcribes to that presumption, the following list should come as a revelation. These
companies—the world's 100 oldest continuously family-owned firms—have outlasted
governments, nations, cities and certainly once-mighty corporations like Enron. Indeed,
a common thread among most of them seems to be their manageable size. “Some of the
oldest businesses,” the English business historians Henry G. Button and Andrew P.
Lampert have noted, “are relatively small undertakings.”
More than size or wealth, the age of an institution determines its influence and prestige.
Family Business first identified America’s oldest family companies last year (Spring
2001). This list of oldest family companies outside the U.S.—compiled over four
years—is the logical companion. All of the listed companies are at least two centuries
old; a few have lasted in the same family for more than a millennium. The very oldest,
Japanese temple-builder Kongo Gumi, was founded in 578.
This compilation is less than scientific; it’s certainly not comprehensive or entirely
accurate. It relies instead on the best information available to us. Two organizations
were especially helpful in compiling our data: the Tercentenarians in the United
Kingdom (comprising family businesses 300 years or older) and Les Henokiens in
France (200 years or older). As with Family Business magazine’s previous lists of
largest and oldest companies, readers are invited to pass along corrections or
information that we may have missed.
1. Kongo Gumi
Construction/Japan
Founded: 578
40th generation
http://www.kongogumi.co.jp
Prince Shotoku brought Kongo family members to Japan from Korea more than 1,400
years ago to build the Buddhist Shitennoji Temple, which still stands. Over the
centuries, Kongo Gumi has participated in the construction of many famous buildings,
including the 16th-century Osaka castle. Today the family continues to build and repair
religious temples and manage general contracting from its Osaka headquarters. Current
president is Toshitaka Kongo; his 51-year-old son, Masakazu Kongo, is waiting in the
wings.
2. Hoshi
Innkeeping/Japan
Founded: 718
46th generation
According to legend, the god of Mount Hakusan visited a priest, telling him to uncover
an underground hot spring in a nearby village. The hot spring was found, and the priest
requested that the Hoshi family build and run a spa on the site. Their hotel is now
capable of housing 450 people in 100 rooms.
3. Château de Goulaine
Vineyard, museum, butterfly collection/France
Founded: 1000
http://chateau.goulaine. online.fr
The Goulaine family has owned this establishment for more than 1,000 years. The castle
houses a rare butterfly collection in addition to a museum. It hosts various functions,
including weddings. Wine is available for sale at the castle’s vineyards.
4. Barone Ricasoli
Wine and olive oil/Italy
Founded: 1141
http://www.ricasoli.it
The Ricasoli barons were first given their land by the Republic of Florence in the 12th
century; today their Brolio Estate covers about 3,600 acres. The family’s main focus is
its wine production, although 26 acres of the estate are used for olive cultivation.
5. Barovier & Toso
Glass making/Italy
Founded: 1295
20th generation
http://www.barovier.com
For centuries the Barovier family has produced crystalline glass, mother-of-pearl glass
and gold-free cornelian red on Murano Island, about a ten-minute ferry ride from
Venice. The Baroviers merged with the Toso family, who were also glassmakers on
Murano Island, in 1936.
6. Hotel Pilgrim Haus
Innkeeping/Germany
Founded: 1304
http://www.pilgrimhaus.de
The Hotel Pilgrim Haus is located in the town of Soest, about 110 miles north of
Frankfurt.
7. Richard de Bas
Paper/France
Founded: 1326
http://www.richarddebas.fr
Richard de Bas has a longstanding reputation for high-quality papers, which has led to
many high-profile jobs. The company has supplied paper for limited-edition works by
Braque and Picasso.
8. Torrini Firenze
Goldsmiths/Italy
Founded: 1369
Jacopus Turini started the business, which is currently located in Florence. Perhaps the
family’s most valued possession is its secretive and exclusive “Oro Nativo”
manufacturing process, a method of working with gold while retaining its most natural
color.
9. Antinori
Wine/Italy
Founded: 1385
26th generation
http://www.antinori.it
The Antinori family has been in the wine business since Giovanni di Piero Antinori
joined the Florentine Guild of Vintners more than 600 years ago. Marchese (or
“Count”) Piero Antinori and his three daughters currently oversee a worldwide system
of vineyards in Italy, the U.S., Hungary, Malta and Chile that continue to be recognized
by consumers and by wine critics for their superior quality Chiantis and other vintages.
The company is housed in a Florentine palazzo.
10. Camuffo
Shipbuilding/Italy
Founded: 1438
18th generation
The business began in Khanià, a Venetian port on the island of Crete. It was founded by
a man locals called “Camuffi” but whose real name was El Ham Muftiì. The family has
supplied boats to Mohammed the Second, the Venetian Republic, Napoleon, the Asburg
Imperial and the Royal Italian navies. Experts refer to a Camuffo boat as “the
Stradivarius of the sea.”
11. Baronnie de Coussergues
Wine/France
Founded: 1495
16th generation
When King Charles VIII began selling royal property in France to pay off some of his
expenses, Pierre Raymond de Sarret bought the estate known as Coussergues. Today the
vineyard produces a wide variety of wines, including chardonnays, sauvignon blancs,
viogniers, cabernet francs, merlots and cabernet sauvignons. The family sells 1.5
million bottles of wine a year in France and abroad and has won numerous gold medals
for its wines.
12. Grazia Deruta
Ceramics/Italy
Founded: 1500
The company produces majolica, a special type of ceramic that pre-dates the 13th
century. Current CEO Ubaldo Grazia has expanded the company’s business into the
U.S. market and has produced three exclusive designs for Henri Bendel. Grazia has also
done work for other major department stores and labels, such as Neiman-Marcus and
Tiffany.
13. Fabbrica D’Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A.
Firearms/Italy
Founded: 1526
14th generation
http://www.beretta.it
Founder Bartolomeo Beretta’s world-class gun-maker is now a Hollywood favorite; its
guns appear in the James Bond series, among other films. Beretta’s reputation for
quality craftsmanship recently enabled the company to wrest a $56 million U.S. armed
forces contract away from competitor Colt Industries. Beretta is the weapon of choice of
other law-enforcement agencies around the world, such as the Italian Carabinieri,
French Gendarmerie and Texas Rangers. The company also has earned distinction for
its line of hunting weapons. Ugo Gussalli Beretta is the company’s current president.
14. John Brooke & Sons
Woolens/United Kingdom
Founded: 1541
15th generation
The company, founded by John Brooke, has provided fabrics for British troops (Battle
of Trafalgar, World War II), French troops and Russian military personnel. Today it’s
headed by the 15th generation, represented by Mark Brooke and his brother Massimo
Brooke. Mark has changed the company’s focus within the past decade by creating an
entrepreneurial development park in its old mill buildings.
15. Codorniu
Wine/Spain
Founded: 1551
http://www.codorniu.es
Jaime Codorniu acquired the company in 1551, beginning centuries of family
ownership. In 1976 King Juan Carlos I declared the Codorniu estate a national historic
and artistic monument. The estate is visited by 200,000 people every year and produces
about 60 million bottles of wine annually.
16. Fonjallaz
Wine/Switzerland
Founded: 1552
13th generation
Pierre Fonjallaz began the family business when he “devoted himself to the growing of
the vine,” as the label on a bottle of Fonjallaz wine will tell you. The company, now in
its 13th generation of ownership, is headed by Patrick Fonjallaz.
17. DeVergulde Hand
Soap factory/Netherlands
Founded: 1554
http://www.verguldehand.nl
18. von Poschinger Manufaktur
Glassmaking/Germany
Founded: 1568
13th generation
http://www.poschinger.de
The von Poschinger glassworks in Germany began in 1568 when Joachim Poschinger
took ownership of a glass factory near Frauenau, near the Czech border. Today the
business is divided into three different areas—farming, forestry and glass works—
though glassmaking is still the focal point of family business affairs.
19. Wachsendustrie Fulda Adam Gies
Candles, wax figures/Germany
Founded: 1589
20. Bernberg Bank
Banking/Germany
Founded: 1590
Bernberg Bank is one of the few remaining independently owned banks in Germany.
21. R. Durtnell & Sons
Construction/United Kingdom
Founded: 1591
12th generation
Founder John Durtnell and his brother Brian built their first house in 1593. It still stands
and is occupied to this day. The company is extremely versatile; its projects have
included the Royal Military Academy, Chartwell House (Winston Churchill’s home)
and Buckingham Palace.
22. J.P. Epping of Pippsvadr
Grocers/Germany
Founded: 1595
23. Eduard Meier
Shoes/Germany
Founded: 1596
13th generation
http://www.edmeier.de
The company today is run by Peter Eduard Meier and his sister Brigitte. Its product line
consists of about 4,500 items.
24. Tissiman & Sons Ltd.
Tailors and outfitters/United Kingdom
Founded: 1601
25. Takenaka
Construction/Japan
Founded: 1610
http://www.takenaka.co.jp
Takenaka has built office buildings for some of Japan’s major corporations, such as
Mitsui Bank and Nippon Life Insurance. The family company has won many awards for
design, technique and quality.
26. Mellerio dits Meller
Jewelry/France
Founded: 1613
15th generation
http://www.mellerio.fr
Members of the Mellerio family from Lombardy, Italy, became seasonal workers in
France in the 16th century as purveyors of handcrafted jewelry. The family became
royal favorites when it helped foil an attempted assassination of King Louis XIII.
Located today near the Place Vendôme in Paris, Mellerio is known for fine jewelry and
as designers and creators of the French Open tennis championship trophies.
27. Alldays Peacock
Industrial engineering/United Kingdom
Founded: 1625
http://www.apco1650.demon.co.uk
The Onions family met with immediate success making bellows in a little shed near
Coventry, England, prompting rapid expansion of the company into a near-monopoly.
The business, which took the name J.C. Onions, became the official bellow-makers to
the queen. The company’s expansion continued as it merged with its biggest competitor,
William Allday & Co., and eventually with J.C. Peacock. Over the years, the company
has produced a range of items, including water turbines, tricycles, cars and centrifugal
fans.
28. Kikkoman
Soy sauce/Japan
Founded: 1630
http://www.kikkoman.com
On the run after her husband’s military defeat and death at the Osaka castle in the 16th
century, widow Shige Maki escaped to Noda, Japan, and established a small business
making what was to become soy sauce. The family business became a unified company
in 1917 when eight branches of the Mogi family merged their companies together. The
company has grown into the world’s largest producer of soy sauce products.
29. Sumitomo Corp.
Conglomerate/Japan
Founded: 1630
http://www.sumitomocorp.co.jp
Masatomo Sumitomo opened a medicine and book shop in Kyoto in the early 17th
century. As time went on, various members of the family added to the conglomerate,
making it what it is today. Sumitomo Group’s current core consists of 20 companies
focusing on banking, shipbuilding, mining, glass production, electronics, cement,
lumber and chemicals.
30. Akerblads
Hotel/Sweden
Founded: 1630
21st generation
http://www.akerblads-tallberg.se
This charming hotel in Tällberg is currently run by members of the 19th through 21st
generations of the Akerblads family. The property has been remodeled and expanded
over the years but still conveys a 17th-century atmosphere while offering excellent
cuisine and warm Swedish hospitality.
31. Van Eeghen
Shipping/Netherlands
Founded: 1632
14th generation
http://www.europegate.com/vaneeghen
The company was established in Amsterdam by Christiaen Van Eeghen and has earned
a reputation for being a reliable, highly ethical trading partner. Beginning with its tall
ships, Van Eeghen plied the historic spice routes from the Far East to Holland. Today
Van Eeghen continues its involvement with world trade but has diversified its business
activities to include processing food ingredients.
32. Gekkeikan
Sake/Japan
Founded: 1637
13th generation
http://www.gekkeikan.co.jp
The Gekkeikan brewery was established by Jiemon Okura in the town of Fushimi. The
quality of its sake has led to the company’s appointment as the official supplier of the
Japanese Imperial household. Currently, the business makes more than 170 different
products and exports to more than 60 countries.
33. Hugel et Fils
Wine/France
Founded: 1639
12th generation
http://www.hugel.com
The Hugel family’s roots in the war-torn Alsace-Lorraine region of France reach back
to the 15th century. In 1639 the family began to make wine in the town of Riquewihr.
Today, its vintages have an outstanding international reputation and are exported to
more than 100 countries.
34. James Lock & Co.
Hatters/United Kingdom
Founded: 1642
http://www.lockhatters.co.uk
The company was founded by James Lock and now makes men’s and women’s hats.
One of its most recognized creations is the Bowler (known as the Derby in some
places).
35. G.C. Fox & Co.
Shipping agent/United Kingdom
Founded: 1646
36. R.H. Levey & Son
Funeral services/United Kingdom
Founded: 1649
37. William Adams & Sons
Potters/United Kingdom
Founded: 1650
12th generation
The family has been producing pottery since at least 1448. In 1650, brothers William
and Thomas established their pottery business in Burslem, about 35 miles south of
Liverpool. It’s currently run by members of the 11th and 12th generations.
38. Ulefos Jernvaerk
Metals, milling, forestry/Norway
Founded: 1657
On August 8, 1657, King Fredrik III gave a royal decree allowing the Cappelen family
to begin the company’s operations. The family has become involved in many different
businesses over the years, including owning ships, trading, and producing stoves and
manhole covers. The company is currently Norway’s market leader in manhole covers,
which accounts for 70% of the family’s business.
39. Friedr Schwarze
Distillery/Germany
Founded: 1664
12th generation
Jan Swarte (the surname was later changed to Schwarze) began the family business in
Westphalia, where he was a farmer and a distiller. Four generations later, Hermann
Josef Schwarze bought a house at Herrenstrasse, where the family still lives. This house
serves as the company’s headquarters.
40. Kronenbourg Brewery
Brewery/France
Founded: 1664
41. James Kenyon & Son, Ltd.
Textiles/United Kingdom
Founded: 1664
42. Hedges & Butler
Wines and spirits/United Kingdom
Founded: 1667
http://www.ianmacleod.com/brdhb0.htm
Hedges & Butler’s reputation for quality and refinement earned it a contract in 1837 to
be the official supplier of wine and spirits to Queen Victoria’s family.
43. Early’s of Witney
Blankets/United Kingdom
Founded: 1669
44. Mocatta & Goldsmid
Gold/United Kingdom
Founded: 1671
45. C. Hoare & Co.
Banking/United Kingdom
Founded: 1672
11th generation
http://www.hoaresbank.co.uk
The Hoare bank is the last survivor of the English private deposit banks that were
originally established in the 17th and 18th centuries. The bank was founded by Richard
Hoare and is now run by members of the tenth and 11th generations. The family’s pride
in close customer relationships and meticulous service has attracted famous customers,
including Samuel Pepys, Queen Charlotte, furniture makers Thomas Chippendale &
Son, Lord Byron, Jane Austen and various prime ministers.
46. Firmin & Sons Ltd.
Uniforms and insignia/United Kingdom
Founded: 1677
http://www.firmin.co.uk
47. Viellard Migeon & Cie.
Iron making/France
Founded: 1679
http://www.vmchooks.com
The business was started by a man named Nicolas Viellard and met with significant
success after the French Revolution. During this time the business adopted a strategy of
cultivating family alliances to consolidate the iron works in the town of Morvillars, in
eastern France.
48. Gradis Corp.
Wine trading/France
Founded: 1685
The Gradis family, originally from Portugal, settled in Bordeaux in the late 1500s.
Diego Gradis later began the family wine trading business. During the Seven Years’
War (1756-63), family ships were used to re-supply troops in Canada. During World
War I, the French government commissioned the family to ensure the supply of sugar
for France. Today, the family has returned to its roots in wine trading.
49. Toye, Kenning & Spencer
Weavers/United Kingdom
Founded: 1685
http://www.toye.com
Toye, Kenning & Spencer holds a royal warrant and over the years has produced much
of the United Kingdom’s regalia, medals and uniforms. Brian Toye is the current
chairman.
50. Yamamotoyama
Tea/Japan
Founded: 1690
The Yamamotoyama family began producing teas in Japan more than three centuries
ago. The company is now the world’s oldest family-owned tea business.
51. Cartiera
Mantovana Corp.
Paper/Italy
Founded: 1690
http://www.cartieramantovana.it
The Marenghi family, descendants of Riccio da Parma (a knight famous for his battles
in the early 1500s), owns the company. In 1688 the Duke of Mantua granted the family
the privilege of selling paper; production began in 1690. The company is currently run
by Cristina Marenghi and her sons Marcofabio, Alberto and Vittorio.
52. Delamare et Cie.
Packaging materials/France
Founded: 1690
The company was founded by André Delamare and is now run by François Delamare.
Family members initially worked with wood, making carts and stagecoaches.
Eventually they expanded into plastics and adhesives in the packaging market. The
family has earned two top packaging awards, in 1986 and 1988. Today it conducts
research on recycling and transformation of industrial waste.
53. Folkes Group
Real estate and engineering/United Kingdom
Founded: 1697
Seventh generation
http://www.folkesgroup.plc.uk
The company began by making chain mail and swords and is now the oldest firm with a
current stock market listing in the United Kingdom. In addition to making real estate
investments, the company produces specialized cargo handling equipment, large
crankshafts, roofing materials and other products.
54. Berry Brothers & Rudd Ltd.
Wine merchants/United Kingdom
Founded: 1698
Family of coffee, tea and spice merchants gravitated to wines and spirits later. They
earned the right to supply the British royal family in 1760 and continue to do so—they
currently hold royal warrants to the queen and the prince of Wales. The family operates
out of the same shop where they began three centuries ago.
55. Shepherd Neame
Brewer/United Kingdom
Founded: 1698
Fifth generation
http://www.shepherd-neame.co.uk
Britain's oldest brewer, founded by Capt. Richard Marsh, who was the mayor of
Faversham, in Kent. Samuel Shepherd and his sons Julius and John eventually bought
the business. When Percy Beale Neame joined the partnership in 1864, the company’s
beer began to gain widespread renown. The Neame family has remained in control ever
since.
56. William Dalton & Sons
Pest control/United Kingdom
Founded: 1710
57. Tissages Denantes
Cloth/France
Founded: 1723
Even with more than 400 employees, the company preserves its traditions, which began
in the 18th-century French trade fairs. Michel Denantes and his wife, Barbe, established
a reputation for fine cloth at these fairs.
58. Amarelli
Licorice/Italy
Founded: 1731
The family’s roots in Italy’s Calabria region—which according to the British
Encyclopedia has the best licorice in the world—pre-date the year 1000. Fortunato
Amarelli created the Amarelli company with his son in 1731. In 1987 the company won
the gold medal from the Italian Chemical Company for combining traditional
craftsmanship with modern technology.
59. Fraterri Piacenza Corp.
Woolens/Italy
Founded: 1733
11th generation
In 1733, Pietro Francesco Piacenza created the first woolen mill in Pollone, a small
town nestled at the foot of the Alps, near the Swiss and French borders. The family
prides itself on its strict quality standards—its method of producing wool takes up to six
times longer than some more modern techniques. The results are widely acclaimed. The
company’s president today is Riccardo Piacenza.
60. Taittinger Champagne
Champagne/France
Founded: 1734
http://www.taittinger.com
The business was begun by Jacques Fourneaux. After World War I, the Taittinger
family merged with Fourneaux-Forest (as the company was known at the time). The
Taittingers ultimately took control of the operation. Claude Taittinger runs the business
today.
61. William Clark & Sons
Linen/Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Founded: 1739
Ninth generation
http://www.wmclark.co.uk
The family has operated for more than 250 years as a manufacturer of linens in
Northern Ireland and now runs the oldest family-owned linen factory in the world. Their
international reputation for quality and value has made Irish linen perhaps more highly
prized than any other cloth. The company is currently run by Bobby and Stephen Clark
of the ninth generation.
62. Boplaas
Agriculture/Orchards/South Africa
Founded: 1743
Ninth generation
The farm was founded by Isaak Wilhelm Van der Merwe and is now run by two
brothers, Frans and Nicolaas Van der Merwe, of the family’s ninth generation. The
family also has built a literary legacy through poet Isaac Wilhelmus Van der Merwe,
known nationally as “Boerneef,” and current author Carl Van der Merwe (eighth
generation). The family farm was declared a national monument in 1973.
63. Aubanel
Publishing Co.
Publishing/France
Founded: 1744
The business was started by Antoine Aubanel in Avignon. Rome awarded Antoine the
title of “master printer” in 1756, and in 1780 he was appointed the official printer to the
Pope, an honor that was to be handed down from generation to generation. The family
refused to publish Napoleon Bonaparte’s book Le Souper De Beaucaire.
64. Fonderia Daciano Colbachini & Figli
Bell maker/Italy
Founded: 1745
The family business was founded by Giuseppe Colbachini when he joined with his three
brothers to make bells. The Colbachini family’s talents earned them the prestigious title
of “Pontifical Foundry” on January 17, 1898. To this day, Fonderia Daciano Colbachini
& Figli is the only maker of bells in the world that is able to stamp its products with the
Papal coat of arms. The business is currently directed by Giovanni Aldinio-Colbachini.
65. J.D. Neuhaus Hebezeuge
Hoist manufacturers/Germany
Founded: 1745
Seventh generation
Johann Diederich Neuhaus began the business when he joined the Factory Register in
Germany as a manufacturer. The company started by producing wooden jacks, which
were in high demand by carters who would constantly break their wheels on the rough
terrain of 18th-century roads. In 1952 the company invented the air hoist, which was
much safer than the electrical hoists that were being produced at the time. Today, the
company’s products are sold in 90 countries. One product, the Gorilla V, is the world’s
most powerful air hoist: It can lift 250 tons. Johann Diederich Neuhaus, who represents
the seventh generation, is the current chairman.
66. Avandero Corp.
Transportation/Italy
Founded: 1746
67. Nagelmakers
Banking/Belgium
Founded: 1747
http://www.nagelmackers.be
68. Villeroy & Boch
Housewares/Germany
Founded: 1748
http://www.villeroy-boch.com
The family business began in Lorraine when François Boch, then an iron founder,
started making ceramic tableware. In 1791, Nicolas Villeroy established a nearby
ceramic factory. In 1836, these two families merged their factories to form Villeroy &
Boch.
69. Zenith Pipe Company
Tobacco pipes/Netherlands
Founded: 1749
Eighth generation
Aart van der Want currently runs the company.
70. Marie Brizard & Roger International
Distiller/France
Founded: 1755
Eighth generation
The company traces its origins to 18th-century Bordeaux, where, as legend has it, Marie
Brizard saved a sailor from death. To show his gratitude, the sailor told Marie about an
elixir that supposedly could cure every type of ill. Marie joined with her nephew JeanBaptiste Roger to start the family company by producing the “elixir” known as anisette.
The business is still centered in Bordeaux and is currently run by Jean-Baptiste Roger,
an eighth-generation descendant of the founding family. Today the company’s products
can be found in more than 120 countries.
71. Joseph Drouhin
Wine/France
Founded: 1756
http://www.drouhin.com
Parts of the family’s wine cellars date back to the 13th century. One portion of their
cellar was built in the 16th century for the king of France. The family’s cellars have
been classified as historical treasures. Today the family’s estate covers more than 162
acres. Family members Robert, Philippe, Véronique, Françoise and Frédéric currently
run the winery.
72. Lanificio Conte S.p.A.
Woolens/Italy
Founded: 1757
The business was started when Antonio Di Giovan Battista bought a woolen mill in
1757. The current president is Gemma Boniver Conte. The firm has cultivated a
reputation for fine women’s clothing.
73. Jose Cuervo
Tequila/Mexico
Founded: 1758
http://www.cuervo.com
José Antonio de Cuervo acquired a land grant from the king of Spain in 1758. In 1795,
José Maria Guadalupe Cuervo was granted the first license from the king to produce
tequila. The family business is now Mexico’s oldest existing company. In Spanish,
Cuervo means “crow,” the symbol the firm uses to identify its products.
74. Waterford Wedgwood
Crystal, china, & cookware/ Ireland
Founded: 1759
http://www.waterfordwedgwood.com
Waterford Wedgwood is perhaps the world’s leading maker of luxury crystal, china,
ceramics and cookware. The company’s most visible product is the large crystal ball
lowered every New Year’s Eve in New York’s Times Square.
75. Creed Perfume
Perfumes/France
Founded: 1760
Seventh generation
The business was started in the United Kingdom in 1760 when James Creed received an
appointment from King George III to make fragrances. The company moved its
operations from London to Paris in 1854. Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of
Wales, both commissioned the company to make scents for them. Today the company
has 238 fragrances in its line and is run by Olivier Creed, who represents the seventh
generation.
76. Griset
Foundry/France
Founded: 1760
http://www.griset.com
Antoine Griset established the family’s first metal foundry in Paris in 1760. The factory
was moved to Rue Oberkampf in Paris in 1825. Here the platinum bar used by the
International Bureau of Weights and Measures to denote the “standard meter” was first
produced.
77. Hacienda Los Lingues
Ranch/Chile
Founded: 1760
http://www.loslingues.cl
Don Melchor Jufré del Águila, mayor of Santiago, received an 18th-century gift from
the king of Spain: the Angostura Estate, located in Chile’s Central Valley. He passed
the land on to his daughter, Doña Ana María del Águila, and its 4,000 hectares became
the home of a five-star hotel that can accommodate 37 guests. It’s also the home of one
of the most prestigious horse stables in the Americas: the Aculeo Stable, which features
horses brought to Spain by the Moors in 711 and later brought to the New World by the
Spanish Conquistadors. Germán Claro Lira currently owns the land.
78. Faber Castell
Writing instruments/Germany
Founded: 1761
Eighth generation
http://www.faber-castell.com
The company was founded in Stein, Germany (near Nuremberg), when Kaspar Faber, a
carpenter, produced his own pencils. Count Anton Wolfgang Graf von Faber-Castell
currently manages the company, which makes about 2,000 products.
79. Möller Group
Metal products/Germany
Founded: 1762
Seventh generation
The family can be traced back to 1575. The Möllers began working with copper in
1762. Successive generations expanded the family’s focus to include a tannery and
leather goods factory (1827), an engineering division (1863) and a plastics division
(1936). Dr. Peter von Möller, who represents the seventh generation, currently runs the
company.
80. Silca
Keys & key cutting machines/Italy
Founded: 1770
Fifth generation
http://www.silca.it
Camillo Bianchi started the business when he invented the key-cutting service. The
company serves more than 130,000 key-cutting centers, locksmiths and manufacturers
in the security and automotive industries worldwide.
81. Osborne y Compania
Brandy and sherry/Spain
Founded: 1772
Sixth generation
The business was started by an Englishman, Thomas Osborne Mann, who in the late
1700s owned an export agency in Cadiz. Thomas enjoyed early success through his
friendship with a British consul, who allowed him to store his wines in the consulate’s
personal cellar. Today the company has about 700 employees and is headed by Tomas
and Ignacio Osborne.
82. Editions Henry Lemoine
Music publishing/France
Founded: 1772
The family business was begun by Antoine-Marcel Lemoine in Paris. In 1810 he
published the Messe Solennelle, composed for the coronation of Napoleon I. The
publishing house also issued the works of Chopin, Berlioz, Donizetti, Halevy, Franck,
Gounod, Messiaen and Piazzolla. Pierre Lemoine currently heads the company.
83. Bass Ale
Brewer/United Kingdom
Founded: 1777
http://www.bassale.com
William Bass bought a brewery in Burton in 1777 and brewed his first pint of ale. At
first his output was only a few hundred barrels per year. This number grew to nearly 1
million barrels per year over the company’s first 100 years. It is said that Bass Ale was
Catherine the Great’s favorite until Napoleon Bonaparte put a stop to Baltic trade.
Today, Bass Ale’s beverages are sold on five continents.
84. JB Fernandes & Sons
Tools & ironwares/Portugal
Founded: 1778
Sixth generation
In 1778 an earthquake ruined much of Lisbon, then one of Europe’s most brilliant
capitals. This disaster prompted Ignacio Jose Fernandes to open a business selling tools
and iron goods to help rebuild the city. Today the firm is an industry leader in Portugal.
85. Ditta Bortolo Nardini
Distillery/Italy
Founded: 1779
http://www.nardini.it
Bortolo Nardini founded the distillery when he bought an inn in 1779 next to the
famous Bassano Bridge, about 45 miles northwest of Venice. The inn became known as
the “Grapperia Nardini.” Grape pomace acquavite (known as grappa) had been made by
peasants living in the area before the Nardinis arrived. Nardini introduced technology to
the process of distilling the seeds, skins and stems left at the end of the winemaking
process, making it more modern and scientific.
86. Asprey
Jewelry/United Kingdom
Founded: 1781
William Asprey founded the business in south London. Initially it made fine furniture.
In 1832 Asprey was appointed dressing case maker to the king. Today Asprey shops can
be found in New York, Geneva, Japan and Hong Kong. Asprey designed the sapphire
and diamond necklace worn by Kate Winslet in the film Titanic. John Rolls Asprey
currently runs the business.
87. Cadbury Schweppes
Drinks and confections/United Kingdom
Founded: 1783
Fifth generation
http://www.cadburyschweppes.com
The Schweppe family business began in 1783, when Jacob Schweppe perfected a
process for making mineral water in Switzerland. The Cadbury family business was
established in 1824 when John Cadbury began selling tea and coffee. These two
companies merged in 1969. Over the years the company has supplied the British royal
family with its products.
88. Confetti Mario Pelino
Candy/Italy
Founded: 1783
Seventh generation
http://www.pelino.it
Sulmona, Italy, has been a confectionary-making center for three centuries. In 1783,
thanks to the Pelino family, it became the confetti capital as well. Unlike paper confetti,
Pelino confetti is a confection that is used to celebrate weddings, christenings,
graduations and other occasions. The candies are made in a four-day-long process
overseen by the Pelino family’s nine members, all of whom are occupied full-time in
the factory and on the sales floor.
89. Molson
Brewer/Canada
Founded: 1786
http://www.molson.com
John Molson left his estate in England and came to Canada in 1786 before its
independence from Britain. His first brewery that year produced enough beer to fill
about 50,000 of today’s bottles, causing him to remark that “My beer has been
universally well-liked beyond my most sanguine expectations.” Molson today is
Canada’s largest brewery and enjoys a strong reputation in international markets.
90. Wilson Fuel
Fuel/Canada
Founded: 1788
Eighth generation
The family’s main focus is on fuel production. They own a chain of gas stations in Nova
Scotia, along with a couple of ski hills. Steve and Ian Wilson currently run the
company.
91. Revol
Craft pottery/France
Founded: 1789
Eighth generation
François Revol and his younger brother Joseph began the business. In 1806 their
porcelain won first prize for the quality of its glaze and its firmness at the Paris
Exhibition; in 1868 it was awarded a silver medal at the International Exhibition in Le
Havre.
92. Jeronimo Martins
Food retailer/Portugal
Founded: 1792
Jeronimo Martins is Portugal’s second-largest food retailer. Chairman Alexandre Soares
dos Santos, 65, and four of his seven children work in the business, which is now
focused on an aggressive overseas expansion. The family owns 60% of the group.
93. Bonhams
Auction house/United Kingdom
Founded: 1793
http://www.bonhams.com
Bonhams is currently the world’s third largest auction house, after the merger of
Bonham & Brooks with Phillips Auctioneers in the United Kingdom. The auction house
has about 200 specialists in more than 40 departments. It claims to be the only leading
auction house run by professional auctioneers.
94. Louis Latour
Winery/France
Founded: 1797
Seventh generation
The winery has provided wine for various figures of royalty, including the Thurn-undTaxis family, the court of Bavaria, the king of Wurtemberg, Ferdinand of SaxeCobourg, and the Radziwill princess. The family’s wines are also served at some of the
world’s most luxurious hotels and restaurants, such as Monte Carlo’s Hôtel de Paris,
Geneva’s Le Beau-Rivage and the Paris Ritz.
95. Industria Filati Tessuti Crespi
Cotton/Italy
Founded: 1797
Seventh generation
Benigno Crespi founded the business at the end of the 18th century. The family’s focus
is on high-quality clothing fabrics. In 1995, the company sold 8 million square meters
of finished fabrics. Franco and his son Carlo Crespi currently run the company.
96. Egon Müller-Scharzhof
Winery/Germany
Founded: 1797
Fifth generation
It is believed that the vineyard was planted by the Romans around 700. It became the
property of the church. After the French Revolution, when all church properties were
seized and sold, the Scharzhof family bought the estate in 1797. The family’s vineyard
is regarded as one of Germany’s finest.
97. Lombard Odier & Cie.
Banking and investments/ Switzerland
Founded: 1798
http://www.lodh.com
The bank enjoys a long reputation for quality service. (Jules Verne mentioned it in his
1872 novel From the Earth to the Moon.) Today, the bank employs more than 1,500
people in 13 countries.
98. N.M. Rothschild & Sons
Banking and investments/ United Kingdom
Founded: 1799
http://www.nmrothschild.com
Nathan Mayer Rothschild left his father’s trading house in Frankfurt in search of his
own fortune. He set up a business dealing with textiles in Manchester, England. But
soon after, Nathan shifted his focus to finance and banking; it became the dominant
branch of the legendary Rothschild family banking network. As his business grew, he
bought a building in London that continues to serve as the firm’s headquarters. In 1825,
when 145 banks failed, the Rothschilds provided the Bank of England with £10 million,
saving the British banking system from collapse. Today the family has 40 offices in
more than 30 countries.
99. Torres
Wine and brandy/Spain
Founded: 1800
http://www.torres.es
The family has produced wine since the 17th century but didn’t sell their products until
1800. The Torres wines have won awards in Vienna, Philadelphia and Paris. During the
Spanish Civil War, the family’s winery was bombed. It was eventually rebuilt by
Miguel Torres Carbó and his wife. Today the company’s wines can be found in more
than 120 countries.
100. Brucedale Pty. Ltd.
Farming/Australia
Founded: 1802
Sixth generation
Australia’s oldest family business belongs to the Suttor family. George Suttor received a
land grant of 200 acres for providing botanical help to Sir Joseph Banks during a
voyage to the colony of New South Wales. George named this land Chelsea Farm.
When his children grew older, his elder boys, John and William, took possession of a
320-acre plot and named it Brucedale (in honor of George’s grandmother, whose
maiden name was Bruce). Over time the family’s land holdings grew.
William T. O’Hara (wohara@bryant.edu) is founder and executive director of Bryant
College’s Institute for Family Enterprise in Smithfield, R.I. Peter Mandel is his
associate. The authors wish to acknowledge the research support of Bryant MBA
candidate John Gunasti.