# Foreign franchise chains established now in USA **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2017, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856 "2017-11-27T06:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/21 "2017-11-27T18:53:44Z")
Bimbo Breads started out as a Mexican company, and now owns Entenmann’s, Sara Lee, and Thomas’. Its headquarters is now in Pennsylvania. It’s funny to see their big delivery trucks in Southern California with the big BIMBO plastered on the sides. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/22 "2017-11-27T19:17:00Z")
Ringerhut. > **[RINGER HUT USA](https://usa.ringerhut.net/)** > > The Official Website of Ringer Hut USA.Beaming information to you on our Ringer Hut restaurants serving nutrition-packed, healthful Nagasaki champon and sara-udon noodles, and our Tonkatsu Hamakatsu restaurants serving cut-above-the-rest tonkatsu... The name is hilarious, it is what you get when you translate “belltower” or “belfrey” apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/23 "2017-11-27T20:36:42Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Bimbo Breads started out as a Mexican company, and now owns Entenmann’s, Sara Lee, and Thomas’. Its headquarters is now in Pennsylvania. > > It’s funny to see their big delivery trucks in Southern California with the big BIMBO plastered on the sides. Then you’ll get a big kick out of the [jersey for the Philadelphia Union](http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productimages/_2347000/altimages/ff_2347245alt2_full.jpg&w=600) soccer team. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/24 "2017-11-27T21:18:33Z")
Moving thread from Cafe Society to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/25 "2017-11-27T22:45:36Z")
What’s interesting is how few British retailers have been able to establish a foothold in the US. Tesco - the world’s ninth largest retailer - failed [spectacularly](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-did-tesco-fail-in-the-us/). I didn’t know that Pret a Manger had made it over here, but it looks like Jollibees is going to buy them anyway. > [@Ramira](#): > > the cement manufacturer is not a franchise chain. > that is the plain direct investment. > of course the Aldi case is also not a franchise chain case. I think the OP is using “franchise” in the sense of “brand name,” rather than the sense of corporate branding overlying local ownership. None of his examples use a franchise ownership model. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/26 "2017-11-27T23:20:33Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#): > > Uwajimaya, a Japanese supermarket, in the PNW. Only 4 stores, but what wonderful stores. Uwajimaya was founded in Seattle and all its locations are in the US, so I don’t think it counts as a “foreign chain”. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/27 "2017-11-28T00:23:14Z")
I’m a little confused by the crossover points that triggered the change of forum. This was a list of “cafes” and other mainly eating establishments of verifiable international origin and cuisine. What “humble opinions” have been solicited or proffered? If the topic had asked for foreign films or concert albums recorded at foreign venues, would the forum have been changed? For what reason? Besides cafes, what other ventures are excluded from “cafe society” discussion? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/28 "2017-11-28T01:15:33Z")
I had never heard of, or at least never noticed, Swarovski crystal stores. I went to Europe for three months in 2004 and saw their stores in just about every town I visited, and some of their work (mentioned by name) at a museum in Vienna. When I got back to the States, I started seeing them here, too. It was like they built all those stores while I was gone, or I brought them back with me. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Same with Tower Records. Started in Sacramento, now only found in Japan. Could say almost the same about Shakey’s Pizza; started in Sacramento, now popular in Japan and the Philippines, according to Wikipedia. I have a certain sentimental attachment. I owe my life to Shakey’s Pizza, literally. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/29 "2017-11-28T02:12:18Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > **I’m a little confused by the crossover points that triggered the change of forum. This was a list of “cafes” and other mainly eating establishments of verifiable international origin and cuisine.** What “humble opinions” have been solicited or proffered? If the topic had asked for foreign films or concert albums recorded at foreign venues, would the forum have been changed? For what reason? Besides cafes, what other ventures are excluded from “cafe society” discussion? Post #2, I think… it wasn’t clear when you said “franchise” that you meant “food franchise.” My first thought was British Petroleum, and that’s not tasty at all. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/30 "2017-11-28T02:40:24Z")
[Alimentation Couche-Tard](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alimentation_Couche-Tard)\* is kind of an example. The giant Quebec convenience-store corporation owns, among other things, Circle K in the States, and is rebranding all its English-Canadian convenience stores as Circle K. - Casual translation: “Nite-Owl Foods” ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/31 "2017-11-28T03:13:25Z")
_American Idol_ is the US franchise of the UK-originated _Pop Idol_. _Big Brother_ is franchised from the Netherlands. The US versions of _House of Cards_, _The Office_, _Life on Mars_ and many others are franchised from UK originals. Television and, to a lesser extent, film may be particularly rich in foreign offerings franchised into the US. While much of the rest of the world is happy to take and rebroadcast US productions, US audiences prefer local productions, so successful foreign productions will often be remade or recreated in the US for US audiences under a franchise arrangement. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/32 "2017-11-28T19:15:19Z")
Daiso, the Japanese houseware/food/knickknack store, has several locations in California. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/33 "2017-11-28T19:26:41Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I’m a little confused by the crossover points that triggered the change of forum. This was a list of “cafes” and other mainly eating establishments of verifiable international origin and cuisine. What “humble opinions” have been solicited or proffered? If the topic had asked for foreign films or concert albums recorded at foreign venues, would the forum have been changed? For what reason? Besides cafes, what other ventures are excluded from “cafe society” discussion? “Franchise” doesn’t mean food and quite a few answers are not food starting from post #2. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/34 "2017-11-28T19:29:13Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > My first thought was British Petroleum, and that’s not tasty at all. That’s not what British Petroleum told me. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/35 "2017-11-28T20:25:49Z")
The bulk of BP’s US operations are the legacy of Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio, Boron), which disappeared in a 1978 merger, not the result of an organic move by BP. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/36 "2017-11-28T20:49:34Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Could say almost the same about Shakey’s Pizza; started in Sacramento, now popular in Japan and the Philippines, according to Wikipedia. > > I have a certain sentimental attachment. I owe my life to Shakey’s Pizza, literally. I choked on a hunk of cheese at Shakey’s. My sister gave me the Heimlich. Years later, I worked at one briefly in Las Vegas. So, what is your story? Sound interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/37 "2017-11-28T21:53:44Z")
Royal Dutch Shell Oil is a Dutch/British company. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/38 "2017-11-29T20:20:14Z")
Uniqlo is a Japanese discount department store that’s trying to make a go in the USA. Their target niche is similar to the homegrown US Kohls’. They have a few locations here now and a web presence. Add me to the list of people who don’t know whether the OP meant “franchise” as “well-known brand” or as “locally owned small scale licensees operating individual locations” I also don’t know whether the OP meant fast food only, cooked food only, or any sort of product or service whatsoever. Or some other category that’s known only to him. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/39 "2017-11-29T21:33:26Z")
Muji is another Japanese retail chain now in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856/40 "2017-11-29T22:04:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Uniqlo is a Japanese discount department store that’s trying to make a go in the USA. Their target niche is similar to the homegrown US Kohls’. They have a few locations here now and a web presence. It’s not really a department store. It’s a clothing brand & manufacturer that sells directly through their own stores. Are we including specialty shops like Godiva (Belgium)? How about T-Mobile (owned by Deutsche Telekom)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-franchise-chains-established-now-in-usa/802856.md?page=3)