# Who owns what: Megacorps and their surprising subsidiaries **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462 "2009-02-26T02:13:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/1 "2009-02-26T02:13:37Z")
Today, in my random search for vegan beers, I was surprised to learn that Anheuser-Busch (the Budweiser people) owns SeaWorld. A few years back, I was likewise surprised to learn that Pepsi owned KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (this was before they split off into Yum! Brands). What other examples are there of famous companies owning other famous companies in disparate industries? (Anheuser-Busch owning Michelob and Rolling Rock, therefore, would not qualify because they’re all in the same industry.) ---
**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:** [February 26, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/2 "2009-02-26T02:19:01Z")
Check out this [http://www.findownersearch.com/](http://www.findownersearch.com/) for more of the same. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/3 "2009-02-26T02:28:48Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Today, in my random search for vegan beers, I was surprised to learn that Anheuser-Busch (the Budweiser people) owns SeaWorld. They also own Busch Gardens, both the one here in Tampa and in Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/4 "2009-02-26T03:00:47Z")
One I mentioned recently in another thread is that offshoots of the same parent company, Ball, make canning jars and the optics for the Hubble Space Telescope. Apparently, though, the company (which started with the canning business) has since spun off the canning supplies into a separate company, and now just does aerospace. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/5 "2009-02-26T03:04:29Z")
ITT the electronics company used to own Sheraton hotels, Hartford Insurance, Hostess bakery, and Scotts fertilizer. They were an example of how not to do things. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/6 "2009-02-26T03:10:44Z")
Ford Motor had a bunch of land across from its headquarters, so they built (and for many years, operated) Fairlane Town Center, a shopping mall. But they eventually sold it. Henry Ford also discovered he had a lot of wood chips left over from manufacturing the Model T, so he built a plant, turned the chips into charcoal, and sold them under the name [Kingsford](http://www.kingsford.com/about/index.htm). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/7 "2009-02-26T03:23:21Z")
Kinney Corporation started out as an operator of parking lots. It merged with National Cleaning Company (not sure if this was dry cleaning or building maintenance). Then it bought up National Periodicals (DC Comics) and Warner Brothers-Seven Arts (movies). Eventually Warners (and DC) spun off, but for some time they were making comic books and movies. Evidently, not in a parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/8 "2009-02-26T03:25:21Z")
I was really surprised to learn that Macy’s was owned by Federated Department Stores, a company based in Cincinnati, OH. They still are, but the company changed its name to Macy’s, Inc recently now that they’ve rebranded all of their holdings as Macy’s stores. Another surprising Cincinnati company is Procter & Gamble who, through their network of subsidiaries, seem to have a hand in making damn near everything. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/9 "2009-02-26T04:18:09Z")
Kraft Foods was owned by Philip-Morris for some time. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/10 "2009-02-26T04:21:41Z")
Oh, I thought of another one. Originally, Yamaha made pianos. Due to the high tension of piano strings, the harp holding them in place has to be very strong. At some point, the folks at Yamaha realized that the same techniques they were using to make these strong piano harps could also be used to make motorcycle frames, so they branched out. And now, so far as I can tell, they make few or no piano harps any more, their keyboard branch having mostly switched to electronic instruments. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/11 "2009-02-26T04:30:07Z")
For a while, Seagram’s, the Canadian booze company, owned Universal Studios and MCA, among other entertainment properties. The entertainment division was later sold to Vivendi. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/12 "2009-02-26T04:37:10Z")
> [@seodoa](#): > > I was really surprised to learn that Macy’s was owned by Federated Department Stores, a company based in Cincinnati, OH. They still are, but the company changed its name to Macy’s, Inc recently now that they’ve rebranded all of their holdings as Macy’s stores. > > Another surprising Cincinnati company is Procter & Gamble who, through their network of subsidiaries, seem to have a hand in making damn near everything. Federated Department Stores Owns both Macy’s and Bloomingdales. the parent Company is FDS and the paychecks are from FDS not Macy’s, or were when I worked for them. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/13 "2009-02-26T04:38:39Z")
It’s not a huge stretch, but many people are surprised to find out that Blue Moon is made by Coors. Here’s another one. I’m not really sure who own(s/ed) who, but back in the day whenever I would get gift cards to Marcus Theaters, I would use them at KFC. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/14 "2009-02-26T04:39:43Z")
United Tecknoligys the rocket company owns Otis Elevator co. Carrier the air conditioning company and more ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Armageddon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mister\_Armageddon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Armageddon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/15 "2009-02-26T05:00:59Z")
To expand on kunilou’s post, Kingsford is owned by Clorox now. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/16 "2009-02-26T05:27:12Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Check out this [http://www.findownersearch.com/](http://www.findownersearch.com/) for more of the same. Huh. I’m not sure what to make of that site. It’s either outdated or doesn’t account for subsidiaries. They don’t seem to know, for example, that [Burt’s Bees is now owned by Clorox](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/business/06bees.html). (Unless Clorox dumped them and I’m behind the times…) [Both Kashi and Morningstar Farms are owned by Kellogg’s](http://www.kelloggcompany.com/brands.aspx?id=54). [Boca (in America) is owned by Kraft](http://www.hoovers.com/kraft-foods/--ID__103392--/free-co-subs.xhtml), which is also part of [Phillip-Morris](http://www.virginiaplaces.org/econ/philipmorris.html), owners of “Marlboro…Basic, Miller Lite, Virginia Slims, Parliament, L&M, Oscar Mayer, Post, Philip Morris, Maxwell House, Jacobs, Philadelphia, Merit” and Nabisco. And speaking of cigarette companies, American Spirits are, of course, owned by [RJ Reynolds](http://www.ethicalshopping.com/food/packaged-products/american-spirit-cigarettes.html), the same fine folks who bring you Camel, Winston, Salem, Kool and Pall Mall. I love to share this information with sanctimonious hippies\* and watch 'em squirm. \*Please note: not all hippies are sanctimonious. But the ones that are - hoo-wee! Watch out! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/17 "2009-02-26T05:29:49Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > [Boca (in America) is owned by Kraft](http://www.hoovers.com/kraft-foods/--ID__103392--/free-co-subs.xhtml), which is also part of [Phillip-Morris](http://www.virginiaplaces.org/econ/philipmorris.html), owners of “Marlboro…Basic, Miller Lite, Virginia Slims, Parliament, L&M, Oscar Mayer, Post, Philip Morris, Maxwell House, Jacobs, Philadelphia, Merit” and Nabisco. As I alluded to above, Kraft is currently independently owned. See [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraft_foods) for details. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/18 "2009-02-26T05:37:16Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > As I alluded to above, Kraft is currently independently owned. See [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraft_foods) for details. Ah, I see. Did they take Boca with them? (It’s so hard to keep up!) ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/19 "2009-02-26T07:09:53Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > Federated Department Stores Owns both Macy’s and Bloomingdales. the parent Company is FDS and the paychecks are from FDS not Macy’s, or were when I worked for them. They aren’t [anymore](http://www.federated-fds.com/): [QUOTE=link] ©2008 Macy’s, Inc. (formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc.) 7 West Seventh Street., Cincinnati, OH 45202. [/QUOTE] From the looks of things Macy’s Inc. is the new name for the parent company for Macy’s Department Stores as well as Bloomingdale’s. Didn’t know they owned Bloomingdale’s, too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462/20 "2009-02-26T07:31:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Oh, I thought of another one. Originally, Yamaha made pianos. Due to the high tension of piano strings, the harp holding them in place has to be very strong. At some point, the folks at Yamaha realized that the same techniques they were using to make these strong piano harps could also be used to make motorcycle frames, so they branched out. And now, so far as I can tell, they make few or no piano harps any more, their keyboard branch having mostly switched to electronic instruments. I’m pretty sure that they make some damn fine pianos still. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-what-megacorps-and-their-surprising-subsidiaries/487462.md?page=2)