115. Popsicle

Headquarters: Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA
Bought By: Unilever
Headquarters: Rotterdam, Netherlands & London, UK

An emblem of American summers and a delightful respite from the heat, the Popsicle’s story began in 1905 when an 11-year-old boy, Frank Epperson, accidentally left a mixture of powdered soda, water, and a stick out on his porch overnight. The result, initially dubbed the “Epsicle,” was patented in 1923. This frozen treat quickly became an American sensation, adopting the more recognizable name, “Popsicle”.

However, many might be unaware that this iconic brand isn’t American-owned anymore. In the late 1980s, the British-Dutch conglomerate, Unilever, acquired the Popsicle brand, making it part of their vast global portfolio of food products.