Remember where you started
These 10 global brands were born in small American towns
Image: Haithem Ferdi / Ric perin
Everybody has to start somewhere, and that’s true for brands too, no matter how big they are. While many big names are born in major industrial and commercial hubs, quite a few very successful businesses have emerged from small American towns—and many of those brands remain headquartered in their hometowns to this day. Take a look at the following brands, all major players in their markets, and their cherished hometowns. Have you ever been to any of these towns?
1
Walmart
Image: Marques Thomas
When it comes to big brands, Walmart is one of the largest in the country, and even the world. But its humble beginnings can be traced back to Bentonville, Arkansas , where Sam Walton opened his first store, aptly named Walton’s, in 1950.
Since then, the company has grown into a business worth over $530 billion, with stores all around the globe. Yet, its headquarters remain in the small town of Bentonville.
2
Hormel Foods
Image: Hannes Johnson
From Skippy to Country Rock and even Spam, the Hormel Foods label carries a lot of successful brands. However, when the company was founded in 1891 in Austin, Minnesota, it began as a much more modest venture.
Even after over 130 years and a huge growth, the brand still remains in the charming little town of Austin and has no plans to relocate.
3
Kellogg's
Image: Yvens Banatte
In 1894, America’s breakfasts changed with the invention of the cornflake. W.K. Kellogg invented this wonder at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, a health resort run by his family. A few years later, in 1906, Kellogg founded his own company, the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company.
To this day, the massive company, which generates $13.5 billion in annual revenue, remains in Battle Creek, Michigan , a city of 51,000 residents.
4
Dick's Sporting Goods
Image: Artificial Photography
If you’ve ever thought that Dick's Sporting Goods sounds a bit like the name of a small-town shop, you are not wrong. The founder, Richard Stack, started his business in 1948 by opening a small fishing tackle store in Binghamton, New York.
By 1970, Stack had expanded the business to include gear for all kinds of sports and outdoor adventures. Today, the company, which is still family-run and operates out of Binghamton, generates $7.3 billion in annual revenue.
5
Kohler
Image: Oxana Melis
It’s not often that a town changes its name in favor of a company born there, but that’s exactly what happened in the tiny village of Riverside, which renamed itself Kohler. The company was founded in 1900 as a plumbing manufacturer and has since expanded its business into faucets, sinks, and toilets.
And, while the company has grown to be a multi-million-dollar enterprise, its headquarters remain in the picturesque village of, yes, Kohler, Wisconsin .
6
Progressive Corporation
Image: Jamie Street
Progressive Corporation is one of the largest car insurance companies in the U.S., also providing coverage for boats, motorcycles, and RVs. However, it started small in Mayfield Village, Ohio , in 1937. The company was founded by lawyers Jack Green and Joseph Lewis in their hometown, and it has remained headquartered there to this day.
7
CVS
Image: Tbel Abuseridze
This ubiquitous pharmacy chain opened its first store in 1963, and just seven years later, it had expanded to 100 locations. Today, CVS operates 10,000 stores nationwide while maintaining its small-town identity, thanks in large part to its headquarters in Woonsocket, Rhode Island .
8
Caterpillar
Image: Sindy Süßengut
A brand known for its ruggedness, Caterpillar Inc. makes tractors, construction, and mining equipment, and even clothing. The company is ranked in the Forbes list as one of the most valuable brands in the world, with over $51 billion in revenue. Despite its global success, Caterpillar still maintains its headquarters in the small town of Deerfield, Illinois .
9
The Hershey Company
Image: Janne Simoes
It makes sense that The Hershey Company, probably the biggest chocolate brand in the world, is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania . The company produced its first product, Hershey’s Cocoa, in 1894 and has continued to grow and innovate ever since, all the while remaining in the small town that saw its birth.
10
Sonoco
Image: Kelly Sikkema
This packaging company produced its first product, a cone-shaped paper yarn carrier, over 120 years ago in Hartsville, South Carolina . These days, Sonoco is the world's largest producer of paperboard containers.
Despite its growth, the company has remained loyal to its roots, and its headquarters are still based in Hartsville.
