• Registered: 2005-10-16

Topic: Who owns who?

From http://www.seventhgeneration.com/making … p;issue=78. 
I was surprised to see that for example Tom's of Maine is owned by Colgate, Kashi is owned by Kellogg, etc...

From all-purpose cleaners to zucchini, natural and organic products are a hot commodity. And that makes the companies that provide them targets for buy-outs by traditional corporations. But when a small, independent company doing the right thing is bought by a big multinational company that generally isn’t, its values, mission, culture, innovation, and more are often diluted if not destroyed in the years following the take-over. How severe has the situation gotten? Below is our list of companies that aren’t who or what you think they are anymore.

<snip>

The good news is that there are still some companies that are what we think they are. In the coming months, we’ll be profiling some of these last of a not-bought-out breed so you’ll know who to support. But to start, we thought we’d share the list we’ve assembled of seemingly independent companies that are in fact owned by corporate giants*:

“¢ Adams Baking is owned by Charter Baking Co.
“¢ After the Fall is owned by Smuckers
“¢ Arrowhead Mills is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Back to Nature is owned by Kraft, which is owned by Philip Morris
“¢ Ben & Jerry's is owned by Unilever
“¢ Boca Burgers are owned by Kraft Foods which is owned by Philip Morris.
“¢ Burt’s Bees is owned by AEA Investors
“¢ Cascadian Farms is owned by Small Planet Foods, which is owned by General Mills.
“¢ Celestial Seasonings is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ DeBoles is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Earth's Best is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Garden of Eatin' is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Health Valley is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Horizon Organic is owned by Dean Foods
“¢ Jason's Natural Cosmetics is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Kashi is owned by Kellogg.
“¢ Lightlife (purveyors of Gimme Lean, Smart Dogs, Foney Boloney, and Smart Deli Slices) is owned by ConAgra,
“¢ Morningstar Farms is owned by Kellogg
“¢ Mountain Sun is owned by Walnut Acres, which is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Muir Glen is owned by Small Planet Foods, which is owned by General Mills.
“¢ Nantucket Nectars is owned by Cadbury Schweppes
“¢ Nile Spice is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Odwalla Juice is owned by Coca-Cola.
“¢ Organic Cow of Vermont is owned by Horizon, which is owned by Dean Foods
“¢ Rudy’s Organic Bakery is owned by Charter Baking Co.
“¢ R.W. Knudsen is owned by Smuckers
“¢ Imagine Foods (Rice Dream) is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Santa Cruz Organics is owned by Smuckers
“¢ Seeds of Change is owned by M&M Mars Candy.
“¢ Simply Asian is owned by McCormack & Co.
“¢ Spectrum Organics is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Stonyfield Farm is owned by Danone
“¢ Terra Chips is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Thai Kitchen is owned by McCormack & Co.
“¢ Tom's of Maine is owned by Colgate
“¢ Tostitas Organic is owned by Pepsi
“¢ The Vermont Bread Company is owned by Charter Baking Co.
“¢ Walnut Acres is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Westbrae Natural is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ Westsoy is owned by the Hain Celestial Food Group
“¢ White Wave (makers of Silk Soy Milk) is owned Dean Foods
“¢ Worthington Foods is owned by Kellogg
“¢ Yves Veggie Cuisine is owned by Hain Celestial Food Group

*Note that the corporate landscape is rearranging itself all the time as companies change hands and controlling interests shift. This list represents our best effort to ascertain who owns what at the moment.

"The unknown does not incite fear, but dependence on the known does." - J. Krishnamurti

visavis's Website

2 Reply by SilverSurfer (edited by SilverSurfer 2006-11-22 10:42:02)

  • Registered: 2006-08-25

Re: Who owns who?

I buy toms of maine because i thought it was good, now I dont know what to do!

Is everything now owned by four companies for craps sake sad

3 Reply by Athenais

  • Athenais
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Re: Who owns who?

Yeah I used to really like Toms of Maine toothpaste.  I started using it because it was the only toothpaste I could find that didn't have fluoride in it.  I took it for granted that all their toothpaste was fluoride-free so I didn't bother to check the ingredients label the last time I bought some.  Well imagine my surprise, after I had been using it awhile, I just noticed one day that it now had fluoride in it!  I was really annoyed, I thought their product was safe...and I don't think you should have to check the label every time you buy something just in case the ingredients have changed!  I didn't know they were bought out by Colgate, now I definitely won't buy Toms of Maine again.

I am not one to put trust in smaller, privately owned companies as a rule.  It's just too simplistic to think small=good and global=evil.  An independent company can be run by people with nefarious purposes just like a large corporation can be.  And just because something says it is "natural" or "organic" doesn't make it totally safe.

  • lyra
  • lyra
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  • Registered: 2004-03-25

Re: Who owns who?

Athenais wrote:

....... I just noticed one day that it now had fluoride in it!  I was really annoyed, I thought their product was safe...and I don't think you should have to check the label every time you buy something just in case the ingredients have changed!  I didn't know they were bought out by Colgate, now I definitely won't buy Toms of Maine again.

??  Why?   They still have fluoride-free toothpaste.  I know because I still use it, comes in several flavors. You just happened to mistakenly buy the one that has it in there.    But I'm not going to snub a product because it's now owned by Colgate.  I don't care who owns it.....if it's flouride-free, and has all the same natural ingredients as it did before, then that's all that matters to me.

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy shit ... what a ride!"  - Anonymous
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"I get by with a little help from my (higher density) friends."
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  • Registered: 2006-09-28

Re: Who owns who?

I hardly even use toothpaste anymore.

I use a tooth oil that I got from my aromatherapy lady.  I'm not sure which oils are in it, but definately lots of peppermint.
I've been using that in combination with baking soda as an abrasive agent lately and it seems to work great.

On the who owns who scene... it is often surprsing once you trace the line back to origin, though if a product is good... it's good.
although it would be nice to think that your money is going to a little mom and pop outfit instead of one of the big players.

smile

  • Registered: 2005-10-16

Re: Who owns who?

Worldbridger wrote:

On the who owns who scene... it is often surprsing once you trace the line back to origin, though if a product is good... it's good.

True, but there's nothing stopping the "new owners" from one day changing the ingredients.  I mean, we don't freakin know.  They are not legally obligated to make it plain as day to the consumer when they "edit" their ingredients.  We would be naive to think the 'health' product conglomerates would never act like a "Coke" or "Pepsi" have been proven to do, IE one day just deciding to put more herbicide in their Indian market drinks for example.  Granted, this is probably a more extreme example.  And also, this probably happens rarely, but i'm convinced it still happens on occasion.

Athenais wrote:

An independent company can be run by people with nefarious purposes just like a large corporation can be.

I agree with what you said about small does not necessarily equal good, and big does not necessarily equal bad, but I take more notice of whether a company, information source or anything is independent or part of a conglomerate.  It just makes more sense, generally speaking, to go independent these days.  Whether it's what goes into my brain or my body.  I'm looking forward to 7th Gen's forthcoming articles about the indy's still in the health/food industry.

Worldbridger wrote:

I use a tooth oil that I got from my aromatherapy lady.  I'm not sure which oils are in it, but definately lots of peppermint.

This sounds good... who is it made by?

"The unknown does not incite fear, but dependence on the known does." - J. Krishnamurti

visavis's Website

7 Reply by Athenais

  • Athenais
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Re: Who owns who?

visavis wrote:

True, but there's nothing stopping the "new owners" from one day changing the ingredients.  I mean, we don't freakin know.  They are not legally obligated to make it plain as day to the consumer when they "edit" their ingredients.

Exactly, and that bothers me.  And even if you are careful to always read the labels, you still have to take their word for it that what the label says is really what's inside.  And honestly I am just not that particular about checking ingredients, if I try something and really like it I will stick with it.  I am just not finding so many things out there that I really feel are worth spending money anymore. 

I prefer independent sources too, but that can be more expensive, and inconvenient.  I had started buying Toms of Maine at a discount store, but they only have maybe 2 or 3 different varieties there.  I tried their deodorants years ago and was not impressed so I have been leery of them for a long time   

I'd like to give the big corporations the benefit of the doubt, maybe some of them have good people working within to change things.  I really hate seeing the smaller companies sell out to bigger ones.  I don't understand why they feel the need to do it.  It's not just about the products.  I can't help thinking about the people who work for the company, how do they feel about being sold out to a big conglomerate?  I am in a similar situation myself and I don't like it one bit.  It seems like the trend these days is to build a company up just large enough to sell it and retire on the profits.

Company ethics ripple out into society and the bigger the company is, the bigger the influence.  Competition is a big part of what keeps ethics and standards in place.  I like seeing independent companies hold their ground and do well.

8 Reply by Worldbridger (edited by Worldbridger 2006-11-30 15:17:21)

  • Registered: 2006-09-28

Re: Who owns who?

visavis wrote:
Worldbridger wrote:

On the who owns who scene... it is often surprsing once you trace the line back to origin, though if a product is good... it's good.

True, but there's nothing stopping the "new owners" from one day changing the ingredients.  I mean, we don't freakin know.  They are not legally obligated to make it plain as day to the consumer when they "edit" their ingredients.  We would be naive to think the 'health' product conglomerates would never act like a "Coke" or "Pepsi" have been proven to do, IE one day just deciding to put more herbicide in their Indian market drinks for example.  Granted, this is probably a more extreme example.  And also, this probably happens rarely, but i'm convinced it still happens on occasion.

Athenais wrote:

An independent company can be run by people with nefarious purposes just like a large corporation can be.

I agree with what you said about small does not necessarily equal good, and big does not necessarily equal bad, but I take more notice of whether a company, information source or anything is independent or part of a conglomerate.  It just makes more sense, generally speaking, to go independent these days.  Whether it's what goes into my brain or my body.  I'm looking forward to 7th Gen's forthcoming articles about the indy's still in the health/food industry.

Worldbridger wrote:

I use a tooth oil that I got from my aromatherapy lady.  I'm not sure which oils are in it, but definately lots of peppermint.

This sounds good... who is it made by?

Visavis: that's true.  There should definately be more strigent requirements on posting ingredients on products.  As for the tooth oil.  I get it from a friend of mine who has a small out of her home aromatherapy business.  It's essentially just a blend of essential oils.  I'll try to track her down and inquire on which oils she uses when I have some free time.

  • Registered: 2005-10-16

Re: Who owns who?

Thanks WB.  If and when you're able to acquire this recipe, please do post  smile

"The unknown does not incite fear, but dependence on the known does." - J. Krishnamurti

visavis's Website

  • Registered: 2006-09-28

Re: Who owns who?

Visavis

I did some digging and I guess she ordered stuff aswell as made it.
I just search for 'tooth oil' and found a bunch of links.
Looks like much the same product.

http://www.avenaoriginals.com/store/pro … p;P_ID=151

en

  • Registered: 2005-10-16

Re: Who owns who?

Worldbridger - thank you!  I've bookmarked that page for ordering... good to see they're in Canada too, no duty big_smile

"The unknown does not incite fear, but dependence on the known does." - J. Krishnamurti

visavis's Website

  • Registered: 2006-09-28

Re: Who owns who?

Visavis,

No problem
Hope you like the stuff.  It's a little intense at first , very strong minty taste  but it gets your teeth squeeky clean! Literally.