The fact that most of the oldest companies in the world are located in Japan is very interesting. Since Japan is a country with a long and long-functioning economy, this may not be surprising.
But there are several other companies around the world that have been operating for over 1000 years! And actually it is an impressive age. This means that even the newest company on this list was active even before the first crusade.
Of course, all of the following companies have stood the test of time, faced with various natural disasters, wars and all kinds of destructive periods. If you think about how states and empires appear and disappear, the life expectancy of these companies is even more impressive.
Royal mint
Company age: 1133 years. Year of foundation: 886. Country: England. Field of activity: monetary.
Here is the first of the oldest companies in the world. It is a state-controlled corporation that has been producing money for more than a millennium.
Royal Mint's main function is to generate money that can be used as a currency. Today this place is also a museum, and you can visit it to see a brief history of the development of the British pound over the years. Also here you can see how coins are produced today.
The main features of the corporation:
- It is one of the oldest state-controlled corporations in human history.
- Currently, it produces about 5 billion coins per year.
- It also produces medals that are offered as a reward to various officials.
"Tanaka Iga"
This company was founded in 885 in Japan. Her age at the moment is 1134 years.
Tanaka Iga is a very old company that sells goods to Buddhist followers. And even more interestingly, many of these products are manufactured within a business.
The following features can be distinguished:
- The oldest registered point of sale that sells goods related to Buddhism.
- Probably the oldest store in the world that doesn't sell food or drinks.
- The company produces most of the products that it offers to consumers.
Mint of Paris
Age: 1155 years. Year of foundation: 864. Country: France. Engaged in the production of money.
Long before the European Union invented and issued the euro, Monnier de Paris created coins that spread throughout France. This means that this currency was money for several political entities, including the Nazis, during World War II.
Interestingly, the same company began to produce euros as soon as France joined the European Union. The mint printed various types of currency. Worked with the locals. The company is the oldest among those who print money.
Among the features of the company are:
- It is the oldest working money company in history.
- It produces francs and euros.
- The company began to print euros in 1998.
- The German currency was created on its territory during the Nazi occupation.
Staffelter hof winery
Age: 1157 years. Year of foundation: 862. Country: Germany. Area: winemaking, hotel business.
If you want to see the oldest winery in the world, which is also a hotel, you should visit Staffelter Hof in Germany. Founded in 862, it was once a selling point for wine for soldiers.
She worked after the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire. The winery also survived after the devastation caused by the First and Second World War, and the fires in which more than 10 million Germans died.
Company Features:
- Today the company operates as a winery and hotel.
- More than seven hectares of grapes are grown here.
- Once the territory was part of the Holy Roman Empire.
- The winery Staffelter Hof survived the rise and collapse of Hitler's Third Reich during World War II.
Genda shigyo
Age: 1248 years. Year of foundation: 771. Country: Japan. Area: paper industry.
Paper was not invented in Japan, but in China, but it is the oldest company in the world engaged in the production and distribution of paper products. It is very impressive that it has existed for 1250 years, despite the competition.
Company Features:
- He prints ceremonial paper products such as wedding cards.
- The company produces gift wrapping using sophisticated paper designs.
Company "Congo Gumi"
Congo Gumi uses carpentry technology that has been handed down from generation to generation since the founding of production. Today, Kongō Gumi Co is already 1,428 years old. The corporation was founded in 578, in Japan. She is engaged in construction.
On our list, it is the last of the oldest companies in the world. This corporation underwent major transformations in 2006 when it was sold, but this is worth mentioning.
After the sale, the company's assets are still in the market - at least until they become obsolete over time. It’s hard to imagine the reason why those who ran the oldest company in the world let it disappear, but that’s exactly what happened to the Congo Gumi. Most likely, the company was sold due to very large debts.
The features of the corporation are as follows:
- It was founded just over 100 years after the collapse of the Roman Empire.
- The company became a subsidiary of Takamatsu in 2006.
- Thanks to her leadership, a castle was built in Osaka, which is a historic site
Now you know about the oldest corporations in the world that are over a thousand years old. Of course, they survived the difficulties and wars, but still live. And it's hard to imagine what they were at the very beginning of their existence.