Businesses "living" long enough to celebrate their 100th anniversary are rare and apparently getting ever more scarce. Yale lecturer Richard Foster says the average lifespan of companies on the S&P 500 has decreased by more than 50 years in the last century: while successful companies lasted an average of 67 years in the 1920s, they typically exist for only 15 years today. So we should celebrate those firms who do make it to their 100th anniversary. They have survived world wars, economic depression, huge advances in technology, globalization, and major social/cultural change to continue to serve their customers, provide a living for their employees, and contribute to their communities.
Here is my list of U.S. companies that reached the century milestone in 2014. If you know of others, I would love to hear from you.
American Licorice Company
American Pop Corn Company
California Casulty
DEMACO
George P. Johnson
Johnson Smith Co.
Mechanical Devices Co.
Mine Safety Appliances
RS Lewis Funeral Home
Russ & Daughters
Toro
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co.
Vogue Tyre & Rubber Co.
No comments:
Post a Comment