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For a company to last 50 years is a commendable achievement in today’s age of tough markets,
economic woes, and corporate acquisitions.
But this hasn’t always been the case.
Today we take a look at eight companies that have survived through centuries of economic
and political upheaval and market competition.
What types of businesses stand the test of time?
Well, looking at the companies that have succeeded over the centuries the Infographics show can
report that people like to have somewhere nice to eat, somewhere pleasant to sleep,
and they like to get drunk from time to time.
The majority of these organizations are family run affairs catering to a specific need but
some are government-backed.
From Japan’s longest running hot spring spa hotel to Ireland’s most historic pub,
all these companies have truly stood the test of time.
Let’s take a look in Today’s Infographics Show – The Oldest Companies Still in Business.
Established in 705 the Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamanashi, Japan is the world’s oldest
hotel and possibly the world’s oldest running company.
Samurais and Shoguns came here to unwind in the natural hot springs well over a thousand
years ago.
The healing baths of Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan drew visitors from both near and afar – and
they keep coming back.
The secret to their successful longevity may well be attributed to their staffing policy.
52 generations from the same line have looked after the hotel’s operations.
Staff positions are passed from parent to child to grandchild and by doing so the operation
remains as one cohesive unit – over a thousand years of knowledge is housed all under one
roof.
Other hotels and hospitality businesses would do well to take note of the success of the
world’s longest running hotel.
But this isn’t the only ridiculously long running Japanese hotel.
Another that has stood the test of serious time is the Sennen-no Yu Koma.
This traditional Japanese Inn was founded in 717 making it the second oldest hotel in
Japan and one of the oldest companies in the world.
Again centered on ancient bath houses this establishment was founded by Gonnokami Hiuke
and ran by his descendants.
One year later, in 718, the Hoshi hotel opened its doors and was once thought to be the oldest
hotel in the world until it realized the other two had been in business longer.
This establishment has been owned and managed by the Hoshi family for forty-six generations
and still exists today.
Hungry?
The St. Peter Stiftskeller restaurant in Salzburg lays claim to the oldest restaurant in the
world.
It was already doing brisk business in 803 according to a document penned by a traveling
scholar.
St Peter’s shut its doors briefly during Napoleon’s invasion, so has not technically
been in continuous operation, but given the length of time the establishment has run,
it makes our list.
The original dining rooms are carved into stone cliffs beneath the Hohensalzburg Fortress
giving the place a cavernous feel.
The restaurant has hosted some high profile customers ranging from kings and queens of
ancient times to more recently Bill Clinton, and film-star Clint Eastwood.
Salzburg boasts being the birth place of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the Stiftskeller caters
to this legacy with weekly Mozart events.
Once a week musicians dress up in period costume and patrons of the eatery will often play
along, wearing traditional garb including lederhosen for the men and dirndls for the
ladies.
You can never really go out of business making money.
A mint is where the government produce coins and other metal objects of intrinsic value,
and the Royal Mint was established in 886 in London, UK.
. Under the company name Royal Mint Ltd the Mint is owned by Her Majesty’s Treasury
and has an exclusive contract to supply all coins for domestic circulation in the UK.
Not a bad business to be in.
In addition to coins they produce various types of memorabilia including commemorative
coins and medals and precious metal bullion.
The Royal Mint exports to around 60 countries, making up to 70% of its total sales abroad.
Originally operating from the Tower of London, the Mint lasted at this historic site next
to the River Thames for 800 years before relocating to Royal Mint Court in London.
Come the swinging 60s the Royal Mint shifted base to a 38 acre plot in Wales where it remains
today.
A confirmed ancient boozer is Sean’s Bar.
This public house dates back to AD 900 and is listed in the Guinness book of World Records
as the oldest pub in Europe.
The walls of the pub are made from wattle and wicker dating from the 10th century, and
the pub was briefly owned by pop star Boy George in 1987.
The location is right in the heart of Ireland, on the banks of the River Shannon.
It stands next to 12th Century Norman Castle whose residents may well have popped into
Sean’s Bar for a pint back in the day.
Originally named the Priests Inn the Bingley Arms, established 953 in the UK, it claims
to officially be the oldest public house in Britain.
Traveling back in to time from AD 905 to AD 953 this pub is said to have been a safe house
for persecuted Catholic priests.
From around AD 1000 the establishment was used as a courthouse.
The back garden homes a yew-tree that is older than the pub itself.
Located in the village of Bardsey, near Leeds, Yorkshire, this pub was serving pints of beer
when the Vikings were conquering parts of the nation and before England had its first
king.
The lounge features a fine period Dutch oven and the chimney boasts Priest Holes - hiding
zones for persecuted men of the cloth.
Most records indicate that the Chateau de Goulaine began bottling wine around 1000 AD.
This winery is set inside a castle that has been home to the same family for over a thousand
years.
The first in line to take the realm of the Chateau was Jean de Goulaine, also captain
of the city of Nantes for the Duke of Brittany.
The Chateau was rebuilt in the 12th century and then once more in the 16th century after
Christophe de Goulaine travelled to Italy whereupon he discovered renaissance architecture
for the first time.
Dazzled by the spectacle he replaced the medieval castle and erected in its place a stunning
Renaissance Chateau.
Several of the rooms were fitted out in the Italian style.
The Chateau was sold by the family in 1788 only to be bought back in 1857.
Along with producing fine wine the Chateau also functions as a museum housing numerous
collections of valuable art produced during its 1000 years of operation.
The de Goulaines continue to run this operation, thought to be the oldest European family run
business.
Next up on our list is the Weihenstephan Brewery.
The brewery has records dating back to a 768 AD hop garden, but the establishment was officially
licensed by the City of Freising in 1040.
The nearby Weltenburg Abbey also claims to be the oldest brewery in the world but their
official operation start-up date is 1050, so it seems that Weihenstephan hold the title.
From 1923 onwards the Weihenstephan Brewery joined forces with the Technical University
of Munich to improve their state of the art brewing facilities and operate as a kind of
School of Beer.
The brewery produces a range of pale lagers and wheat beers that are considered by beer
nerds to be some of the best in the world.
Weihenstephan also has a wide range as a recognizable beer brand exporting all over the world and
their brand is known immediately to most committed beer drinkers.
So there we have it.
Eight of the longest running companies in the world.
An honorable mention goes to the Japanese Kongo Gumi company established in 578.
This construction company ran for over 1,400 years before falling on hard times in 2006
and eventually being purchased by the Takamatsu Construction Group.
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What’s the longest running business you can think of?
Is it on our list?
Be sure to let us know in the comments.
Also, be sure to watch our other video called – Top Twenty Happiest Countries to Live
in The World.
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next time!