Europe
is home to some of the best-known family businesses in the world – its
luxury, retail, and industrial sectors are littered with brands that
have been under family control for many generations.
Founded in 1896 by Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche to manufacture medicines
on an industrial level, Roche has evolved into one of the largest
healthcare companies in the world today. Roche is reputed as the world’s
largest biotech company with 17 biopharmaceuticals in the market. The
group is also a global leader in cancer research and treatment with
innovative medicines produced against different kinds of cancer such
breast, skin, colon and more. The Basel, Switzerland company boasts over
90,000 employees working from its different facilities scattered across
more than 100 countries.
9. Groupe Casino
Country: France
Industry: Retail
Revenue: $49.1 billion
Family: Naouri family
Casino Group is one of the largest supermarket retailers in the world
with a net revenue of $49.1 billion from its global operations in 2015.
The group has a well-established international footprint with over
15,300 sales outlets in France and in emerging and developing nations
including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and 10 African countries.
Saint-Étienne, France-headquartered retail giant also boasts 325,820
employees working from its supermarket chains, which include Géant,
Monoprix, and Franprix.
8. Louis Dreyfus Company
Country: Netherlands
Industry: Agriculture
Revenue: $55.7 billion
Family: Louis Dreyfus family
Louis Dreyfus Company is the iconic holding company controlled by the
Dutch Louis-Dreyfus family. The brand is a global leader in the
production and processing of agricultural goods, and is ranked as one of
the world’s top 4 food commodities trader with about 500 million people
fed and clothed each year through its products. Founded in 1851, the
company has diversified into almost every product line in the food
production value chain (from production to processing and transporting)
and boasts an established international footprint with about 81 million
tonnes of products delivered to customers in over 100 countries.
7. Auchan Holdings
Country: France
Industry: Retailing
Revenue: $57 billion
Family: Mulliez Family
Auchan Holdings (formerly known as Groupe Auchan) is the second
largest retailer in France and one of the largest in the world with a
revenue of $57 billion. The group is controlled by the Mulliez family
which owns about 85.5% equity. Headquartered in Croix France, the
holding company has a well-established international presence with 3,836
hypermarkets and convenience stores scattered across 16 countries.
Attesting to the global nature of its operations, Auchan retail is the
largest foreign investor in Russia with over $3 billion invested thus
far in the country.
6. Peugeot SA
Country: France
Industry: Automotive
Revenue: $58.16 billion
Family: Peugeot family
Peugeot is the iconic French car manufacturer that belongs to the Groupe PSA, which also includes Citroën and
Vauxhall Motors. Founded in 1810 as a coffee mill by the Peugeot
family, Peugeot gradually evolved into an automobile manufacturer by the
early 1900’s. Over the years the company won several awards for its
innovative vehicles and is a four-time winner of the European Car of the
Year award. It was also ranked as the second lowest CO2 emitter among
car manufacturers. In recent times, the company’s revenue has been
driven by sales in Iran and other European countries as it seeks to
reduce its dependence on the French market.
5. ArcelorMittal
Country: Luxembourg
Industry: Steel
Revenue: $76.84 billion
Family: Mittal family
ArcelorMittal is the world’s largest steel manufacturer. Established
in 2006 as a result of a takeover of Arcelor by Mittal Steel, the
Boulevard d’Avranches, the Luxembourg-based company now has an
international footprint in 60 countries. However, the company’s
dominance in the industry has been severely challenged in recent times
due to competition from rival Chinese steel manufacturers.
4. Schwarz Group
Country: Germany
Industry: Retail
Revenue: $91.1 billion
Family: Schwarz
Founded in 1930, the Schwarz Group has evolved to become Europe’s
largest discount retailer with a revenue of over $91 billion in the
financial year 2015/2016. Controlled by the Schwarz family, the Schwarz
Group is the holding company of iconic supermarket brands and operates
over 10,000 branches across the globe. In a move to gain entry into new
markets dominated by larger retailers while maintaining its leading role
in already conquered markets, Schwarz Group is presently investing
heavily in new technology in its two major subsidiaries, Lidl and
Kaufland.
3. BMW
Country: Germany
Industry: Automotive
Revenue: $92.18 billion
Family: Quandt Family
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) is the world’s leading manufacturer
of luxury automobiles and motorcycles with 31 production plants in 14
countries. The Munich, Germany-headquartered automotive company also
boasts over 122,000 employees that work from its facilities scattered
across the globe. BMW has recorded impressive sales figures in recent
times with over 2.24 million automobiles delivered in 2015. The company
has also doubled down on its decision of launching a new plant in Mexico
despite the threat by the President Donald Trump of having to pay a
border tax for sales made in America.
2. EXOR
Country: Italy
Industry: Investment company
Revenue: $136.4 billion
Family: Agnelli Family
Exor is one of the largest investment companies in Europe. Controlled
by the Agnelli family, the investment titan makes long-term investments
in industries across the board, mostly in Europe and in the United
States. Its major investments include PartnerRe, football club Juventus
F.C., The Economist Group, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, CNH Industrial,
and Ferrari. The Turin-based company also boasts over 300,000 employees
and posted revenue of $136.4 billion in 2015, making it the 2nd largest family business in Europe.
1. Volkswagen AG
Country: Germany
Industry: Automotive
Revenue: $213.29 billion
Family: Porsche Family
Volkswagen Group is one of the top 3 largest car companies in the
world and the largest auto manufacturer in Europe. Based in Wolfsburg,
Germany, the company operates 120 plants across 20 European countries
and in 11 countries in the Americas, Asia, and Africa. The group has
also witnessed phenomenal growth in its operations in recent times with
10.3 million vehicles sold in 2016 alone, up 3.8% from 2015.
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