International companies that are no longer American

Hellman’s

Original Headquarters: New York City
Purchased By: Unilever
Country: England 

Hellman’s mayonnaise is a refrigerator staple for most households. There’s one man responsible for that. German-born Richard Hellmann came up with the recipe back in 1905, putting a twist on the French condiment and bringing it into the American market. 

Customers at his delicatessen loved it so much that Hellman sold it alone. By 1932, he sold to Best Foods, where it stayed for another 70 years. By 2000, the company was purchased by Unilever, who spent $20.3 billion on the brand that started out as a simple sauce in New York City.

Smithfield

Original Headquarters: Smithfield, VA
Purchased By: WH Group
Country: Hong Kong

When it comes to producing pork-based products, Smithfield Foods reigns supreme. The company has been going since 1936 when it was created by Joseph W. Luter and his son. The business grew steadily over the years to become one of the largest in the industry, with over 500 farms in America alone. 

Back in 2013, WH Group bought Smithfield foods for the astronomical sum of $4.72 billion. At that time, it was the most expensive acquisition made by a Chinese company in America. So, while Smithfield’s HQ might be in Smithfield, Virginia, the company is actually run from Luohe in Henan province.