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These 11 companies control almost everything you buy

A small number of organisations have a whole lot of control – and revenue.

POWERFUL COMPANIES CREATE brands and products that we might not know are theirs.

Companies’ signature brands add to their annual revenues and provide an edge to competition.

To determine how powerful each company is, we factored together fiscal 2014 revenue, the number of employees, and press mentions on Google News over the past year.

Here is a list of retail companies that own brands and products that we use every day.

1. Procter and Gamble

2014 revenue: $83 billion (€73 billion)

Number of employees: 118,000

P&G is the global leader in consumer goods with an unparalleled production scale and international reach. The top P&G brands include Olay, Pampers, Pantene, Herbal Essences, Old Spice, Vicks, Gillette, and Head and Shoulders.

2. eBay

2014 revenue: $17.9 billion (€15.8 billion)

Number of employees: 34,600

In its 20th year of operation, eBay has a huge command over online shoppers spanning 203 markets worldwide. While it previously ran PayPal, it continues to run the online-ticketing-company StubHub.

3. Starbucks

2014 revenue: $16.4 billion (€14.5 billion)

Number of employees: 191,000

With 22,000 retail stores in 66 countries, it’s possibly the best-known coffee shop in the world. Some of its stores are also rolling out beer, wine and gourmet-food.

Starbucks is the fifth-most-admired brand in the world, according to Fortune.

nike

4. Nike

2014 revenue: $27.7 billion (€24.4 billion)

Number of employees: 56,500

Selling shoes, fitness tech, athletic clothing and outdoor wear, Nike is predicted to outperform the industry for the next five years. Athletic gear is becoming a mainstream clothing staple — whether you actually work out or not — and no one does it better than Nike.

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5. Coca-Cola

2014 revenue: $45.99 billion (€40 billion)

Number of employees: 129,200

Chances are you’ve consumed at least one of the 657 billion Coca-Cola products purchased annually. Powerade, Sprite, Fanta, Vitamin Water and Innocent Smoothies are all brands owned by Coca-Cola.

6. Disney

2014 revenue: $48.8 billion (€43 billion)

Number of employees: 180,000

The Disney name is everywhere: toys, movies, television, apparel and theme parks. Its last major movie release, Inside Out, brought in $7.4 billion (€6.5million) worldwide at the box office, and the much-anticipated Star Wars sequel debuts in December.

disney Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Bob Chapek poses with Minnie Mouse. PA PA

7. McDonald’s

2014 revenue: $27.4 billion (€24.2 billion)

Number of employees: 420,000

With 36,258 chains worldwide, McDonald’s food options are adapting to consumer trends by rolling out all-day breakfast and revamping some of its stores to launch the “create your own” gourmet-burger option.

McDonald’s lists eight countries, including China and Russia, as high-growth markets — aka locations with high expansion and franchising potential, which is important since a large majority of McDonald’s restaurants (about 80% by the end of 2014) operate as franchises.

8. PepsiCo

2014 revenue: $66.7 billion ($58.9 billion)

Number of employees: 271,000

PepsiCo owns 22 of the most well-known food and drink brands in the world, including Tropicana, 7-Up, Doritos, Cheetos and Starbucks ready-to-drink beverages.

9. Johnson and Johnson

2014 revenue: $74.33 billion (€65.6 billion)

Number of employees: 126,500

Johnson and Johnson, a healthcare company, manufactures everyday-use, in-home products such as Neutrogena, Rogaine, Aveeno, Band-Aid, Listerine and Splenda.

APPLE PA PA

10. Apple

2014 revenue: $182.9 billion (€161.5 billion)

Number of employees: 92,600

Apple is the world’s most valuable brand, according to Forbes. Its products and services include the iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Apple Music and iCloud. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, direct-sales force, third-party cellular-network carriers, wholesalers and retailers.

11. Amazon

2014 revenue: $88.99 billion (€78.6 billion)

Number of employees: 154,100

Amazon recently surpassed Walmart as the most valuable retailer in America in terms of market capitalisation. It currently owns over 40 subsidiaries, including Zappos, IMDb, GoodReads, AbeBooks, Book Depository, Create Space and Audible. It also has a huge consumer-electronics market including an e-reader and tablet, and launched Amazon Instant Video – which has produced an award-winning original television series, Transparent.

- Marina Nazario 

Read: Coca-Cola now has to tell you that Vitamin Water isn’t as healthy as it claimed

Read: US companies keep $2.1 trillion profits in overseas tax havens (and Ireland has its fair share)

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    Mute Linda Hegarty
    Favourite Linda Hegarty
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    Feb 1st 2018, 8:57 AM

    Well I suffer with a rare form of migraine that also affects the muscles in my body. I’ve had numerous medications and have been hospitalised to get nerve blockers in the back of my head. My father died from a massive heart attack and my mother suffered with mini strokes so for me this article is quite scary to read. For anyone who has never suffered with Migraine get down on your knees and count your lucky stars.

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    Mute Ciaran Kenneally
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    Feb 1st 2018, 10:35 AM

    @Linda Hegarty: Mine is almost like stroke like: Left side of my body goes numb, My speech goes, I can’t see out my left eye, and the pain in my head is something that I can’t explain

    32
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    Mute Boyne Sharky
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    Feb 1st 2018, 6:51 AM

    Well that’s certainly true. My late father suffered badly with migraine, he went on to have several heart attacks and a bypass etc. While my migraines aren’t as bad or frequent as they used to be I’ve had 3 cardiac arrests and the associated problems that brings.

    39
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    Mute Maggie O'Connor
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    Feb 1st 2018, 7:02 AM

    @Boyne Sharky: I am sorry to read about your late father and your health problems.
    I never would have thought migrane would be connected in any way. Interesting study.

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    Mute Brian Moore
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    Feb 1st 2018, 10:14 AM

    Migraines are caused by misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae. Usually the condial or facet joints of C1 and the Oxiput.
    I have been in practice for over 33 years as a Spinologist and have found that appropriate manipulation of these vertebrae gets rid of migraines in almost all cases.
    My theory is that the misalignment causes pressure on nerves or the brain stem which in turn causes muscles to contract around the veins . That causes restrictions to the flow of blood from the head so pressure builds up in the head.
    This pressure is without doubt the cause of many of what we consider “normal” disorders in the head. Migraine is only one of them. Others are ; Brain Hemmorage. Sinuses. Vertigo. Neuralgia. Bad Temper. Stress. Adhd and others.

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    Mute Annette Curtin
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    Feb 1st 2018, 10:26 AM

    @Brian Moore: Spinology?? Is that like witchery?

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    Mute Mark Broadley
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:21 AM

    @Brian Moore: Is that a common held view in the medical profession as its the first time I’ve heard this?

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    Mute Brian Moore
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:29 AM

    @Annette Curtin: Where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise.

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    Mute Brian Moore
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:33 AM

    @Mark Broadley: The medical profession dont believe the facet joints go out of alignment but then it was believed the world was flat. Results are what counts.

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    Mute Minom Pnnomm
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:34 AM

    @Brian Moore: some quackology you learn in a one year course is probably the answer for sure Brian.

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    Mute Annette Curtin
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:40 AM

    @Brian Moore: I’d say your Spinology is as usefull as rhino horn or dragons breath. A two hour course on the internet and a certificate with a gold star cos you got ten out of ten on the test.

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    Mute Mark Broadley
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:41 AM

    @Brian Moore: Ok thanks. When you say it gets rid of migraines in most cases, does this include the whole thing? ie the aura that proceeds the severe headache? thanks

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    Mute Annette Curtin
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:41 AM

    @Brian Moore: What results king wizard Brian?

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    Mute Jed I. Knight
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    Feb 1st 2018, 12:21 PM

    @Brian Moore: Absolute nonsense. Medical science may not be able to pinpoint the exact cause of migraines, but it can certainly narrow down what doesn’t cause it – and top of that list is spinology.
    Are you serious? Your theory? You seriously believe misaligned upper cervical vertebrae causes bad temper (you don’t know my wife), stress(I think you may be a cause yourself) brain hemmorage (you don’t think weakened blood vessels may play a part) This sounds like another of those neo, fad, religious type things where any criticism is tut tutted and described as being from someone ‘tainted by mainstream medicine’ or some similar nonsense. It’s bovine effluent, it anything like this worked it’d be taken on board and called medicine.

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    Mute Annette Curtin
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    Feb 1st 2018, 12:40 PM

    @Jed I. Knight: What’s worse is he takes money from people who seriously believe he will make them feel better then sends them home saying they are healed. And he’s allowed operate this business legally?? If I was getting people to lick the backs of frogs and charging them for claiming that I’m curing their acne I’d be locked up. What is it you claim to help or cure people of Dr . Brian Moore, spinologist to the stars?

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    Mute Jed I. Knight
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    Feb 1st 2018, 2:45 PM

    @Annette Curtin: Doctor? I find that hard to believe, whatever about the rest. These things always follow the same formula with the practitioner waving their wand, praying or whatever. If you fail to get better it’s your fault for not being suitably holy enough, or not standing on your head with your finger out the window when an east wind blows during a full moon. It’s never because it’s nonsense.

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    Mute Bobby Phelan
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    Feb 1st 2018, 2:51 PM

    @Brian Moore: i had something like vertigo did a lot of weight lifting went and got physio on my back and neck dizzyness gone get your spine checked.

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    Mute WynnnerZ
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    Feb 1st 2018, 4:47 PM

    @Brian Moore: I’ve suffered from migraine since the age of 8 I don’t think I put out any of my vertebra, as I’ve got older (42 now) they’ve got less and less common.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Feb 2nd 2018, 12:55 AM

    @Jed I. Knight: Agree, total nonsense. A relative of mine once had to have actual surgery on her spine. While waiting in great pain for the operation, which did work, she had to deal with well-meaning fools offering various “cures” – from drinking water from place A to an offer to drive her to place B – at a time when she couldn’t sit up – to see “a man who can cure you – he cured a winning greyhound!” People should know better than to plague the sick with pointless “one size fits all” remedies.

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Feb 1st 2018, 8:18 AM

    Lying in a dark room waiting for ur head to explode and often wishing that it wud.

    49
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    Mute Dunn
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    Feb 1st 2018, 10:37 AM

    @Slim Browne: zomig!. 20 minutes and your migraine is gone. Best migraine tabs ever. Gave me bk my life.

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    Mute The flute smoker
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    Feb 1st 2018, 6:55 AM

    Got a migraine once , though i was a goner

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    Mute Nigel Kelleher
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:36 AM

    One in four of us has an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), otherwise known as a hole in the heart.
    Whilst in the womb we are immersed in the Amniotic fluid, and there is an open flap between the upper two chambers, or Atria, of the heart. In the months following birth this flap usually seals, but in 25% of us it does not seal shut.

    This defect has been linked with Migraine with Aura.
    There are on record persons who, when this opening has been sealed, suffer no further symptoms of migraine.

    The test for this ASD is quite simple and involves checking to see if a dye will pass from left to right in the upper chambers. The sealing procedure is painless.
    If you suffer from a migraine with aura why not request a test from your doctor? I do know the Mater and CUH do these procedures.

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    Mute frank murphy
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    Feb 1st 2018, 6:55 AM

    Migraine is the modern version of lower back pain… impossible to prove and remarkably seems to plague those who get sick pay mostly… remarkable that.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Feb 1st 2018, 7:05 AM

    @frank murphy: what utter rubbish. Migraine can, and does, be medically diagnosed. You obviously never had a migraine. Let’s see you try deal with a pain so blinding it leaves you slumped over the toilet bowl while vomiting until the pressure builds because your head is held down so long that your nose starts bleeding, all while being unable to switch on the lights out of the fear that that extra bit of pain will accompany the lights. What a moronic comment and completely devoid of any intelligent argument.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Feb 1st 2018, 7:06 AM

    @frank murphy: oh, and as someone who suffers severe migraines, I have only had two sick days in 4 years. Both without pay.

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    Mute frank murphy
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    Feb 1st 2018, 7:09 AM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: thank you for proving my point about sick pay

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Feb 1st 2018, 7:16 AM

    @frank murphy: how exactly did I prove your point about sick pay? You insinuated migraine was a fake illness and people only claim they have it to get sick pay. I quite literally demonstrated that I suffer from it but never have claimed sick pay, contrary to your insinuation.

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    Mute Chris McNamara
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    Feb 1st 2018, 7:20 AM

    @frank murphy: you must have something more in your life than resorting to this level of trollery, surely ?

    42
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    Mute Boyne Sharky
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    Feb 1st 2018, 7:23 AM

    @frank murphy: Where did you get your medical degree, you are a neurologist? If you’ve ever seen anyone having a migraine, hurling their guts up, in agony at the slightest noise or lights or even strong smells sometimes you wouldn’t be so inclined to make ridiculous comments like that.
    But then that’s why you make so many stupid comments, to provoke, to incite. You probably don’t know the first thing about migraine, or even care, your purpose here is to troll.

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    Mute Ele Flynn
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    Feb 1st 2018, 10:11 AM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: I get all of that plus the aura, numb lips and tongue and mouth, cant speak properly, and the aftermath for me is like being a malfunctioning robot.

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    Mute Amanda Uí Conchobhair
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    Feb 1st 2018, 10:13 AM

    @frank murphy: arsehole .. get migraines do you?

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    Mute Brian MacCarthaigh
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    Feb 1st 2018, 12:11 PM

    @frank murphy: You’d give anyone migraine coming out with that shite ye big bad troll ye

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    Mute Adrian
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    Feb 1st 2018, 10:53 AM
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    Mute Ronan Sexton
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    Feb 1st 2018, 9:29 AM

    Franky needs to buy a dictionary.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Feb 1st 2018, 11:45 PM

    Heart attacks are more lethal in women than men and some pain killers can effect the heart beat / rhythm in the over 40s and therefore cause heart attacks then???

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