Examples of lesser-known oligopolies

[Kai]

Nielsen for consumer market information.


CHEP for pallets

 

[Gibonius]

Newport and Thorlabs control basically the entire scientific optics/photonics industry. They've both been buying up all the smaller companies.

 

[mordecai]

The Woodbridge Company (Thomson) and Reed Elsevier (Lexis) for legal/business data maybe

 

[munchausen]



How about InBev?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InBev_brands
We're lucky to have hundreds of indies here in the states, though.

i had no idea one company owned all of those brands.

 

[ter1413]



The Woodbridge Company (Thomson) and Reed Elsevier (Lexis) for legal/business data maybe

True^^^..Westlaw and Lexis are the frontrunners.
Bloomberg is starting to take away some market share...

 

[Pilot]



i had no idea one company owned all of those brands.

I'm sure it's in the link, but all of their really big acquisitions have been within the last decade I believe.

Another big one for data:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acxiom

 

[yjeezle]

luxury goods, consumer electronics

 

[travelr]

Big media companies in the US.

General Mills makes half of the stuff in your kitchen.

I've been reading a lot on this site - http://www.company-histories.com

You'd be amazed at how some of these companies got started.