List of oldest companies

This list of the oldest companies in the world includes brands and companies, excluding associations and educational, government, or religious organizations. To be listed, a brand or company name must remain operating, either in whole or in part, since inception. Note however that such claims are often open to question and should be researched further before citing them.

Statistics[]

According to a report published by the Bank of Korea in 2008 that looked at 41 countries, there were 5,586 companies older than 200 years. Of these, 3,146 (56%) are in Japan, 837 (15%) in Germany, 222 (4%) in the Netherlands, and 196 (3%) in France.^[1] Of the companies with more than 100 years of history, most of them (89%) employ fewer than 300 people.^[1][2]

In Japan, very old companies, called shinise, are particularly prestigious. A nationwide Japanese survey counted more than 21,000 companies older than 100 years as of September 30, 2009.^[3]

Founded before 1300[]

A spa bath at Hōshi Ryokan in the Awazu Onsen area of Komatsu, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The ryokan was established in 718 AD.

Otterton Mill in the village of Otterton, near Budleigh Salterton in Devon, England.

1300 to 1399[]

An image of the old Kremnica Mint building in Kremnica, central Slovakia. It is now an exposition of historical machines.

The Old Crown is a pub in Deritend, England, an historic area of Birmingham, and is the oldest extant secular building in Birmingham.^[93] It is Grade II* listed, and claims to date back to circa 1368.

Schloss Vollrads is a castle and a wine estate in the Rheingau wine-growing region in Germany that claims to have been making wine for over 800 years.^[94]

1400 to 1499[]

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena in Siena, Italy, is the oldest surviving bank in the world and Italy's third largest bank. It was founded in 1472.

The Raeapteek in the center of Tallinn city, Estonia is one of the oldest continuously running pharmacies in Europe, having always been in business in the same exact house since the early 15th century. It is also the oldest commercial enterprise and the oldest medical establishment in Tallinn.

The Zum Riesen hotel in Miltenberg, Germany, 2014. Zum Riesen is one of the oldest hotels in Germany, dating back to at least 1411.

1500 to 1599[]

The entrance gate to the domains of the Codorníu Winery, Spain

The Golden Fleece Inn in York, England

The Tour d'Argent restaurant in Paris, France

The chandler Arthur Beale in London, UK

1600 to 1649[]

The Paulaner Brewery in Munich, Germany

1650 to 1699[]

Café Procope is called the oldest restaurant of Paris in continuous operation.^[559] It was opened in 1686^[560] by the Sicilian chef Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli.

Petit & Fritsen (Koninklijke Klokkengieterij Petit & Fritsen b.v.) is a foundry located at Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands that dates back to 1660.^[561]

The Royal Delft (De Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles) building is a designated rijksmonument in the Netherlands. It is the only remaining factory of the 32 earthenware factories that were established in Delft during the 17th century.