8 everyday popular foreign brands Indians often assume are Indian

Many brands are there which are so much used in Indian regions that people often assume them to be Indian brands. From everyday food to fashion and household products, global companies have localised their offerings so successfully that origin stories are forgotten. But several of the most loved names; from noodles to detergents, actually started abroad and are owned by international corporations.These all are widely produced and marketed locally in India and several other countries at a large level. Here are some examples of these kinds of brands.

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Maggi, synonymous with quick noodles and soups in India; is not an Indian brand. It was created in Switzerland in the late 19th century and has been owned by the Swiss multinational Nestlé since 1947. Despite massive popularity and localised products, Maggi’s origins and parentage remain global, with noodles sold in many countries.

Image Credit: Nestle

The iconic Dairy Milk chocolate beloved in India actually originated in the United Kingdom in 1905, developed by Cadbury. Today the brand is part of global snack giant Cadbury/Mondelēz International. While it’s manufactured and marketed in India with local facilities, its roots and primary ownership remain British multinational. It is very popular in India as people like the Cadbury products so much and it’s also the region where people think that it is a brand associated with India.

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Although everyday in Indian cities and towns, Bata was not founded in India. It started in 1894 in what is now Czech Republic and is headquartered in Switzerland. The brand’s affordable shoes became ubiquitous in India after decades of local manufacturing and retail expansion, but its heritage remains foreign.

Image Credit: Twitter/ Bata

One of the world’s bestselling cola drinks, Coca-Cola is an American soft drink brand established in the late 19th century. While its products are everywhere in India, including localised beverages like Thums Up under the Coca-Cola umbrella, the parent company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

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Samsung is a South Korean multinational electronics company founded in 1938. Its massive range of mobile phones, TVs, and appliances in India are locally sold and sometimes manufactured here, but the brand’s global headquarters is in Seoul, South Korea; not India.

Image Credit: Samsung

Although deeply entrenched in Indian fitness and fashion, Reebok is a global sportswear brand with American ties, and originated in Bolton, England, in 1958, founded by Joe and Jeff Foster. Named after a swift antelope, it gained fame for athletic footwear, U.S. expansion in 1979 propelled global success; later HQ (headquarters) moved stateside, acquired by Adidas (2005) and then Authentic Brands Group (2021). It became globally recognised for athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tide is a leading laundry detergent brand that many Indian households use, but it was created by Procter & Gamble in the United States in 1946. The brand became global over decades, including a strong presence in Indian markets, yet its roots are American.

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Lifebuoy soap has been around for generations in Indian homes, but it’s originally a British soap brand launched by Lever Brothers in the late 19th century. Today it’s marketed internationally by Unilever, but the brand’s heritage is in the UK, not India. Lifebuoy has been one of the most popular soap brands in India for a long time and even now also.
These are the instances of such brands that are highly utilised and produced in India that individuals confuse them to be Indian products but in actual sense they are related to other countries. All these belong to International corporations.

Image Credit: Lifebuoy