7 Companies Built Around Really Old Products

Barbies, tires, and Corn Flakes rule these companies
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 21, 2011 3:48 PM CST
Updated Jan 23, 2011 6:54 PM CST
7 Companies Built Around Really Old Products
Advertisement for Kellogg's Corn Flakes circa 1920.   (Getty Images)

Popular, decades-old products can be a blessing and a curse. For some businesses, these tried-and-true items account for a large chunk of sales. But if a newer, hipper, better product comes along...? 24/7 Wall St. looks at seven companies whose fame and fortune largely rests on aging products:

  • Kellogg: Its first (and still flagship) product was Corn Flakes, introduced in 1896 as part of Harvey Kellogg's effort to create a food acceptable for vegetarian-minded Seventh-day Adventists.

  • Coca-Cola Company: It rakes in plenty of dough from sales of VitaminWater and Odwalla juice, but Coca-Cola, introduced in 1886, is what makes up the majority of its sales.
  • Mattel: It produces everything from Hot Wheels to American Girl dolls to Uno, but the Barbie, introduced in 1959, is its No. 1 item; researchers believe more than 1 billion have been sold.
  • Goodyear: With plants in 23 countries, it's the No. 1 tiremaker in North America and Latin America ... but tires remain its mainstay.
Click for the full list. (More Kellogg stories.)

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