Our conversation reminded me why GE was revered for much of its 133-year history. This was the company that Thomas Edison built, with a management system so potent that investors once believed it could be applied to light bulbs, nuclear reactors, Saturday Night Live and its opaque GE Capital finance arm with equal results. At its peak in 2000, GE's market cap hovered around $600 billion, more than $1 trillion in today's dollars.
Chocolate candies might initially come to mind when you hear the famous Nestlé name. And while it does own some well-known confections like KitKat and Toll House, you might be surprised to learn that it also owns over 2,000 brands ranging from beverages and infant food to pet food, soups, seasonings, cereals, ice creams, and even frozen and chilled foods. The Nestlé conglomerate defines itself with the logo and tagline "Good Food, Good Life."