New foods come and go – but some brands are utterly timeless. These iconic mainstays are recognised all over the globe and have stood firm through decades and even centuries, either by adapting to suit modern tastes or just by offering practical and enduringly popular food products. From Worcestershire sauce, invented in a chemist shop, to a small store in Parma, Italy that grew into the world’s biggest producer of pasta, these are the world’s oldest food brands that have been filling cupboards and bellies for a century or more.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the most historic food brands known all over the world – counting down to the oldest of all.

Our list is based on the oldest globally known brands and household names. We haven't included drinks or brands that are smaller or little-known beyond a particular place or region.