The Illusion of Choice: How Corporations Control the Products We Buy
As consumers, we are bombarded with an endless array of brands and products, giving the impression of a free market with robust competition. However, this is often an illusion. In reality, a small number of massive corporations own and control a significant portion of the brands we consume daily.
These conglomerates, such as Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble, have acquired and consolidated numerous brands over the years, creating the false perception of choice.1 For example, Nestlé, the world's largest food company, owns nearly 2,000 different brands worldwide, including household names like Gerber, Nespresso, and Dreyer's.2 Similarly, Unilever, known for its soap brands, also owns Skippy peanut butter and Q-tips.
