YOU may think you're buying a boutique label and helping the little guy but think again.

Many brands that seem small and independent are actually owned by some of the largest consumer goods corporations in the world.

T2

Boutique tea shop T2 is owned by one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, Unilever.

Unilever, which already owns Lipton and Bushells, acquired T2 last month. T2 started as a single store in Melbourne, founded by Maryanne Shearer in 1996.

Thomas Dux

Fancy grocery chain Thomas Dux, which sells specialty, organic, gluten-free, vegan and free range products, is owned and operated by Woolworths.

The supermarket giant launched Thomas Dux in 2008 and has since expanded to 11 stores across Sydney and Melbourne.

Beers and ciders

If you order a craft beer or cider at the pub thinking you are helping a microbrewery somewhere, you're probably wrong. Chances are that drink you are drinking is owned by one of the big beverage companies.

Little Creatures is owned by Lion, which itself is owned by Japanese brewery company Kirin. Lion's other beers include Toohey's, XXXX, Hahn, Heineken, James Boag's, and Beck's.

Fat Yak is owned by Carlton & United Breweries (CUB), the same company that owns Carlton, VB, Foster's, Crown Lager, Pure Blonde and Cascade. CUB also owns craft cider label Dirty Granny, along with Strongbow and Bulmers.

Bunnings

It's not a secret but many people aren't aware that Bunnings is owned by Wesfarmers Limited, which is the parent company of Coles, Kmart Australia and Target Australia.

Red Rock Deli

Red Rock Deli chips are more gourmet than your average packet with flavours like Lime & Black Pepper and Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar but they're actually owned by Pepsico, the same company that owns Smith's, Doritos, Twisties and Grain Waves.

Green & Black's

Organic, Fairtrade chocolate brand Green & Black's is owned by American conglomerate Mondelez International. The snack food giant also owns The Natural Confectionary Co., Cadbury, Ritz, Oreo, Toblerone, and Philadelphia.

Mondelez International, formerly known as Kraft, also owns Vegemite.

Movenpick

The ice cream brand that describes its stores as "boutiques" is owned by major global company Nestlé. Nestlé is also the owner of protein bar, shake and powder maker Musashi. But if you eat too much ice cream or bulk up too much don't worry - Nestlé also owns Jenny Craig.

Do you know of any others? Leave a comment below.

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