When you think of the world’s biggest brands, you probably picture the flagship items they’re famous for – Apple’s iPhone, Toyota’s reliable cars, or Samsung’s sleek TVs. Yet hidden behind those headline‑making products are some truly oddball offerings that most of us never imagined. In this list we reveal 10 surprising products created by companies you thought you knew, from a machine‑gun built by Samsung to a line of ketchup and sausages sold by Volkswagen.

10 Surprising Products You Never Expected

10 Volkswagen—Ketchup And Sausage

For more than four decades Volkswagen has been quietly churning out a range of meat products, most notably a signature currywurst sausage that it proudly brands as its “most popular product without wheels.” The numbers back up the claim: in 2015 the German automaker rolled out roughly 5.8 million cars while simultaneously selling a staggering 7.2 million of its sausages.

This quirky fact raises an amusing identity crisis – is Volkswagen a carmaker that happens to sell sausages on the side, or a sausage producer that also manufactures automobiles? Either way, the dual‑track business model has turned the brand into a culinary curiosity as well as an automotive heavyweight.

The sausage, marketed under the name “Volkswagen Originalteil,” is produced at the main Wolfsburg plant alongside the familiar car assembly lines. Available in two lengths and even a vegetarian variant, the product is made from pork and seasoned in the classic German style. Volkswagen also ventured into the condiment arena in 1997, introducing a thicker, curry‑infused ketchup that pairs perfectly with its own wieners.

Both the sausages and the ketchup are sold at Volkswagen factories, partner supermarkets across Germany, and even handed to customers who purchase a new vehicle. The combination of food and factories has become a beloved quirk, cementing Volkswagen’s reputation for offering “more than just cars” to its loyal fan base.

9 Apple—Clothes

Apple is synonymous with sleek gadgets, but back in 1986 the tech giant briefly stepped onto the fashion runway with its own apparel line. Dubbed “The Apple Collection,” the range featured t‑shirts, sweatshirts, caps and hats emblazoned with the iconic multicolored logo or the simple word “Apple” rendered in a quirky, retro‑style font.

The clothing venture wasn’t the brainchild of Steve Jobs, who had already departed the company a year earlier. Instead, it was launched under the leadership of then‑CEO John Sculley, who saw an opportunity to extend the brand’s reach beyond electronics. Because Apple retail stores didn’t exist at the time, the garments were sold exclusively through a mail‑order catalogue. Unfortunately, the line failed to capture enough consumer interest and was eventually discontinued, leaving behind a little‑known footnote in Apple’s storied history.

8 Samsung—Machine Guns

When Samsung pops into your mind, you likely picture cutting‑edge smartphones, massive refrigerators, or the occasional headline about a legal spat with Apple. What most people don’t realize is that the conglomerate also manufactures sophisticated weaponry for the South Korean armed forces.

The flagship system, known as the Samsung SGR‑A1 sentry gun, is a joint effort between Samsung Techwin – a sister company – and Korea University. This autonomous turret is equipped with high‑resolution cameras, laser rangefinders, infrared illuminators, voice‑recognition software, and a mounted machine gun plus a multi‑launch grenade system. Its AI‑driven capabilities let it detect, track, and even engage potential intruders without direct human control.

Samsung maintains that the system does not fire autonomously; instead, it streams live data to a human operator who decides whether to authorize lethal force. Deployed along the heavily fortified 250‑kilometre Korean Demilitarized Zone, the SGR‑A1 has yet to be credited with any casualties, but it represents a striking example of the company’s diversification beyond consumer electronics.

7 Porsche—Honey

Porsche may be world‑renowned for its high‑performance sports cars, but the German automaker also has a sweet side: it produces its own honey. In May 2017 the brand launched a beekeeping operation in Saxony, establishing a farm with 1.5 million bees divided among 25 hives.

By the end of that year the buzzing workforce had harvested roughly 400 kilograms of pure, unadulterated honey. Porsche packaged the golden liquid under the whimsical label “Turbienchen” and sold it at its customer‑care shop in Leipzig. The product was such a hit that the company doubled its bee population the following season, aiming to double output.

Unlike many corporate side‑projects that chase profit, Porsche’s honey venture is driven by environmental stewardship. Bees are vital pollinators for German agriculture, yet the nation faces a severe decline due to disease and pesticide exposure. Porsche’s initiative seeks to bolster the local bee population, contributing to ecological health while offering fans a tasty souvenir.

6 Cosmopolitan Magazine—Yogurt

Best known for its glossy pages of fashion, beauty and relationship advice, Cosmopolitan ventured into the dairy aisle at the turn of the millennium. The magazine introduced a line of low‑fat yogurt (and a companion cheese) aimed squarely at women aged 15‑44, branding the products under the catchy moniker “Cosmo Yogurt.”

Produced in partnership with MD Foods, the yogurt hit supermarket shelves in 1999. Despite an initial buzz, the product struggled to find a lasting foothold and was discontinued after just two years, primarily due to lackluster sales. The brief foray remains a curious footnote in the publication’s history of lifestyle experimentation.

5 Lamborghini—Off Road Vehicles

Lamborghini is synonymous with sleek, roaring V12 supercars, but the brand’s origins lie in a very different field: tractors. Founder Ferruccio Lamborghini initially built agricultural machines before a personal dispute with Enzo Ferrari spurred him to create high‑performance road cars.

Beyond its famed sports cars, Lamborghini dabbled in rugged off‑road engineering, producing three distinct models. The first two – the Cheetah and the LM 001 – remained prototypes, never reaching production. Their concepts were later merged into the LM 002, a strikingly unconventional vehicle unveiled at the 1982 Geneva Auto Show and finally entering limited production four years later.

The LM 002 featured all‑wheel drive and a monstrous V12 engine, sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.8 seconds – performance that matched Lamborghini’s road‑car pedigree. Yet the vehicle’s design was polarising: it sported a utilitarian cargo bed, optional leather seats, and an air‑conditioning system that could be omitted, giving it a distinctly utilitarian aesthetic.

Only a handful of LM 002s were ever built, making the model a rare collector’s item and a testament to Lamborghini’s willingness to explore niches far beyond its super‑car identity.

4 Virgin Group—Virgin Cola

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin empire is famous for its eclectic mix of airlines, gyms, and hotels, but in 1994 the brand took a fizzy leap with the launch of Virgin Cola. The beverage aimed to challenge the dominance of Coca‑Cola by offering a bold, alternative taste.

In a daring publicity stunt, Branson drove an armored tank over a stack of Coke cans, signalling his intention to crush the competition. Coca‑Cola retaliated by providing lucrative incentives to retailers, effectively coaxing them to drop Virgin Cola in favour of the established brand. While the drink saw modest success in most markets, it managed to retain a loyal following in Bangladesh.

Despite its niche popularity, the Bangladeshi market proved insufficiently profitable, prompting Branson to discontinue Virgin Cola altogether. The episode remains a vivid illustration of the challenges even the most audacious brands face when entering the fiercely contested soft‑drink arena.

3 Toyota—Prefabricated Homes

Beyond assembling reliable automobiles, Toyota has been a pioneer in the Japanese housing market since 1975, manufacturing prefabricated homes under its automotive division. In 2004 the venture was spun off into the independent Toyota Housing Corporation, which continues to produce sturdy, earthquake‑resistant dwellings.

These homes command a price range from $200,000 to $800,000, reflecting their high‑quality construction and advanced engineering. To facilitate purchases, Toyota Housing also offers financing services, helping prospective buyers navigate the substantial investment. Industry estimates suggest the company has sold over a quarter‑million homes to date, underscoring its significant, though often overlooked, impact on Japanese residential architecture.

2 Peugeot—Peppermill

Peugeot is widely recognised for its automobiles, yet the French manufacturer’s roots stretch back to the early 19th century, when it began as a flour‑mill. By 1810 the company had diversified into tools, clock components, and sewing machines, eventually adding coffee and pepper mills to its product line in the 1840s.

Today, Peugeot continues to produce peppermills that are celebrated for their durability and timeless design. Many consumers are unaware that the sleek, stainless‑steel grinders they use daily are crafted by the same company that builds cars bearing the iconic lion logo. The peppermills are marketed as lifetime pieces, reflecting the brand’s commitment to lasting quality.

The enduring popularity of these kitchen tools highlights Peugeot’s unique ability to straddle two very different markets – automotive engineering and culinary accessories – under a single, globally recognised brand.

1 Sony—Insurance

While most of the world associates Sony with cutting‑edge electronics, the Japanese conglomerate actually derives a substantial portion of its revenue from insurance services. Sony’s diversified portfolio includes music, entertainment, banking, advertising, and, notably, a thriving life‑insurance division that accounts for roughly 63 % of its recent profit margins.

The electronics arm, which gave Sony its household name in the West, continues to operate at a loss, yet the company persists in supporting it despite billions of dollars in annual deficits. Former CEO Kazuo Hirai famously asserted that “Electronics has a future. And it is in Sony’s DNA,” underscoring the firm’s commitment to preserving its legacy technology segment while its insurance business fuels the bottom line.

When it comes to kid‑centric celebrations, the phrase “top 10 crazy” perfectly captures the bizarre reality that sometimes a birthday cake is interrupted by gunfire. While most parties are filled with balloons, frosting, and giggling youngsters, a handful of events have taken a dark turn when an adult decides to bring a firearm into the mix. Below, we dive into ten jaw‑dropping stories that prove even the most joyful occasions can become chaotic, dangerous, and unforgettable.

Why These Top 10 Crazy Incidents Shocked Everyone

10 Out

Back in May 1977, Nolan Bushnell—co‑founder of Atari—opened a family‑friendly arcade that would later become the iconic Chuck E. Cheese empire. Originally known as Pizza Time Theatre, the venue combined video games with animatronic characters, the most famous being a cigar‑smoking rat named Chuck E. Cheese. By the 1990s, the chain rebranded under that very name and grew to more than 500 locations worldwide, a multi‑billion‑dollar enterprise by 2014.

Fast forward to late 2019, when a volatile personal dispute erupted at a Chuck E. Cheese location. Marc Mathurin’s ex‑girlfriend, Aliyah Thomas, and her two‑year‑old son were attending a birthday party there. They were dropped off by Thomas’s new boyfriend, David Brooks, who waited in his car outside. When Mathurin arrived, he headed straight for Brooks’s vehicle and, according to Brooks, fired a shot that grazed his head. “He put the gun to my head. The barrel touched me,” Brooks recalled, yet he escaped without serious injury.

The sudden gunfire turned a festive gathering into a scene of panic. Thomas, still inside with her child, described the chaos: “People came running in and screaming. There was so much commotion.” Brooks called 911, and police quickly swarmed the parking lot. Despite Mathurin’s resistance, officers subdued him and placed him in handcuffs.

Shaken to the core, Thomas questioned Chuck E. Cheese’s security protocols, asking, “I’m just left to wonder, what else can they do? A metal detector? More security? Did they even have a single person in charge of security?” The incident sparked a broader conversation about safety measures at venues traditionally seen as child‑friendly.

9 Dad Pulls Gun Out When Kids Get No Cake

Life sometimes hands us lemons, and how we react can be telling. In June 2011, 48‑year‑old Joseph Hayes found himself at a neighboring child’s birthday party where the host ran out of ice cream and cake before Hayes’s own kids could get a slice. Incensed, Hayes shouted, “Y’all didn’t save my kids no damn ice cream and cake,” and stormed out of the party.

Not one to accept defeat, Hayes returned a short while later with a small black handgun concealed in his pants. Police reports state that he approached the party host and declared, “I ain’t scared to go to jail, just take care of my kids.” The host promptly called law enforcement, leading to Hayes’s arrest.

During questioning, Hayes claimed the weapon he carried was merely an object that resembled a gun. Regardless of his defense, a $30,000 bond was set, and the incident served as a stark reminder that even minor party mishaps can trigger extreme, illegal reactions.

8 Dad Shoots Self Doing Gun Tricks At Daughter’s Birthday Party

When parents plan entertainment for a child’s birthday, they typically think about magicians, clowns, or bounce houses. For a father in Humble, Texas, however, the chosen act involved firearms. During his 16‑year‑old daughter’s birthday celebration, he produced a handgun and began twirling it like a stunt performer.

Unfortunately, the weapon discharged during his spin, sending a bullet straight into his own abdomen. Emergency responders rushed him to the hospital where he received treatment for a single gunshot wound. Details about the type of firearm or its legal status were not disclosed, but the incident highlighted the dangers of treating weapons as party tricks.

7 Year-Old’s Birthday Party

In the wake of the tragic Charleston church shooting on June 17, 2015, a separate wave of hate surged across the South. About a month later, a group of white supremacists in Douglasville, Georgia, decided to target a black girl’s eighth birthday celebration. The convoy, composed of roughly 15 vehicles adorned with Confederate flags, was part of a gang called “Respect the Flag.”

As the convoy roamed Paulding and Douglas counties, the drivers shouted racial slurs and threatened African‑American residents. When they stumbled upon the outdoor party, the intimidation escalated: several members exited their trucks, approached the gathering, and threatened to kill everyone present, including the birthday child. One member, Kayla Rae Norton, even retrieved a shotgun belonging to Jose Ismael Torres and handed it to him.

During the trial, Torres claimed the shotgun was for personal protection, later admitting he had lied about its existence and even sold it before his arrest. The group was later classified as a street gang, and both Torres and Norton received prison sentences—13 years for Torres and six years for Norton. Victims, like party‑goer Hyesha Bryant, testified that they never imagined such hatred would infiltrate a child’s celebration.

6 Clueless Cops Raid Child’s Birthday Party

In 2019, Chicago police botched a raid that turned a four‑year‑old’s birthday party into a nightmare. Officers executing a search warrant burst through the basement apartment’s door, brandishing firearms and tearing up the decor. Stephanie Bures, the mother of the birthday child, recalled the terror: “It’s terrifying. Can you imagine a four‑ or a seven‑year‑old sitting and playing games with other children, then come in and be confiscated by men with guns pointed at them? I can’t imagine that.”

The police were reportedly after a suspect who had not lived in the building for some time. The family quickly filed a federal lawsuit, with attorney Al Hofeld Jr. describing the incident as a “four‑year‑old TJ had Chicago police officers curse and insult him and his family with f‑words and cruel jokes.” Chicago Police issued a statement acknowledging that while they strive for accurate warrant information, errors do occur.

Local clergy, including Reverend Michael Pfleger, urged law enforcement to treat children’s homes with the same respect they would expect for their own families. Notably, the officers involved were not wearing body cameras during the raid, adding another layer of controversy to the already fraught situation.

5 Gun‑Toting Masked Man Swoops In On Birthday Party

The COVID‑19 pandemic forced many families to reimagine birthday celebrations, giving rise to the “drive‑by” birthday party—neighbors honk and shout happy birthday from their cars while the celebrants stay home. In March 2020, a family in Oregon organized such a gathering, but their neighbor took offense.

Forty‑five‑year‑old Gabriel Russell, wearing a gas mask, stormed the scene brandishing a realistic BB gun. Though no shots were fired, his threatening statements created a tense atmosphere. Police responded swiftly, arresting Russell without incident.

Russell’s criminal history includes a 2015 conviction on three counts of felon‑in‑possession of a firearm, resulting in a 13‑month prison sentence. The episode underscores how even seemingly harmless celebrations can attract dangerous, unpredictable individuals.

4 Boing‑Boing Birthday Shooting

Trampoline parks have become a go‑to destination for energetic birthday parties, with over 1,500 locations worldwide and roughly 77 % of attendees under 18. In February 2020, a family celebrating at Atlanta’s Get Air park experienced a shocking turn of events.

Two family members got into a heated argument in the parking lot. One man stormed to his car, retrieved a firearm, and began firing. The gunshot struck his counterpart and also injured a bystander. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life‑threatening. Lieutenant Jake Smith of the Gwinnett County Police Department recounted, “The argument kind of spilled outside, and one of the subjects went to his car and retrieved a gun. He ultimately shot at the second subject who was a family member of his.”

The shooter, 33‑year‑old Gregory Durell Angrum, was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault. The incident serves as a stark reminder that even venues designed for kid‑friendly fun are not immune to adult conflicts.

3 Quinceañera Interrupted By Gunfire

A quinceañera—a celebration marking a girl’s 15th birthday—traditionally features elaborate dresses, tiaras, and a night of dancing. On August 31, 2019, the Metroplex Event Center in Rogers, Arkansas, hosted such a festivity, only for it to be shattered by gunfire.

Salvador Aldaco Jorge, 27, was hanging out behind the bar with a friend when he boasted about his “open carry.” The friend encouraged him, saying, “Okay, go for it.” Jorge then produced his firearm and fired two rounds into the air. A quick‑acting security guard seized the weapon, preventing further danger. Police later estimated the property damage at $1,500.

Jorge faced multiple charges, including aggravated assault, a terroristic act, unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits, and first‑degree criminal mischief. The incident highlighted how even culturally significant celebrations can be marred by reckless gun use.

2 Dropped Gun Goes Off At One‑Year‑Old’s Birthday Party

In 2018, gun mishaps claimed the lives of 73 children under the age of twelve in the United States. One such tragic incident unfolded in December 2017 at the Dolaj Catering Hall in Brooklyn during a one‑year‑old’s birthday party.

A man attending the party removed his coat, inadvertently dropping a concealed firearm onto the floor. The weapon discharged, sending a bullet into the right leg of a 62‑year‑old woman. The shooter quickly retrieved the gun and fled the scene.

The injured woman was rushed to a hospital and later reported to be in stable condition. Remarkably, the infant birthday celebrant escaped unharmed. Authorities have not confirmed whether the shooter was apprehended.

1 Wanted Man In Park Was Heading Toward A Child’s Birthday Party

During the summer of 2019 in Austin, Texas, a frantic 911 call reported a man in Pease Park wielding an assault rifle and a large knife while heading toward “a party with lots of kids.” A second caller supplied the vehicle’s license plate, leading police to identify the suspect as 23‑year‑old Dalton Broesche, who already had an outstanding arrest warrant elsewhere.

Officers quickly located Broesche between a trail and a roadway, detained him, and placed him under arrest for the pending warrant, which involved assaulting his girlfriend and threatening a neighbor with a knife. A thorough search uncovered an arsenal: a loaded 9 mm handgun, an expandable metal baton, two knives, and an AR‑15 semiautomatic rifle with a 30‑round magazine, found on a nearby footpath.

Austin resident Marie Fahlgren, a frequent park visitor, expressed her terror: “It’s terrifying. I have no idea what his intentions would be at a park in a safe place like this in the middle of downtown in the middle of the day with children. I have no idea.” Broesche was subsequently charged with deadly conduct and tampering with physical evidence.