In today’s article we will list the 15 largest food companies in the world. The food industry is a branch of industry that deals with the processing of food for human and animal needs and its main task is to meet the food needs of consumers. In a pre-industrial society, man grew food himself, or sometimes even traded it, exchanged food, while today only a certain part of society is engaged in food production. Today, the meat industry, fishing industry, dairy industry and bakery industry are developed.
However, the corona virus pandemic has put the food industry around the world in front of severe logistical problems such as falling production, closed borders and canceled orders. During the Covid-19 crisis, the food industry proved to be one of the most resilient to the new difficult situation, so companies in that area do not think that their business is endangered. Therefore, the food industry sector is defined in the system of classification of activities and includes the production of food products of agriculture, forestry and fisheries for food, and includes the production of various intermediate products and a number of by-products of lesser or greater value.
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Building a name in the world of the food industry is no easy task. People love quality and delicious food, but as with everything else, tastes are always different. That is why it is not at all easy to build a name and a brand so big, because it would mean that a huge number of people really like such food and the products. Food is necessary for man’s existence, for his organism to function and, of course, to live. But as banal as it sounds, somehow it’s the least important. Everyone is a hedonist and likes to enjoy quality meals, food and drinks. Food brings people together, and it is shared in the most intimate moments, like family lunches, weddings, birthdays. You will take the girl you like on a date to have dinner. For a healthy life, led by athletes, and all those who want to be one, special diets and healthy foods are often necessary. It’s undeniable how important food is in a person’s life, whatever the lifestyle we lead. In each of these situations, and in many others, you will want to eat something that is a proven tasty and quality product, from a company and manufacturer you trust, whose products you like. And now that we want things from the comfort of our home, many companies have evolved just to deliver your favorite food to you, more of which you can learn about if you visit the 15 largest food delivery companies in the world.
To come up with our rankings, we have used 2019 revenues as the basis for the biggest food companies in the world, starting from number 15:
15. Smithfield Foods / WH group
Smithfield Foods, Inc., is a pork producer and food-processing company based in Smithfield, Virginia, in the United States, and a wholly owned subsidiary of WH Group of China. Founded in 1936. as the Smithfield Packing Company by Joseph W. Luter and his son Joseph W. Luter Jr, the company is the largest pig and pork producer in the world. Today they are based in Smithfield, Virginia, they are the world’s largest pork processor, the largest hog producer in the United States and a leader in numerous packaged meats categories. Popular brands include Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan’s Famous, Farmland, Armour, Farmer John, Kretschmar, John Morrell, Cook’s, Gwaltney, Carando, Margherita, Curly’s, Healthy Ones, Morliny, Krakus, and Berlinki.
Smithfield Foods has over 55 000 employees across the company, and their companywide sales in 2019, was $16B. Outside the US, the company has facilities in Mexico, Poland, Romania, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Then known as Shuanghui Group, WH Group purchased Smithfield Foods in 2013 for $4.72 billion. Dennis Organ is President and Chief Executive Officer and Glenn Nunziata is Chief Financial Officer.
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14. Lactalis
Lactalis is a French multinational dairy products corporation, owned by the Besnier family and based in Laval, Mayenne, France. The company’s former name was Besnier SA. It is the largest dairy products group in the world, and is the second largest food products group in France, behind Danone. They offer a wide range of milk and dairy products, fruit juices, cultured products and cheese products. It was founded on October 19, 1933, when Andre Besnier started his business in Laval with one employee. Today, the company employs 75,000 people. Their revenue is $21 billion. CEO of the company and the controlling shareholder is Emmanuel Besnier.
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13. Olam international
Olam International is a major food and agri-business company, operating in 60 countries and supplying food and industrial raw materials to over 19,800 customers worldwide. Olam is among the world’s largest suppliers of cocoa beans and products, coffee, cotton and rice. They are a leading food and agri-business, supplying food ingredients to thousands of customers worldwide, ranging from multi-national organizations with world famous brands to small family run businesses. They have a team of 87,600 full-time, seasonal, and contract employees.
In 1989, the Kewalram Chanrai Group established Olam Nigeria Plc to set up a non-oil based export operation out of Nigeria to secure hard currency earnings to meet the foreign exchange requirements of the other Group Companies operating in Nigeria. The success of this operation resulted in Olam establishing an independent export operation and sourcing and exporting other agricultural products. Between 1993 and 1995, the business grew from a single operation into multiple origins, first within West Africa, and then to East Africa and India. Olam International Limited was incorporated in Singapore on 4 July 1995 as a public limited company. After that Olam relocated their entire operations to Singapore. Group CEO of the company is Sunny George Verghese. Olam International operates through the following segments: Edible Nuts & Spices; Confectionery & Beverage Ingredients; Industrial Raw Materials, Infrastructure & Logistics; Food Staples & Packaged Foods; and Commodity Financial Services. They have a market cap of $3,4 B. Olam International revenue is $24,23B.
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12. Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC)
The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC), commonly known as Kraft Heinz, is an American food company formed by the merger of Kraft Foods and Heinz and is co-headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kraft Heinz is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world with $25.0 billion in annual sales as of 2019. Many brands are part of the company’s profile including Boca Burger, Gevalia, Grey Poupon, Oscar Mayer etc. The company is founded on July 2, 2015., 5 years ago. Chief Executive Officer of the company is Miguel Patricio and Chief Financial Officer is Paulo Basilio. Carlos Abrams-Rivera is the U.S. Zone President for Kraft Heinz. 27% of the company owns Berkshire Hathaway and 20% owns 3G Capital. The company has 38 757 employees.
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11. Mondelez International (NASDAQ: MDLZ)
Mondelez International, Inc. is an American multinational confectionery, food, holding and beverage and snack food company based in Chicago, Illinois. Mondelez has an annual revenue of about $26 billion and operates in approximately 160 countries. The company was founded on October 2, 2012., 8 years ago, by Thomas H. McInnerney. Chairman and CEO of the company is Dirk Van de Put. It has 80 000 employees. The Mondelez International company manufactures chocolate, cookies, biscuits, gum, confectionery, and powdered beverages. Mondelez International’s portfolio includes several billion-dollar components. These components includes Belvita, Oreo, Barny, Milka, Toblerone etc.
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10. Danone
Danone S.A. is a French multinational food-products corporation. Danone was founded on February 2, 1899 by Isaac Carusso and is headquartered in Paris, France. It operates through the following divisions: Fresh Dairy Products, Waters, Early Life Nutrition, and Medical Nutrition. Chairman and CEO of the company is Emmanuel Faber, and Franck Riboud is a honorary chairman. Danone has 102 449 employees. With products sold in over 120 markets, they generated sales of €28.3 billion in 2020. They have a market cap of $45B. Danone’s brand portfolio includes both international brands and local brands. In 2018., Danone’s international brands include: Activia, Actimel, Alpro, Aptamil, Danette, Danio, Dannon, Danonino, Evian, Nutricia, Nutrilon, Volvic. Local or regional brands include: AQUA (Indonesia), Blédina (France), Bonafont (Mexico and Brazil), Cow & Gate (UK), Happy Family (USA), Horizon Organic (USA), Mizone (China), Oikos (North America, Chile), Prostokvashino (Russia), Silk (USA), Vega (USA) and Damavand (Iran).
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9. CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP)
CHS Inc. is a Fortune 100 business owned by United States agricultural cooperatives, farmers, ranchers, and thousands of preferred stock holders. Based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, it owns and operates various food processing and wholesale, farm supply, Cenex brand fuel, financial services and retail businesses, and is a co-owner of Ventura Foods, a vegetable oil processor. It was founded in 1931. as Farmers Union Central Exchange. CEO is Jay Debertin. The number of employees is around 11,000. CHS Inc. Consolidated revenues of $28.4 billion were reported for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2020.
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8. Mars
Mars, Incorporated is an American multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products and a provider of animal care services. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, United States, the company is entirely owned by the Mars family. Mars operates in five business segments around the world: Mars Wrigley Confectionery (headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with US headquarters in Hackettstown and Newark, New Jersey), Petcare (Zaventem, Belgium; Poncitlán and Jalisco, Mexico; Querétaro, Mexico), Food (Rancho Dominguez, California), Drinks (West Chester, Pennsylvania), and Symbioscience (Germantown, Maryland), the company’s life sciences division. Founded in 1911., 109 years ago, this is one of the largest food companies in the world. Founder Franklin Clarence Mars started the company in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen. The company is owned by the grandchildren of Frank Mars and employs 130000 people in over 80 countries. Chief Executive Officer of the company is Grant F. Reid and Chief Financial Officer is Claus Aagaard. The company reports revenues of $37 billion in 2020.
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7. Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN)
Tyson Foods, Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. It is a processor and a marketer of chicken, beef, and pork. Together with its subsidiaries, it operates major food brands, including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright Brand, Aidells, and State Fair. The company was founded by John W. Tyson in 1935., 85 years ago. Chairman of the company is John H. Tyson. President and Chief Executive Officer of the company is Dean Banks. As of 2014, the company employs 115,000 people, who work at more than 300 facilities, over 100 of which are in the US. The company reported revenue of $42,405 billion in 2019. It supplies Yum! Brands chains that use chicken, including KFC and Taco Bell, as well as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Wal-Mart, Kroger, IGA, Beef O’Brady’s, small restaurant businesses, and prisons.
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6. JBS
JBS S.A. is a Brazilian company that is the largest (by sales) meat processing company in the world. The company was founded in 1953. by José Batista Sobrinho in Anápolis, Goiás. JBS SA engages in the processing of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and also produces value added and convenience food products. It operates through the following business segments: Brazil, Seara, Beef USA, Pork USA, Chicken USA and Others. It is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil. As of 2017, the company had 150 industrial plants around the world. CEO of the company is Gilberto Tomazoni, and chairman of the company is Jeremiah O’Callaghan. JBS S.A. employs 242 000 people. The company reports revenues of $51,7 billion in 2020.
5. Unilever (NYSE: UL)
Unilever is a British multinational consumer goods company headquartered in London, England. Unilever NV engages in the production and marketing of consumer goods in the nutrition, hygiene, and personal care categories. It operates through the following segments: beauty and personal care, foods and refreshment, and home care. Their products are available in around 190 countries. Unilever was founded on 2 September 1929. Unilever owns over 400 brands. Since January 2019, Alan Jope is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer is Graeme Pitkethly. Unilever reports revenue of $58.2 billion in 2020.
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4. The Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE: ADM)
The Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, commonly known as ADM, is an American multinational food processing and commodities trading corporation founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1902. by George A. Archer and John W. Daniels and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. processes oilseeds, corn, wheat, cocoa and other agricultural commodities. The company operates through the following segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions and Nutrition. Chairman and CEO of the company is Juan Ricardo Luciano. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. reports revenues of $64,656 billion in 2019. It has 38 100 employees. The company operates more than 270 plants and 420 crop procurement facilities worldwide, where cereal grains and oilseeds are processed into products used in food, beverage, nutraceutical, industrial, and animal feed markets worldwide. The company also provides agricultural storage and transportation services. The American River Transportation Company along with ADM Trucking, Inc., are subsidiaries of ADM.
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3. PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP)
PepsiCo, Inc. is an American multinational food, snack and beverage corporation headquartered in Harrison, New York. PepsiCo has interests in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. It is a company with a complementary portfolio of brands, including Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, and Tropicana. It operates through the following business segments: Frito-Lay North America; Quaker Foods North America, North America Beverages, Latin America, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, Middle East, and North Africa. The company was founded by Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist and businessman from Duplin County, North Carolina, on August 28, 1920., 100 years ago. Chairman and CEO of the company is Ramon Luis Laguarta. It has around 267 000 employees. PepsiCO reports revenues of $68,2 billion in May 2020.
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2. Nestlé
Nestlé SA is a Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation, a nutrition, health and wellness company, which engages in the manufacture, supply and production of prepared dishes and cooking aids, milk-based products, pharmaceuticals and ophthalmic goods, baby foods and cereals. It is headquartered in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland. The company was founded by Henri Nestlé in 1866., 154 years ago (as Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company). CEO of the company us Ulf Mark Schneider and the chairman of the company is Paul Bulcke. Twenty-nine of Nestlé’s brands have annual sales of over US$1.1 billion, including Nespresso, Nescafé, Kit Kat, Smarties, Nesquik, Stouffer’s, Vittel, and Maggi. Nestlé has 447 factories, operates in 189 countries, and employs around 339,000 people. Nestle has a market capitalization of US$304,1 billion. The company reports revenues of US$93,1 billion in 2020.
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1. Cargill
Cargill, Incorporated is an American privately held global food corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and incorporated in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 1865. by William Wallace Cargill, it is the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. Cargill reports revenues of $114.695 billion 2020. CEO and chairman of the company is David MacLennan, and CFO is David Dines. They have 166 000 employees. They are working in 70 countries and have 155 years of experience. It is responsible for 25% of all United States grain exports. The company also supplies about 22% of the US domestic meat market. With Cargill taking the first slot, we conclude our list of the 15 largest food companies in the world.
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This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.