In this article we discuss the top 5 chocolate companies in the world. If you want to read our detailed analysis of the chocolate industry, go to Top 12 Chocolate Companies in the World.
5. Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO: 2269.T)
Revenue: $1,252,706,000 via Yahoo Finance
Meiji Holdings Co. Ltd was founded in 2009 and is based in Tokyo, Japan. The company has many subsidiaries, one of which deals with food and pharmaceutical production. The food segment of the company produces and sells confectionary including some famous chocolate products, ice cream, dairy products, beverages, and health food products. In terms of chocolate production, it is the number 1 chocolate manufacturing company in the Japanese market according to its sales. Meiji’s flagship brand includes its chocolate lineup which has about 130 products including chocolate bars and chocolate made snacks. Some of its popular chocolates are the Meiji Milk chocolate, the Almond Chocolate and Macadamia Chocolate. It also sells some premium chocolate varieties such as Apollo, marble chocolate and choco baby.
4. Ferrero Group
Revenue: $15 billion in 2020 via Forbes
Ranking 3rd on the list is an Italian manufacturer of premium chocolate and confectionary products, the Ferrero Group. Founded in 1946 in Piedmont, Italy, it has established itself as one of the leading chocolate companies in the world. The founder of the company was Pietro Ferrero who was a small-time pastry maker and also laid the groundwork for the production of Nutella which is one of the most popular chocolate products around the globe. Over 350,000 tons of Nutella are produced by the company every year. The brand commands 54% of global sales in the chocolate spread market according to fooddive. The Ferrero Group is now lead by Pietro’s grandsons who now head several trading companies, 18 factories, and about 40,000 employees around the world. Other popular products that have helped the company acquire a substantial share of the chocolate market are Pocket Coffee, Kinder Joy, Mon Cheri and Rafaello. The Ferrero group is continuing to grow by increasing their investment in other iconic brands, improving their R&D activities, and expanding its factories and equipment. It has recently expanded its production capacity with total investments amounting to 619 million Euro.
3. ORION Corp. (KSE: 271560.KS)
Revenue: $2,229,819,934 million in 2020 via Yahoo Finance
Based in South Korea, Orion Corp is one of the largest confectionary businesses in the world. The company was founded in 1956 and has now become one of the top 3 largest food companies in the country. Orion Corp has manufacturing facilities in China, Vietnam, Russia, USA, and Seoul. The company operates through five different business segments but what makes it a key played in the chocolate market is its sale of confectionaries and snacks such as chocolates and biscuits. Some popular products that are produced by Orion are cookies, pies, candy, chocolate bars and gum. Its most popular product is the Choco Pie. In 2015, the company sold around 60.67 billion worth of chocolate products.
2. Mars Wrigley Confectionery
Revenue: $37 billion in 2019 via Forbes
The Mars Wrigley Confectionary was established in 1911 and has since become one of the largest food companies in the world. It was founded by Frank C. Mars who started the company in his kitchen in Tacoma, Washington. Today, the company operates four business segments including food, Mars Wrigley, Mars Edge and pet care. The company has captured a large segment of the chocolate market globally and Mars has now become a household name. Its most popular chocolate products include M&Ms, the Mars bar, Snickers and the 3 Musketeers. Other chocolates include Dove, Twix, Milky way and skittles. The Mars Wrigley Confectionary has historically been a secretive company. In 2020, Mars Inc became the leading confectionary company in the world with sales revenues of up to $20 billion, according to Statista. It recently announced an acquisition of KIND North America which is a healthy snacks company.
1. Nestlé S.A. (SWX: NESN.SW)
Revenue: $84,681,000 in 2020 via Yahoo Finance
Ranking number 1 on the list of top chocolate companies in the world is the renowned company Nestle. With its headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland and global operations in 187 countries, Nestle was among the 20 largest companies in the world by market capitalization in 2020, according to Statista. Nestle is a health, nutrition and wellness company which is involved in the production and distribution of products ranging from prepared dishes and cooking aids, to milk products, snacks, and chocolates. Its product portfolio is very diverse. What makes it one of the top companies in the chocolate industry is its popular products such as Kit Kat, Butterfinger, Cailler, Crunch, Smarties, Toll House, Orion, and Wonka. In 2020, Nestle’s chocolate segment recorded a sales revenue of about 5.7 billion Swiss francs.
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