Top 15 Food Companies In USA: A Comprehensive List Of The Most Prominent Players In Food Industry

Food and beverage companies play a crucial role in the economy of the United States. They provide jobs, contribute to the GDP significantly, and offer various food products that feed the nation. Here are the top 15 food companies in the USA.

List of top 15 food companies in USA

The survival of humans depends on food, and the food industry is one of the biggest and most lucrative in the world. Some of the largest and most successful food companies in the world are based in the United States. These food companies employ thousands of people around the country while bringing in billions of dollars yearly in revenue

PepsiCo, Tyson Foods, and Nestle are the top three food and beverage companies in the United States as of 2021. These top three food and beverage companies in North America have consistently held their positions for a number of years, according to their annual reports. However, several other food companies in the US deserve praise for their substantial contributions to the sector.

By 2025, it is predicted that the food and beverage sector in the US would be valued $2.3 trillion. This industry is crucial because it provides necessities for everyday living and a significant portion of the population uses its products. Additionally, food and beverage companies provide many citizens with job possibilities and contribute significantly to economic growth.

The US food and beverage sector is anticipated to develop well across all categories in 2023. Companies such as Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Nestle, Unilever, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have large market shares in the United States. In the upcoming years also, they are anticipated to continue to be important participants.

Based on their income, market share, and overall influence on the sector, the top 15 food firms in the United States will be highlighted in this article. It will give a general overview of the background, goods and services, and market position of each firm. Readers will have a better understanding of the major actors in the food sector and what drives their success at the conclusion of this essay.

Food and beverage companies play a crucial role in the economy of the United States. They provide jobs, contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and offer various food products that feed the nation. Here are the top 15 food companies in USA:

Campbell Soup Company

Founded: 1869
Founder: Joseph A. Campbell
Headquarters: Camden, New Jersey, United States
Owner: Mary Alice Dorrance Malone
Subsidiaries: Pepperidge Farm, Campbell Co of Canada, etc.
Website: www.campbellsoupcompany.com

Campbell Soup Company is an American food company that produces canned soups and other food products. Abraham Anderson and Joseph A. Campbell founded the business in 1869. They made tomatoes, vegetables, jams, soups, toppings, and minced meats in cans.

The company, which has more than 18,000 employees globally, owns brands like Campbell’s, Pepperidge Farm, and V8. Campbell’s provides baked products, drinks, snacks, and other canned items under various trademarks. The classic red-and-white can design used by various Campbell’s branded products has become an American icon.

Coca-Cola Company

Founded: 1892, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Founder: Asa Griggs Candler
Owners: Berkshire Hathaway, The Vanguard Group, BlackRock
CEO: James Quincey (1 May 2017–)
President: John Murphy
Website: www.coca-colacompany.com

Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most iconic brands, is a symbol of refreshment. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Coca-Cola is a global beverage manufacturer, retailer, and marketer selling more than 500 brands. John S. Pemberton created the company’s signature beverage, Coca-Cola, in 1886 by mixing kola nuts with carbonated water and syrup to make a delightful beverage.

Today, Coca-Cola operates in more than 200 countries worldwide, and its annual sales are estimated at around 30 billion dollars. The company employs more than 60,000 people worldwide, and its products are delivered to homes, restaurants and stores around the world. It offers more than 500 brands of soft drinks to consumers worldwide.

Conagra Brands, Inc.

Founded: 1919, Grand Island, Nebraska, United States
Founders: Alva Kinney, Frank Little
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
CEO: Sean Connolly (6 Apr 2015–)
Subsidiaries: Pinnacle Foods, ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston
Website: www.conagrabrands.com

Conagra Brands, Inc. is a multinational packaged foods company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company sells branded convenience and frozen foods. As Nebraska Consolidated Mills, the company was established in 1919. It has grown to be a major player in the food industry during the past 100 years.

Conagra presently employs 18,000 people worldwide and has 44 manufacturing locations across North America. Conagra’s brands are distributed widely throughout the United States and Canada. Conagra is the second-largest U.S.-based packaged foods company by sales. It is one of North America’s most recognized consumer packaged goods companies.

Conagra’s products include leading brands such as Banquet, Birdseye, Healthy Choice, Marie Callender’s, Slim Jim, Reddi-Wip, PAM Cooking Spray, and Vlasic.

General Mills

Founded: 20 June 1928
Founder: James Ford Bell
Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
CEO: Jeff Harmening (1 June 2017–)
Subsidiaries: Häagen-Dazs, Blue Buffalo Co., Ltd., etc.
Website: www.generalmills.com

General Mills is a leading global food company that markets some of the world’s most popular consumer brands, including Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and Yoplait. Founded on the banks of the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, the company originally gained fame for being a large flour miller.

From Gold Medal Flour, the #1 selling flour in the U.S., to Nature Valley, the granola bar that inspired an entirely new grocery category, to Wanchai Ferry dumplings, which began on a wooden cart in Hong Kong — every General Mills brand has its own rich story to tell.

The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and employs over 35,000 people worldwide.

Kellogg’s

Kellogg’s is a multinational food manufacturing company that produces cereal and convenience foods. Kellogg’s produces cereal and convenience foods, including crackers and toaster pastries, and markets their products by several well-known brands including Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes, Pringles, Eggo, and Cheez-It.

The company is headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan, and employs over 30,000 people worldwide.
On March 15, 2023, Kellogg’s announced that North America Cereal Co. branch will be formally named WK Kellogg Co. after company founder W.K. Kellogg, who created Corn Flakes in 1894.

Kraft Heinz Company

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kraft Heinz has a presence in more than 40 countries and markets more than 200 different products around the world. The company’s iconic brands include
Kraft, Heinz, Oscar Mayer, and Philadelphia. The Kraft Heinz Company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and employs over 38,000 people worldwide.

Kraft Heinz Company is a global food and beverage company with a portfolio of products spanning various categories, including condiments, snacks, beverages, cheese, and ready-to-eat meals. The company was formed in 2015 by merging Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz.

Kraft Heinz also produces and markets other popular brands such as Ore-Ida, Jell-O, and Capri Sun.

Mars, Inc.

Mars, Inc. is a family-owned company that produces, confectionery, and other food products, such as Mars bars, Milky Way bars, M&M’s, Skittles, Snickers, and Twix. It also produces non-confectionery snacks, such as Combos, and other foods, including Ben’s Original, and pasta sauce brand Dolmio, as well as pet foods, such as Pedigree.

Mars was ranked as the fourth-largest privately held company in the United States by Forbes in 2022.
Mars, Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, and employs over 133,000 people worldwide. Today the company operates four business segments: Food, Mars Wrigley, Mars Edge, and Petcare. In the United States, the company has 22 manufacturing facilities.

McDonald’s Corporation

McDonald’s Corporation is a global chain of fast-food restaurants founded in 1940. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company operates at more than 37,000 locations worldwide and serves more than 69 million customers daily.

McDonald’s menu includes hamburgers, fries, chicken products, breakfast items, soft drinks, milkshakes and desserts. The company also owns chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Starbucks and Pret-A-Manger. McDonald’s is also actively involved in franchising, marketing and advertising. It’s iconic “Golden Arches” logo is the brand’s most recognizable asset.

In recent years, McDonald’s has implemented several initiatives to remain competitive in the fast-food industry. These efforts include menu innovation, value additions, technological advances, and sustainability initiatives.

Mondelez International, Inc.

Mondelez International, Inc. is an American global foodservice company headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. The company holds the title of the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world with leading brands such as Cadbury, Oreo, Milka and Ritz.

Mondelez International had grown rapidly since its inception in 2012 when it was spun off from Kraft Foods Group in a tax-free spin-off. Since then, it has become a global powerhouse, operating in more than 80 countries around the world.

Mondelez International boasts an impressive portfolio of popular snack brands and products, from biscuits to coffee and chocolate. It employs over 100,000 people in its manufacturing plants, warehouses and research facilities.

Nestlé USA

Founded: 1866, Vevey, Switzerland
Founder: Henri Nestlé
Headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland
CEO: Ulf Mark Schneider (1 Jan 2017–)
Subsidiaries: Nestlé India, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Website: www.nestleusa.com

Nestle USA is a subsidiary of Nestle S.A., a Swiss multinational food and drink company. Nestle USA’s brands include Gerber, Nescafe, KitKat, and Stouffer’s. The company is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and employs over 51,000 people in the USA.

Nestlé SA is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, with over 2000 brands and operations in 189 countries. It has 7.2 billion in annual sales globally, employs nearly 339,000 people worldwide and has 472 factories in 86 countries.

Nestle’s core products include baby food, breakfast cereals, chocolate, coffee, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, pet food, frozen food and bottled water.

PepsiCo, Inc.

PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion, operations in more than 200 countries, and products sold in more than 180 countries.

Founded in 1965 by Donald M. Kendall and Herman W. Lay, it has since become one of the most successful companies in the world.

Pepsico products range from snacks and beverages to pet food, and its portfolio includes brands such as Pepsi, 7UP, Tropicana, Gatorade, Doritos, Cheetos, Fritos, Aquafina and many more. Through its subsidiaries, Pepsico also manufactures and distributes juice, tea, coffee and energy drinks, along with a variety of other food and beverage products.

Starbucks Corporation

Founded: 30 March 1971, Seattle, Washington, United States
Founders: Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
CEO: Laxman Narasimhan (20 Mar 2023–)
Subsidiaries: Teavana, Starbucks Reserve, Starbucks Coffee
Website: www.starbucks.com

Starbucks Corporation is a leading global coffee company and chain of coffee shops. Founded in 1971 in Seattle, Washington, Starbucks has become one of the world’s leading speciality coffee roasters with more than 30,000 locations in 78 countries.

Starbucks sources, roasts, and provides high-quality, ethically sourced Arabica beans while offering a variety of handcrafted beverages, pastries, sandwiches, and snacks.

In addition to the beverage offerings, Starbucks has launched a mobile app that allows customers to pre-order and pay via their phones, as well as a loyalty program that rewards customers with free drinks.

The Hershey Company

Founded: 1894
Founder: Milton S. Hershey
Headquarters: Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Parent organization: Hershey Trust Company
CEO: Michele Buck (1 March 2017–)
Website: www.thehersheycompany.com

The Hershey Company is a multinational American food company that produces chocolate and one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. Hershey’s chocolate is available in 60 countries. It also manufactures baked products, such as cookies and cakes, and sells beverages like milkshakes, as well as other products.

It was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, which is a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company.

The company’s brands include Hershey’s, Reese’s, and Kit Kat. The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and employs over 18,000 people worldwide.

Tyson Foods

Founded: 1935, Springdale, Arkansas, USA
Founder: John W. Tyson
Headquarters: Springdale, Arkansas, United States
CEO: Donnie D. King (2 June 2021–)
President: Donnie D. King
Subsidiaries: Tyson Fresh Meats Inc, Hillshire Brands, etc.
Website: www.tysonfoods.com

Tyson Foods is one of the world’s largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef, and pork and is headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas. Tyson produces about one-fifth of the beef, chicken, and pork sold in the United States. The company makes a wide variety of animal-based, prepared foods and plant-based products at its 123 food processing plants. Their largest meat packing facility is their beef production plant in Dakota City, Nebraska. Other plants include feed mills, hatcheries, farms and tanneries.

In 2019, the company entered the plant protein category with their Raised & Rooted brand. The brand initially included vegetarian nuggets and burgers with a blend of beef and pea protein.
The company’s brands include Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, and Ball Park. Tyson Foods employs over 139,000 people worldwide and has over $22 billion market capitalization.

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