(2025 Edition – Food-Only Revenue Basis)
The largest food manufacturer in the world is Nestlé. Founded in 1866 and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé employs more than a quarter-million people worldwide and sells over 2,000 brands across nearly every country on Earth. The company generates well over $100 billion annually from food, beverages, and nutritional products — maintaining its position as the world’s largest food manufacturer.
This year’s rankings focus strictly on companies where food manufacturing makes up the clear majority of revenue. Beverage-dominant companies are excluded, even if their total corporate revenue is very large. As a result, these rankings most accurately reflect scale in the global food manufacturing sector.
Below are the 10 largest food manufacturers in the world based on the most recent full-year food-only revenues. Please note that this list has been ranked by estimated food-only revenue, not total corporate sales.
1 – Nestlé S.A.
Headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland
Food Revenue (FY2024): ~USD 100B+
Global Operations: Offices and facilities in 85+ countries; products sold in ~185 countries
Business Strength: The world’s largest and most diversified food manufacturer
Key Categories: Coffee, baby food, dairy, confectionery, pet care, prepared meals
Notable Brands: Nescafé, KitKat, Maggi, Purina, Gerber
2 – Cargill, Incorporated
Headquarters: Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA
Food Revenue (FY2024 est.): ~USD 70B–90B (food, feed & ingredients)
Global Operations: Active in ~70 countries; products distributed in 125+
Business Strength: Largest privately held food producer in the world
Key Categories: Meat, oils, cocoa, grain milling, ingredients, foodservice
Note: Private ownership means food-only revenue must be estimated from segment reporting
3 – PepsiCo, Inc. (Foods & Snacks)
Headquarters: Purchase, New York, USA
Food Revenue (FY2024): ~USD 50B–55B (Frito-Lay, Quaker, other foods)
Global Operations: Facilities in 65+ countries; products sold in 200+
Business Strength: Largest snack manufacturer globally
Key Categories: Salty snacks, cereals, convenient foods
Notable Brands: Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Quaker, Ruffles
4 – Tyson Foods, Inc.
Headquarters: Springdale, Arkansas, USA
Food Revenue (FY2024): ~USD 53B
Global Operations: Processing plants across North America; exports worldwide
Business Strength: One of the world’s largest meat processors
Key Categories: Poultry, beef, pork, prepared meats
Notable Brands: Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm
5 – Mars, Incorporated
Headquarters: McLean, Virginia, USA
Food Revenue (2024 est.): ~USD 45B–50B (food & pet nutrition)
Global Operations: Manufacturing in 80+ countries; products sold in 190+
Business Strength: Privately held brand powerhouse
Key Categories: Confectionery, snacks, pet food
Notable Brands: M&M’s, Snickers, Twix, Pedigree, Royal Canin
6 – Mondelez International
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Food Revenue (FY2024): ~USD 36B+
Global Operations: Manufacturing in 45+ countries; products sold in 150+
Business Strength: Leading global snacking company
Key Categories: Biscuits, chocolate, candy
Notable Brands: Oreo, Cadbury, Toblerone, Ritz, Triscuit
7 – Unilever – Foods & Foodservice Division Only
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Food-Only Revenue (FY2024): ~USD 15B
Global Operations: Offices and supply chain in 100+ countries; brands sold worldwide
Business Strength: Global pantry and condiment player
Key Categories: Sauces, bouillon, seasonings, dressings
Notable Brands: Knorr, Hellmann’s, Best Foods
8 – General Mills, Inc.
Headquarters: Golden Valley, Minnesota, USA
Food Revenue (FY2024): ~USD 20B
Global Operations: Production in 15+ countries; products sold in 100+
Business Strength: Staple center-store grocery leader
Key Categories: Cereal, meals, baking goods, yogurt, snacks
Notable Brands: Cheerios, Pillsbury, Häagen-Dazs (select regions), Old El Paso
9 – Grupo Bimbo
Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
Food Revenue (2024 est.): ~USD 17B–18B+
Global Operations: Plants in 33+ countries; sales in 100+
Business Strength: The world’s largest bakery company
Key Categories: Bread, pastries, packaged bakery foods
Notable Brands: Bimbo, Sara Lee (various markets), Entenmann’s, Oroweat
10 – Conagra Brands
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Food Revenue (FY2025): ~USD 11.5B–12B
Global Operations: Manufacturing across North America; international distribution in 50+ countries
Business Strength: Frozen, shelf-stable and snack foods leader
Key Categories: Frozen meals, canned goods, snacks
Notable Brands: Healthy Choice, Marie Callender’s, Hunt’s, Slim Jim
Sources
• Annual and fiscal reports from each company (2023–2025 filings)
• Forbes Global Private Companies list (Mars, Cargill estimates)
• Supermarket News / Progressive Grocer industry financials
• Statista and Euromonitor – global segment revenue analysis
• SEC filings for U.S. public companies (10-K / 8-K)
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