Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a multinational food processing company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with operations in 70 countries across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. ADM employs 155,000 people and is renowned for its strong demand for beef and eggs, which has fueled the growth of its commercial protein segment in North America. To meet the growing demand for protein, especially in Asia, the company is investing in the development and expansion of multiple facilities in several Chinese provinces. Additionally, ADM is diversifying its protein business and expanding its food ingredients and applications business. Sysco Corporation is another major player in the food and beverage industry.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Sysco operates approximately 323 distribution facilities worldwide and employs more than 69,000 people. The company's main operations are located in North America and Europe. JBS is a leader in meat processing, employing more than 240,000 people and serving 80 countries on six continents, including North America, South America, Europe and Australia. Weston Foods is a North American bakery specializing in commercial bread, artisanal bread, donuts, cakes, cookies, rolls and other baked goods. It has 40 bakery facilities in Canada and the United States, employing approximately 6,000 people.
Weston Foods' best-known brands include Wonder, Ace Bakery, Country Harvest, Casa Mendosa and D'Italiano. PepsiCo is one of the largest companies in the world with products sold in more than 200 countries. Headquartered in Purchase, New York, PepsiCo was founded in 1898 by pharmacist Caleb D. When Pepsi-Cola Company merged with Frito-Lay Inc. in 1965, the company was renamed PepsiCo.
In addition to its eponymous product Pepsi, PepsiCo is the tycoon behind a lot of brands such as Gatorade, Tropicana and Quaker Oats. The company operates in approximately 80 countries and employs about 80,000 people. It operates 126 manufacturing and processing plants in 44 countries. During the pandemic year of 2020, the food and beverage industry performed admirably despite disruptions related to COVID-19. The industry's largest food and beverage companies have strong fundamentals and promising long-term prospects. A reorganization of the top 100 food and beverage companies has taken place according to Food Engineering magazine. PepsiCo experienced substantial growth in its global snack and food and beverage markets as well as growth in international markets both developed and underdeveloped.
JBS also experienced strong growth across all divisions with revenues from its Pilgrim's Pride brand increasing by 38.3% and JBS USA Pork rising 37.1%. Overall the company's revenues increased by 32.1% as consumers stocked up on their protein products for meals at home at a time when eating out was at best a limited option. Keurig Dr Pepper also took important steps to advance its sustainability efforts making all its K-Cup capsules recyclable as well as converting its Core Hydration water bottles to 100% recycled PET plastic with plans to do the same with its 16-ounce Snapple bottles. Nestlé is one of the world's leading packaged food companies both in terms of sales and revenues. Founded in 1866 by Henri Nestle it has become a global powerhouse with brands like Silk and Evian in its portfolio. The Swiss food company operates 450 factories across 86 countries with almost 2000 products available worldwide.
Its most popular products are Nespresso Nescafe KitKat Nesquik Smarties Vittel Stouffer's Maggi among others. Consumer decisions are increasingly influenced by growing environmental concerns leading to healthier eating habits as well as an emphasis on fitness as a key to well-being and longevity. This shift has forced packaged food companies to reimagine their processing and packaging techniques. General Mills Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis Minnesota is another major player on the list of world's leading packaged food companies. It owns brands like Betty Crocker dessert mixes Pillsbury cookie dough Gold Medal flour Yoplasit yogurt Haagen-Daz gourmet ice cream Kix Cheex Cheerios Wheaties Lucky Charms among others competing with Kellogg to become the best cereal manufacturer. Overall it can be said that PepsiCo is currently leading the list of world's leading packaged food companies both in terms of sales and revenues. With an extensive list of branded foods it manufactures operating 126 manufacturing plants across 44 countries it has become a giant manufacturer of branded packaged consumer food products sold through retail stores and supermarkets.
