The 25 largest companies in the food sector achieved revenues of $1.8 trillion in 2023 (Reuters)

There is an infinitely large number of food items found in every “supermarket” and “hypermarket,” all the way to the smallest “grocery store” in the world, but when you think that there is no end to the variety of foods that line the aisles of major and small stores alike, you will be shocked when Know that all of these types of food and drinks are controlled by just 10 major companies, which manufacture and sell the bulk of what we put in our shopping carts.

These companies that dominate the market achieve astronomical profits, as the 25 largest companies in the sector achieved revenues of $1.8 trillion last year, while sector profits rose to more than $160 billion, and Nestlé Food and Beverage Manufacturing Company, which is the largest food company in the world, achieved Sales worth more than $98 billion, according to what Forbes reported in a recent report.

10 companies control a large percentage of everything the Earth’s population eats (Getty)

A new study published by ETC, an environmental justice organization, finds that the dominance of a small number of large companies over the global food chain is expanding, supported by the increasing use of “big data” and artificial intelligence.

To imagine the amount of dominance and monopoly exercised by these companies, only two of them control 40% of the global commercial seed market, compared to 10 companies that controlled the same percentage of the market 25 years ago, according to what the British newspaper The Guardian reported.

Food prices have risen sharply over the past two years due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, other geopolitical turmoil in the world, and the continuing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to astronomically high profits for these companies.

Corporations control everything you eat.

In this report, we will present to you a list of the 10 largest transcontinental companies that control the world’s food and the volume of their annual revenues in 2023, based on a number of specialized organizations and platforms, noting that the ranking of these companies is not fixed, as they exchange centers of control among themselves, even if the companies remain... The largest in the world.

  • Nestlé (Switzerland) – $104 billion

Nestlé is the largest food and beverage company in the world, and its annual revenues in 2023 reached about $103.9 billion, an increase of 4.7% from 2022.

Nestlé's product range includes baby food, bottled water, cereals, chocolate, dairy products, pet care products, etc. (Getty)

The company's headquarters is located in Switzerland. The company was founded in 1866, and operates in 191 countries around the world. Nestlé's product range includes: baby food, bottled water, cereals, chocolate, coffee, cooking products, dairy products and pet care products. Nestlé invests heavily in research and development and has created several branded technologies such as Nespresso, a popular brand of coffee machines.

  • PepsiCo (USA) - $91 billion

PepsiCo ranks second in the ranking of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, and the company’s revenues in 2023 reached about $91.4 billion, an increase of 5.8% from 2022.

Its headquarters are located in the United States of America. The company was established in 1965 through the merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay and produces a variety of food and beverages such as: soft drinks, snacks, juices, sports drinks, and energy drinks. Its product portfolio includes leading brands such as: Lay's, Doritos, Tropicana and others.

  • Cargill - $177 billion 

Cargill Incorporated is a private multinational company headquartered in the US state of Minnesota. The company's main business includes: trading, purchasing and distributing grains and other agricultural commodities.

In 2023, Cargill generated revenues of approximately $177 billion.

  • Archer Daniels Midland (USA) – $93.9 billion

An American company that processes agricultural commodities, producing food ingredients, animal feed and biofuels. The company's product portfolio includes leading brands such as: Golden Temple, ADM, and Harvest Innovations. In 2023, the company achieved annual revenues of $93.94 billion.

Tyson produces a wide range of meat and poultry products and is also involved in the production of prepared foods such as pizza, snacks and appetizers (Bixabe)

  • GPS (Brazil) - $71 billion

It is a Brazilian company that started as a small butcher shop in 1953, and has developed into one of the largest meat processing companies in the world. The company's portfolio includes beef, pork, lamb and chicken products. In 2023, the company's revenues amounted to about $71.1 billion.

  • Tyson Foods (USA) - $52.9 billion

Another American company and the largest meat processing company in the United States. The company produces a wide range of meat and poultry products, and is also involved in the production of prepared foods such as pizza, snacks and appetizers. The company's annual revenue in 2023 was $52.881 billion.

  • March (USA) - $50 billion

Mars is an American company founded in 1911, and produces confectionery products, pet food, and other food items. Its most famous brands are M&M's, Snickers, Royal Canin and others.

Last year, 2023, the company's revenues amounted to about $50 billion, $18 billion of which came from sales in its snacks division, including candy such as Snickers, M&Ms, and others.

  • Coca-Cola Company (USA) - $45 billion

Coca-Cola is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, and its annual revenues for 2023 reached $45.754 billion, an increase of 6.39% from 2022.

In addition to soft drinks, the company's product portfolio includes energy drinks, bottled water, tea and coffee (Shutterstock)

Its headquarters are located in the United States of America. The company was founded in 1886 and is famous for producing the most famous soft drink in the world, Coca-Cola. In addition to soft drinks, the company's product portfolio includes energy drinks, bottled water, tea and coffee.

  • Danone (France) $27 billion

Danone is a French food and beverage company founded in 1919, specializing in dairy products, bottled water, medical foods, and baby foods. In addition to the leading brand Danone, the company also owns many other famous brands such as “Evian”, “Activia”, “Volvic” and “Nutricia”. In 2023, the company's consolidated sales amounted to approximately 27.6 billion euros.

  • Olam Group (Singapore) - $48.4 billion

Headquartered in Singapore, it is one of the world's largest agri-trading companies, supplying food ingredients, feed and fiber to thousands of customers around the world, from well-known global brands to small, family-run businesses. The company recorded revenues in 2023 of $35.97 billion.

Source: Al Jazeera