25 Feb
US Food Manufacturing Industry Overview
The food manufacturing industry is an extensive and essential one, being the third-largest contributor to the US manufacturing sector. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), food and beverage manufacturing accounted for almost 16% of shipments and 15% of employees from all US manufacturing plants. The sector employs over 1.7 million workers, and while there are many industry giants in the US with thousands of employees, over 75% of food manufacturing companies consist of fewer than 100 people. In this sector, both large and small businesses are essential players.
Major US Food Manufacturing Companies on BizVibe
Company | Key Product Areas | Company Type |
Nestlé | Ice cream, chocolate bars, sugar | Public |
PepsiCo Inc. | Soft drinks, snacks | Public |
JBS | Beef, pork, poultry, lamb, seafood | Private |
Tyson Foods | Beef, pork, poultry | Public |
ADM | Animal food, seasonings, biofuels | Public |
Mars Inc. | Chocolate, confectionery, pet care | Private |
Cargill Inc. | Meat, animal food, bioindustrial chemicals, pharmaceutical ingredients | Private |
Kraft Heinz Company | Meat, dairy, condiments, beverages | Private |
Smithfield Foods Inc. | Meat products | Private |
General Mills | Cereal, snacks, pet food | Public |
Food Manufacturing Market Segmentation
The largest segment of the US food manufacturing industry is meat processing, which was responsible for 24% of shipments in 2019. Other key segments include dairy, grains, fruits and vegetables, bakery and tortilla products, sugar and confectionery products, and animal food. Food manufacturing plants are located across the US, with California and Texas being among the leading states and home to thousands of plants.
Meat Processing
The meat processing market in the US is valued at US$228 billion according to IBISWorld, employing over half a million people across more than 6,000 businesses. The sector includes companies that slaughter, process, and package meat products and byproducts to sell to other food manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. COVID-19 has put substantial strain on this market, in terms of both operational challenges and a slump in demand from restaurants. However, 2021 saw the market begin to recover as restrictions were loosened and customers returned to restaurants, and that trend is expected to continue in 2022.
Leading companies in the meat processing market include:
- JBS USA Holdings
- Tyson Foods Inc.
- Cargill Inc.
- Smithfield Foods Inc.
- Hormel Foods Corporation
Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing
Bakery and tortilla manufacturing in the US is a multi-billion-dollar market, with thousands of businesses of all sizes across the US. However, margins are frequently small in this sector due to fluctuating raw material prices, which bakeries are not always able to offset by raising prices.
Bread and rolls make up roughly half of revenues generated in this market, and this segment has seen significant growth in recent years. Demand for baked goods is lower due to changes in disposable income, health trends, and consumer preferences, though they remain a staple of the bakery manufacturing industry. While the global pandemic is limiting revenue growth for tortilla manufacturers, overall the segment is growing well and is introducing products with a variety of additional nutritional content in order to appeal to a broader customer base.
Leading companies in the bakery and tortilla market include:
- Grupo Bimbo
- Flowers Foods
- Campbell Soup Company
- Gruma
- Harbar LLC
Fruit and Vegetable Product Manufacturing
The fruit and vegetable market in the US accounts for 8% of food and beverage industry shipments. The market is expected to grow steadily over the next several years, increasing by more than US$40 billion by 2025. Government initiatives to increase agriculture production are expected to help drive this growth.
Leading fruit and vegetable product manufacturers include:
- Chiquita Brands International
- Dole Food Company
- Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.
- Salix Fruits
- Sunkist Growers Inc.
Animal Food Manufacturing
The US animal food manufacturing market is valued at US$60 billion, employing over 60,000 workers across the country. While this sector has seen a decline in recent years, it is expected to grow over the next several years and the economy recovers from COVID-19. Meat consumption is expected to remain stable, helping to fuel demand for animal feed, and demand for pet food is on the rise as pet ownership increases due to people spending more time at home during the pandemic.
Leading animal food manufacturers include:
- Cargill Inc.
- Nestlé
- Mars Inc.
- ADM
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc.
Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing
The sugar and confectionery market in the US is valued at over US$45 billion and is expected to grow by more than US$10 billion over the next five years, with over 1,700 businesses operating in the country. Like many other sectors, the market was impacted by the pandemic, but manufacturers are also facing challenges from the continuing trend of health-consciousness among consumers. Companies are therefore developing and selling a variety of new products, either featuring healthier ingredients or focusing on other ways to differentiate them from the competition.
Leading sugar and confectionery product manufacturers include:
- Mars Inc.
- The Hershey Company
- Jelly Belly Candy Company
- Mondelēz International Inc.
- Nestlé
Regional Food Manufacturing Companies
BizVibe helps users find and connect with companies from different states and cities across the US and globally. Explore food manufacturers from a region near you.
Food Manufacturing Companies in Oregon
Company | Key Product Areas | Company Type |
Dagoba Organic Chocolate | Chocolate | Private |
Kettle Foods | Snacks | Private |
Pacific Foods | Soups, beverages | Private |
So Delicious | Ice Cream, dairy-free | Private |
Umi Organic | Noodles | Private |
Food Manufacturing Companies in New Jersey
Company | Key Product Areas | Company Type |
ASR Group | Sugar | Private |
Campbell Soup Company | Soups, canned food, beverages, snacks | Public |
Goya Foods | Meat, seasonings, frozen foods, snacks | Private |
Mars Inc. | Chocolate, confectionery, pet care | Private |
Pinnacle Foods | Frozen foods, packaged foods | Private |
Food Manufacturing Companies in Minnesota
Company | Key Product Areas | Company Type |
Cargill Inc. | Meat, animal food, pharmaceuticals | Private |
CHS Inc. | Grains, crop nutrients, fuels | Public |
General Mills | Cereal, snacks, pet food | Public |
Hormel Foods | Meat, packaged foods, snacks | Public |
Land O’Lakes Inc. | Animal feed, dairy | Private |
Food Manufacturing Companies in Chicago
Company | Key Product Areas | Company Type |
ADM | Animal food, seasonings, biofuels | Public |
Chicago Bar Company | Snacks | Private |
Conagra Brands | Food staples, frozen foods, snacks | Public |
Carl Buddig and Company | Meat | Private |
Gonnella Baking Company | Bakery products | Private |
Kraft-Heinz Company | Meat, dairy, condiments, beverages | Private |
La Preferida | Packaged foods, seasonings | Private |
Quaker Oats Company | Cereal, snacks | Private |
Tootsie Roll Industries | Confectionery | Public |
US Foods | Frozen foods, fresh produce | Public |
Food Manufacturing Companies on BizVibe
BizVibe’s platform contains more than 50,000 food manufacturing company profiles which are free to view. Each profile consists of in-depth company insights, comprising 50+ data points, including full industry trend and challenge analysis for 9 food manufacturing categories.
BizVibe company insights help provide answers to questions such as:
✓ How will industry challenges impact specific geographic regions?
✓ In which regions will emerging trends be the most prominent?
✓ What are a company’s major product and service offerings?
✓ Who are a company’s key executives and what are their roles?
✓ How is a company positioned financially?
✓ Who are a company’s major competitors?
✓ What is the risk level of doing business with a given company?
✓ What is the latest company news?
Additionally, BizVibe enables users to connect with manufacturing companies and includes a feature that allows companies to send and respond to RFI/RFPs directly on the platform. There are manufacturing profiles of companies from over 200 countries on BizVibe, with free access for users to discover, analyze, and connect with these manufacturing industry companies.
