top 100 part 1

Food and beverage manufacturers continued to face a gauntlet of economic and geopolitical challenges in 2024, but for some, growth was still possible.

In their annual reports — from which FOOD ENGINEERING pulls annual sales data to compile our ranking — manufacturers pointed to uncertainty in their operating environment, including fluctuating consumer demand, supply chain constraints, weather events, high interest rates, tariffs and other trade relations concerns, and political instability and unrest, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Manufacturers also cite inflationary pressures, which balloon operational costs and heighten competitiveness. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index (PPI), final demand for goods and servirce rose 3.3% from the end of December 2023 to December 2024. Specifically, prices for processed goods rose 0.2% over the same period, while prices for unprocessed goods rose 5.1%.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.9% from December 2023 to December 2024, with overall food prices increasing 2.5%. Food at home prices increased by 1.8%.

While sales were largely down under these dynamic conditions, some of the world’s top food and beverage manufacturers experienced revenue growth.

Ranking Review

PepsiCo and Nestlé — our leaders from previous rankings — have traded places, with PepsiCo taking the top spot. The company generated $91.8 billion in 2024, with 2% organic revenue growth for the year. Ramon L. Laguarta, CEO and chairman of the board, cites portfolio evolution and geographic diversification as drivers for growth.

“As we look ahead, we believe the runway for growth remains vast,” Laguarta said in PepsiCo’s annual report. “We operate in two large and attractive categories — global beverages and convenient foods — which represent a $1.3 trillion global opportunity. Roughly 60% of our business comes from geographies with 5% of the global population, which means we have a massive opening to expand in geographies covering the other 95% of the population.”

PepsiCo also initiated and completed two major acquisitions last year. The company acquired the Strauss Group’s 50% ownership in Sabra for $241 million in December 2024, making it PepsiCo’s wholly-owned subsidiary. The beverage and snacking giant also announced its acquisition of Garza Food Ventures LLC, dba Siete Foods, for $1.2 billion. The acquisition closed in January 2025.

Citing product innovation and international growth, other beverage manufacturers experienced growth, rising several spots in the ranking. For example:

• Diageo jumped from 23 to 18
• China’s Kweichow Moutai rose from 24 to 20
• Keurig Dr. Pepper moved from 33 to 30
• Mexico’s Femsa Coca-Cola jumped from 37 to 33
• Kirin Holdings jumped from 64 to 52
• Monster Beverage Corp. moved from 77 to 71

Confectionery companies also reported revenue growth in 2024. Ferrero posted just over $19 billion in annual revenue, rising in the ranking from 28 to 26. The company notes product innovation and international growth contributed to its approximately 9% increase in annual revenue.

Ferrero opened its first U.S. chocolate processing facility in Bloomington, Illinois in May 2024, building on the company’s existing manufacturing campus. A $214 million Kinder Bueno facility followed in October 2024.

"This new project will help us increase Ferrero's incredible momentum and innovations here in the U.S. market," Michael Lindsey, president and chief business officer of Ferrero North America, said in October 2024. "Kinder Bueno quickly became an American favorite after being introduced just five years ago, and with the support of leaders in Illinois, the Bloomington community, and our valued retail partners like Walmart, the brand will continue to grow and thrive."

The Hershey Company missed its revenue target of $11.5 billion, but it earned $11.2 billion in 2024, achieving 0.3% net sales growth. The company, which acquired the Sour Strips brand founded by social media personality Maxx Chewning last year, aims to satisfy shifting consumer preferences, elevate better-for-you snacking and adapt to new shopping behaviors.

Barry Callebaut reported a nearly 23% increase in net sales from the 2022/2023 fiscal year, jumping from 59 to 46 in the ranking. However, the company experienced a 0.3% increase in global chocolate volume sales and a 1.4% decrease in global cocoa volume sales. While the chocolate and cocoa products supplier is impacted by fluctuating cocoa bean prices, it says it passes on those increases through its cost-plus model.

Olam International also experienced a double-digit revenue increase driven by “unprecedented highs” in commodity prices, especially for coffee and cocoa. The ingredient supplier earned S$56 billion ($41 billion), marking the first time it crossed the S$50 billion threshold since 2022. With these results, Olam rose four places to crack the Top 10 of our ranking.