Best Food Companies to Work for in 2025: Insights from Forbes’ List

In an industry as dynamic as food and beverages, companies that prioritize innovation, sustainability and workplace culture consistently stand out.

Recent insights highlight the rise of precision fermentation and cultivated meats — innovative technologies that could transform the production and consumption of proteins. Startups are playing their own role in this shift, bringing fresh ideas to market in partnership with established companies.

Meanwhile, agriculture is embracing new technologies, such as blockchain and climate-resilient crops, to tackle supply chain challenges and ensure sustainability.

These trends have come to shape what’s on the shelves, creating more transparent and safer food options for consumers. The Forbes America’s Best Employers list — based on surveys of tens of thousands of employees — features longstanding icons in the food world and forward-thinking players in flavor and nutrition.

In this blog, we spotlight some of the best food companies from the 2025 list — each offering a unique taste of workplace culture and growth.

Coca-Cola

• Forbes Rank: 157
• Location: Georgia, USA
• Established: 1886

Coca-Cola has grown into a global beverage leader with a strong commitment to community and sustainability. In 2025, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awarded $3.1 million in scholarships to 150 high school seniors, recognizing their leadership and service.

Early this year, the company launched a nearly $25 million Africa Water Stewardship Initiative to improve water security across 20 countries, addressing critical water-related challenges.

In Canada, Coca-Cola partnered with JA Canada to advance youth employability through mentorship programs, including “World of Choices” and “Pouring Potential,” which provide students with career readiness skills.

McCormick & Company

• Forbes Rank: 362
• Location: Maryland, USA
• Established: 1889

McCormick is renowned for its spices and flavorings. Last year in Australia, McCormick partnered with OzHarvest and Ronald McDonald House Charities VIC & TAS on the “Flavours for a Cause” program, transforming rescued ingredients into nutritious meals for families in need — an initiative that also educates on zero-waste cooking.

More recently, McCormick honored 100 Baltimore-area high school student-athletes through its 2025 Unsung Heroes Awards, distributing $105,000 in scholarships to recognize unselfish team players who exemplify sportsmanship and integrity.

PepsiCo

• Forbes Rank: 386
• Location: New York, USA
• Established: 1965

Since 1965, PepsiCo has expanded its portfolio to include a wide range of snacks and beverages. According to their 2024 Social Impact report, the company’s Move for Good campaign engaged over 34,000 employees globally, raising 4 million meals for Food Forward South Africa through a 9.6 billion-step challenge.

Additionally, the PepsiCo Gives Back campaign saw 4,378 employees donating to charities of their choice, with the PepsiCo Foundation matching their contributions to reach over $10 million in global donations.

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Dole Food Company

• Forbes Rank: 482
• Location: North Carolina, USA
• Established: 1851

Dole Food Company has built a reputation for sustainability and social impact in the fresh produce sector. In 2025, Dole was ranked the #1 Most Trusted Brand in fresh fruit by BrandSpark International and expanded the commercial use of recyclable Oxifilm stretch film in its Latin American operations, resulting in a significant reduction of plastic waste.

Dole also renewed its partnership with No Kid Hungry, reinforcing its commitment to community well-being.

Nestlé

• Forbes Rank: 503
• Location: California, USA
• Established: 1866

Nestlé is a global leader in nutrition and health. In partnership with UNESCO, Nestlé recently committed about $1.88 million to fund 100 grants for youth-led climate and sustainability projects across five global regions. The grants will support innovations in sustainable food systems, regenerative agriculture and packaging, alongside training and mentoring to reach an estimated 500,000 people.

The company also offers a “Dollars for Doers” program, which matches volunteer time with grants to charities where employees volunteer 20 hours or more per year.

Land O’Lakes

• Forbes Rank: 556
• Location: Minnesota, USA
• Established: 1921

Land O’Lakes is a cooperative focused on dairy and agricultural innovation. Fast Company listed Land O’Lakes at Number 2. on its Most Innovative Companies of 2024 ranking in the social responsibility category for its work with rural communities.

The company also received the 2024 Campus Forward Award for its commitment to hiring and developing early-career talent. Late last year, the Land O’Lakes Community Impact Council donated $7,500 to support workforce development and education initiatives in the Rio Grande Valley.

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Shamrock Foods

• Forbes Rank: 593
• Location: Arizona, USA
• Established: 1922

Shamrock Foods is a family-owned company and one of the largest independent foodservice distributors in the US. Recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as a “Best Place to Work” in 2024, it offers comprehensive physical and mental health resources through its Total Wellbeing program.

Building on its philanthropic spirit, the company partnered with Si Charro! Restaurants in January 2025 to deliver over 3,600 handmade tamales to communities affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.

Schreiber Foods

• Forbes Rank: 648
• Location: Wisconsin, USA
• Established: 1945

Schreiber Foods is a leading dairy company. Schreiber earned the 2025 Handshake Early Talent Award for being one of the best places for Gen Z to start and grow their careers.

The company also purchased carbon credits from Brightly, supporting climate action by reducing food waste and methane emissions while helping to address food insecurity nationwide.

Schreiber’s Earth Week activities also included employee volunteer events at food pantries and a seminar on reducing food waste at home.

The Hershey Company

• Forbes Rank: 686
• Location: Pennsylvania, USA
• Established: 1894

Founded in 1894, Hershey is synonymous with chocolate and confectionery. In April 2025, it opened the new 250,000-sq. ft. Reese Chocolate Processing facility — in its first new plant in Hershey, PA in over 30 years — creating 125 jobs and boosting production of Reese’s, Kit Kat and Hershey’s brands. This plant, which was built over nearly three years, is part of Hershey’s $1 billion investment in its supply chain to modernize manufacturing.

The company’s now-annual collaborative effort, the Heartwarming Young Heroes grants, totaling $50,000 this year, supports youth-led community service projects across North America.

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