Top 20 Publicly Traded Food Companies by Market Cap in 2025

In an ever-changing global market, the top publicly traded food companies are at the forefront of innovation, sustainability and financial growth. As we settle into 2025, these companies represent a diverse range of industries, from leading restaurant chains to manufacturers of iconic consumer brands and essential food ingredients.

Despite challenges in an uncertain economy, many of these companies have continued to demonstrate resilience with impressive growth figures in key sectors.

In this blog, we will explore the market performance, strategic initiatives and financial milestones of the top 20 food companies by market capitalization in 2025, providing insight into how each company is adapting to both opportunities and obstacles in the complex food landscape.

From global giants like McDonald’s and Nestlé to diversified powerhouses such as Unilever and Mondelēz International, each company on this list is uniquely positioned to capitalize on emerging trends and consumer demands. As these industry leaders continue to invest in innovation, operational efficiency and sustainable practices, they not only drive growth in revenue and market share but also set the benchmark for excellence in the food and beverage sector.

Related: Food IPOs 2024: A Look at the Companies that Have Gone Public This Year

McDonald’s

McDonald’s, the world’s leading global food service retailer, boasts over 40,000 locations in more than 100 countries. Notably, approximately 95% of its restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. In its third quarter (Q3) 2024 report, the company reported consolidated revenues for the quarter amounting to nearly $6.9 billion, marking a 3% increase compared to the previous year (2% in constant currencies).

Nestlé

Nestlé, a Swiss multinational food and beverage processing conglomerate headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, reported organic growth of 2% for the first nine months of 2024. This growth is accompanied by positive real internal growth. The company anticipates an organic sales growth of around 2% for the full year. Building on this strong foundation, Nestlé will intensify its focus on consumers and customers, as well as advance its product categories to enhance performance and gain market share.

Unilever

Unilever, a British multinational fast-moving consumer goods company established in 1929, recently released its Q3 2024 report. The company reported an underlying sales growth of 4.5%, accompanied by a volume growth of 3.6%. Unilever remains optimistic about its underlying sales growth for 2024, anticipating it to fall within the company’s multi-year range of 3% to 5%. Notably, the majority of this growth is expected to be driven by volume expansion.

DoorDash

DoorDash, an American company, operates online food ordering and delivery services. In Q3 2024, the company demonstrated remarkable growth in several key metrics. Total Orders surged by 18% year-over-year (YoY) to reach 643 million, while Marketplace GOV experienced a substantial increase of 19% YoY, surpassing $20.0 billion. Notably, their revenue also witnessed a remarkable 25% YoY growth, soaring to $2.7 billion.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill is committed to making a positive impact by serving responsibly sourced, traditionally cooked, authentic food made with wholesome ingredients, free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. The company recently released its Q3 2024 financial results. Notably, the company’s total revenue for Q3 2024 reached $2.8 billion, marking a significant 13% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth can be attributed to the successful opening of new restaurants and a substantial 6% rise in comparable restaurant sales. This increase was achieved through a combination of factors, including a 3.3% increase in the number of transactions and a 2.7% rise in the average check amount.

Mondelēz International

Mondelēz, a prominent American multinational confectionery, food, holding, beverage and snack food company headquartered in Chicago, recently released its Q3 2024 report. The company reported a significant increase in net revenues, with a growth rate of 1.9%. Notably, organic net revenue experienced a substantial growth of 5.4%. In light of these positive developments, Mondelez reaffirms its commitment to organic net revenue growth, projecting it to reach the upper end of the 3% to 5% range for 2024.

Hindustan Unilever

Hindustan Unilever, headquartered in Mumbai, India, is a fast-moving consumer goods company. In Q3 2024, the company showcased its competitive performance by reporting a turnover of INR15,319 crores (approximately $10.6 billion USD). Their reported underlying sales growth was 2%, driven by an underlying volume growth of 3%.

Compass Group

Compass Group, a British multinational contract food service company headquartered in Chertsey, reported a revenue of $42.2 billion in 2024, a significant 10.6% increase compared to the previous year. The company anticipates substantial single-digit growth in underlying operating profit for 2025, driven by substantial organic revenue growth exceeding 7.5% and continued progress in margins.

Danone

Danone operates in three rapidly expanding categories: Essential Dairy and Plant-based Products, Waters and Specialized Nutrition. In Q3 2024, consolidated sales reached 6,826 million EUR ($6.98 billion USD), exhibiting a positive growth rate of 4.2% compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a substantial increase of 3.6% in volume/mix and a modest rise of 0.7% in price. In North America, the company’s strong performance was particularly evident in the Coffee Creations segment, Yogurt and Waters (particularly evian natural mineral water).

Kraft Heinz

Kraft Heinz, co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, boasts a portfolio of renowned brands. In its Q3 2024 financial report, net sales experienced a slight decline of 2.8% compared to the previous year, amounting to $6.4 billion. Despite this setback, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to investing in marketing, R&D and technology. These initiatives aim to provide valuable solutions to the consumers while simultaneously fostering future growth in their top-line revenue.

Sysco

Sysco, headquartered in Houston, Texas, engages in the marketing and distribution of food products, smallwares, kitchen equipment and tabletop items to various sectors, including restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, hospitality businesses such as hotels and inns and wholesale to other companies that provide foodservice. In 2024, the company experienced significant growth, with a 3.3% increase in sales to $78.8 billion and a substantial 4.7% increase in gross profit, reaching $14.6 billion.

Ahold Delhaize

Ahold Delhaize, a Dutch-Belgian multinational retail and wholesale holding company, demonstrated its commitment to customer satisfaction in Q3 2024. Despite the challenging economic environment, the company’s group net sales reached 22.0 billion EUR ($22 billion USD), exhibiting a modest 1.0% increase when measured at constant exchange rates and a 0.2% increase when adjusted for actual exchange rates. This growth was primarily driven by comparable sales growth and the successful opening of new stores.

General Mills

General Mills, a prominent American multinational manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods, operates through retail stores. In 2024, its net sales experienced a slight decline of 1% to $19.9 billion. However, this drop was partially compensated by favorable net price realization and a favorable product mix. Despite the persistent uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment affecting consumers across its core markets, General Mills anticipates a gradual improvement in volume trends within its categories during fiscal 2025.

Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food

Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food, a Chinese public company that manufactures sauces and flavorings, is the largest manufacturer of soy sauce in the world. In Q3 2024, the company reported 6.24 billion CNY ($851 million USD) in sales, marking a 9.83% growth compared to the previous year.

The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company, one of America’s most iconic confectionery manufacturers, is renowned for its rich chocolate offerings and diverse snack portfolio — including classic brands like Hershey’s, Reese’s and Kisses. In its Q3 2024 report, the company recorded consolidated net sales of approximately $3.0 billion, reflecting a modest 1.4% decline YoY, while adjusted earnings per share dropped by 10% to $2.34. These results underscore the challenges posed by historically high cocoa prices and a subdued consumer environment, which have compelled Hershey to implement strategic price adjustments to protect its margins.

Restaurant Brands International

Restaurant Brands International, a global leader in the quick-service restaurant industry, boasts annual system-wide sales of over $40 billion. With a network of over 30,000 restaurants spanning more than 120 countries and territories, the company’s resilience and the unwavering dedication of its teams and franchisees were evident in their Q3 2004 financial results. Notably, the adjusted operating income reached $652 million, showcasing a remarkable 6.1% organic growth compared to the previous year. This achievement positions the company to surpass the 8% plus adjusted operating income growth target set for 2024 and beyond.

Kellanova

Kellanova, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, reported a decrease in net sales to $12.75 billion in 2024 compared to $13.12 billion in 2023. Leveraging advanced technologies and a strong commitment to sustainability, Kellanova continues to expand its diverse portfolio of food products. Its strategic investments in R&D — as well as in digital supply chain and production technologies — have enabled the company to streamline operations and improve cost efficiency even amidst market volatility. Kellanova’s proactive approach to market expansion is evident in its efforts to forge new partnerships and tap into emerging consumer trends.

Muyuan Foods

Muyuan Foods, a Chinese company specializing in pork production, had an annual revenue of approximately $15 billion in full-year 2023. Muyuan continues to invest in technology and globalization. In 2023, Muyuan Foods continuously refined its management practices to enhance pig health and production, leading to improved outcomes in pig farming. Looking ahead, it plans to further streamline technical processes and optimize production management. As herd health improves, Muyuan Foods anticipates further gains in key production indicators.

DSM-Firmenich

DSM-Firmenich is known for its cutting‐edge solutions in food ingredients, nutritional science and flavor technologies. As a leader in the health, nutrition and materials sectors, the company leverages decades of R&D to deliver products that enhance taste, texture and overall nutritional profiles for food and beverage manufacturers worldwide. In Q3 2024, DSM-Firmenich reported net sales of approximately €9.54 billion ($10.32 billion USD) — a 4% YoY increase driven by successful improvement programs and robust performance in key segments such as Taste, Texture and Health. This growth reflects the company’s ability to innovate in a challenging market, effectively countering rising costs while meeting evolving consumer demands for healthier and more sustainable products.

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli, the Swiss master chocolatier renowned for its premium brands, including Lindt, Ghirardelli and Caffarel, continues to solidify its leadership in the global confectionery sector. In 2024, Lindt & Sprüngli reported total group sales of 5.47 billion CHF ($6.21 billion USD) — a performance that reflected organic growth of 7.8% despite record-high cocoa prices that nearly tripled over the year. In their Global Retail division, the company’s roughly 560 stores and 21 online shops (up from 530 stores last year) achieved double-digit growth in every market, resulting in an overall increase of 16.7%.