The top FMCG brands in 2024 are the ones that have understood the changing behaviour of consumers in the post-pandemic era and have made changes accordingly with help of digitalization, omnichannel strategy and new-age technologies.
FMCG or Fast Moving Consumer Goods companies, also referred to as CPG or Consumer Packaged Goods are the household goods that most consumers use daily like skin care, personal care, beauty care, health care, oral care, packaged foods, beverages etc.
These are low-value but high turnover products that are household names and encourage consumer loyalty. Leading FMCG companies trade at very high volumes through widespread distribution networks and are considered highly profitable businesses.
The top FMCG brands are thriving in the current market and showing immense growth in the food and beverage industry.
Table of Contents
Top 20 FMCG Brands and Companies in the World in 2024
1. Nestle S.A.
- Origin Country: Switzerland
- Founder: Henri Nestlé
- Founded: 1866
- Headquarters: Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland
- Employees: 285,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: 99.1 billion USD
- Net Income in 2023: 19.2 billion USD
- Market Value in 2023: 395.6 billion USD
- Market Cap: 320.5 billion USD
With 200 brands under its umbrella, Nestle S.A. is at the top as the largest FMCG company in the world based on market capitalization, revenues and other metrics since the year 2014. The company operates factories in more than 80 countries. Nestlé was founded in 1866, when two separate Swiss enterprises were founded that would later form the core of Nestlé.
The multinational conglomerate is associated with the food processing industry and deals in various categories. The product portfolio includes a wide range of baby food, baby milk products, bottled water, medical food, frozen food, tea and coffee, breakfast cereals, confectionary, snacks, pet foods, ice cream and dairy products.
As Nestlé S.A.’s largest market, Nestlé in the U.S. consists of several business units, including Nestlé USA, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, Nestlé Waters North America, and Nestlé Health Science.
2. McDonald’s Corporation
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founder: Richard McDonald, Ray Kroc and Maurice McDonald
- Founded: 15th May 1940
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Employees: 225,000
- Annual Revenue: $6.498B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Net Income: $2.310B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Market Value in 2023: 216.0 billion USD
- Market Cap: $209.17B (August 04, 2023)
The backbone of McDonald’s brand is a commitment to a set of core values, and the company’s mission is to make delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone. McDonald’s is not just about serving burgers, but it is also about serving communities, customers, crew, farmers, franchisees, and suppliers.
The American multinational company operates on the franchise model and has a tie-up with the Coca-Cola Company for serving the Coca-Cola soft drinks in its restaurants.
There are 13,514 McDonalds restaurants in the United States as of August 01, 2023. It serves an estimated 69 million customers daily which in itself is an incredible feat. The company is recognized for hamburgers, French fries, Big Mac and cheeseburgers along with salads, wraps, desserts, breakfast, milkshakes, non-alcoholic beverages (Coca-Cola) and chicken etc.
3. Unilever Group
- Origin Country: United Kingdom
- Founded: 2nd September 1929
- Headquarters: London, England
- Employees: 155,000
- Annual Revenue in Q1 2023: 15 billion euros
- Net Income in June 2023: $8.712B
- Market Value in 2023: 145.7 billion USD
- Market Cap: $130.71B (August 07, 2023)
Unilever Group is a British multinational consumer goods company that was founded on September 2, 1929, by the merger of the British soapmaker Lever Brothers and the Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie. Unilever is one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, with over 400 brand names in over 190 countries.
Unilever is one of the topmost FMCG companies in the world. At the onset, the focus of the global brand was on food brands but with time it has gradually shifted its onus to include health and beauty brands. The British company has the distinction of being the largest soap producer in the global market.
Unilever is associated with the consumer goods industry and its product categories include personal care products, beauty products, cleaning agents, ice cream, condiments and food.
The global brand’s largest brands include Dove, Sunsilk, Magnum, Lifebuoy and Lux.
4. Mondelez International
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founder: Thomas H Mcinnerney and Edward E Rieck
- Founded: 10th December 1923 (original company and in 2012 in the current name)
- Headquarters: Chicago, USA
- Employees: 82,000
- Annual Revenue in quarter ending June 30, 2023: $3.354B
- Net Income in quarter ending June 30, 2023: $0.944B
- Market Value in 2023: 100.2 billion USD
- Market Cap: $100.56B (August 07, 2023)
Mondelez International is a global snacking company that operates in over 150 countries around the world.
The American multinational company Mondelez International is associated with the food and beverage industry and is considered a global manufacturer and a market leader of snack food, confectionary, powdered beverages, gum, biscuits, cookies, chocolate and food products. Mondelez International’s portfolio includes major brands of the billion-dollar club like Oreo, Toblerone, Cadbury, Trident and powdered beverage brand Tang.
Mondelez International has operations in more than 80 countries and employs approximately 91,000 diverse and talented employees in their factories, offices, research & development facilities, and distribution activities around the world. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, US.
5. Hindustan Unilever
- Origin Country: India
- Founder: Lord Leverhulme
- Founded: 2nd September 1933
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Employees: 174,306
- Annual Revenue in 2022: 60.1 billion USD
- Net Income in 2022: 7.2 billion USD
- Market Value in 2022: 112.30 billion USD
- Market Cap: 90.0 billion USD
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is a British-owned Indian consumer goods company headquartered in Mumbai. It is a subsidiary of the British company Unilever. With 90 years of heritage in India, HUL is India’s largest fast-moving consumer goods company.
Hindustan Unilever operates as a subsidiary of its parent company Unilever plc and is one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods brands in India. It is one of the most favoured brand names in Indian households as more than half of the population uses at least one of its products.
The belief that every business must look beyond profit has helped Hindustan Unilever to create a portfolio of 50+ FMCG brands and 15 product segments. These include fabric care solutions, life essentials, home and hygiene, personal care, skin care, skin cleansing, colour cosmetics, hair care products, cosmetics and frozen desserts etc.
Hindustan Unilever has been rated as the most innovative company to grace the Indian household by Forbes.
6. Foshan Haitian Flavouring and Food Company
- Origin Country: China
- Founded: 30th August 1995
- Headquarters: Foshan, Guangdong, China
- Employees: 7,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $3.68 B
- Profits in 2023: 1.1 billion USD
- Assets in 2023: 6 billion USD
- Market Value: 76.4 billion USD
- Market Cap: $35.47 Billion (August 2023)
Foshan Haitian Flavouring and Food Company is one of the largest FMCG companies of Chinese origin in the world. It has the distinction of being the top manufacturer of soy sauce in the world and has access to most of the global markets.
Foshan Haitian Flavouring and Food Company is the leading manufacturer of flavourings and sauces in the world. It is engaged in both production and distribution of condiments. The categories in the product portfolio include oyster sauces, soy sauces, seasoning sauces, dipping sauces, vinegar and chicken essence.
7. General Mills
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founder: Cadwallader C Washburn, John Crosby and James Ford Bell
- Founded: 20th June 1866
- Headquarters: Golden Valley, Minnesota, USA
- Employees: 35,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $5.030B (quarter ending May 31, 2023)
- Net Income in 2023: $0.615B (quarter ending May 31, 2023)
- Market Value in 2023: 47.5 billion USD
- Market Cap: $43.06B (August 07, 2023)
The American multinational company General Mills is one of the largest FMCG companies in the world. The brand is involved in the marketer and manufacturer of branded consumer goods that are distributed in various markets via retail outlets.
General Mills is a U.S.-based food company that has been making food for over 150 years. The company was founded in 1866 by Cadwallader Washburn, who bought the largest flour mill west of the Mississippi. Today, General Mills is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, USA, just a few miles from where the company was founded. General Mills is also the marketer of several popular brands like Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, Pillsbury, Cheerios, Trix and Cocoa Puffs.
General Mills has a portfolio of over 100 brands that can be found in over 100 countries, including Cheerios, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, Old El Paso, Blue Buffalo, and Häagen-Dazs. The company’s retail sales worldwide are over $18.1 billion.
8. ADM or The Archer Daniels Midland Company
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founder: George A Archer and John W Daniels
- Founded: 1902
- Headquarters: Chicago, USA
- Employees: 42,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $25.190B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Net Income in 2023: $0.927B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Market Value in 2023: 40.5 billion USD
- Market Cap: $45.86B (August 07, 2023)
Archer Daniels is one of the largest FMCG companies associated with commodities trading and the food processing industry. It is a global leader in animal and human nutrition with excellent capabilities in wellness, health care products and energy drinks. ADM ranked No. 35 in the 2023 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations. ADM’s headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois.
Archer Daniels has spread its presence far and wide. It operates more than 270 plants and 420+ facilities for crop procurement where the company processes oilseeds, grains and cereals into products that are further used in animal feeds, industrial, nutraceutical, beverage and food markets. The services segment includes transportation services, flour milling and agricultural storage.
9. The Hershey Company
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founder: Milton Snavely Hershey
- Founded: 1894
- Headquarters: Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Employees: 19,500
- Annual Revenue in 2023: 10.2 billion USD
- Net Income in 2023: 1.7 billion USD
- Market Value in 2023: 42.0 billion USD
- Market Cap: 48.0 billion USD
The Hershey Company has the distinction of being one of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolate. It is one of the famous brands that is easily recognized all over the world because of its quality products. The Hershey Company is an American multinational company that manufactures food products, chiefly chocolate and sugar-based confections. It was founded by Milton S. Hershey in the 1880s when he started the Lancaster Caramel Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Today, The Hershey Company has more than 90 brands and beloved products, including chocolate, sweets, mints, and other great-tasting snacks. The product portfolio of The Hershey Company also includes baked products like cakes and cookies and non-alcoholic beverages like milkshakes. Hershey’s chocolate is available in 90 countries with help of three distribution centres.
10. Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founder: Steve Ells
- Founded: 13th July 1993
- Headquarters: Newport Beach, California, USA
- Employees: 102,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $2.515B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Net Income in 2023: $0.342B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Market Cap: $52.16B (August 07, 2023)
Chipotle Mexican Grill is an American chain of fast casual restaurants that specializes in bowls, tacos, and Mission burritos made to order in front of the customer. Chipotle was founded in 1993 by Steve Ells in Denver, Colorado.
Chipotle’s menu consists of five main items: burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and salads. Chipotle operates restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and France. They have numerous locations across the United States, with restaurants in all 50 states.
11. Kraft Heinz
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founded: 2nd July 2015
- Headquarters: Chicago, USA
- Employees: 37,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $6.721B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Net Income in 2023: $1.000B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Market Value in 2023: 48.0 billion USD
- Market Cap: $43.33B (August 7, 2023)
Kraft Heinz is the third-largest FMCG company in North America and the fifth-largest FMCG company in the world based on annual sales. Out of the 20 brands in its portfolio, eight of them are $1+ billion brands. Major brands in the company profile include Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Gevalia and Boca Burger.
The Kraft Heinz Company is a global food and beverage company that provides high quality, great taste, and nutrition for all eating occasions whether at home, in restaurants, or on the go. It was formed in 2015 through the merger of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. and H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation. The company is co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh.
Product categories include food service, snack foods, convenience foods and beverages. Popular products are mayonnaise, baked beans, ketchup, sauces and vinegar.
12. Muyuan Foods Company Ltd
- Origin Country: China
- Founder: Qin Yinglin and Qian Ying
- Founded: 1992
- Headquarters: Nanyang, China
- Employees: 125,000
- Production: 2.3 million pigs per year
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $18.91 B (2023)
- Net Income in 2023: 1.5 billion USD
- Market Value: 50.0 billion USD
- Market Cap: $32.66 Billion (August 2023)
Muyuan Foods Company Ltd is a Chinese company involved in the food industry. Muyuan Foods Company Ltd is one of the largest FMCG companies in the world in the list of top 20 FMCG brands. It is the only brand in the top 20 FMCG companies involved in selling and breeding livestock. Business activities also include feed processing and scientific research and products include piglets, pigs and pork products.
The company operates as a breeding company and sells commodity pigs and boars. It is one of the largest pig farms in the world.
13. Compass Group Plc
- Origin Country: United Kingdom
- Founded: 1941
- Headquarters: Chertsey, England, UK
- Employees: 525,000+
- Annual Revenue in 2023: £18.8 billion
- Net Income in 2023: £0.4 billion
- Market Value: 44.0 billion USD
- Market Cap: 37.0 billion USD
Compass Group Plc is a British multinational contract foodservice company headquartered in Chertsey, England. It is the largest contract foodservice company in Europe, employing over 500,000 people. The company serves meals in various locations including offices, factories, schools, universities, hospitals, major sports and cultural venues, mining camps, correctional facilities, and offshore oil platforms. Compass Group also has its own profitable brands, including Caffé Ritazz and Café.
Compass Group Plc is a Fortune 500 global brand and a public limited company listed on the London Stock Exchange. It conducts its operations in 40 countries.
14. Danone
- Origin Country: France
- Founder: Issac Carasso
- Founded: 1919
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Employees: 105,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: 29.3 billion USD
- Net Income in 2023: 1.8 billion USD
- Net Sales: €6,962 million (first quarter of 2023)
- Market Value in 2023: 43.0 billion USD
- Market Cap: 32.5 billion USD
The French multinational corporation Danone is placed at 14th position in the list of the world’s top 20 FMCG companies in 2022. 70% of its business activities are certified as the company wants to meet consumer needs via sustainable food products. Danone has entered into a strategic partnership with Mengniu Dairy to optimize its fresh dairy category.
Danone is a French multinational food-products corporation that was founded in 1919 in Barcelona, Spain. It is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component of the CAC 40 stock market index. Danone is a leading global food and beverage company built on four businesses: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters, Early Life Nutrition, and Medical Nutrition.
Danone is hailed as one of the most famous brands because of its innovative product categories. The health-focused product line includes plant-based products, dairy products, health products, waters and specialized nutrition products.
15. Ahold Delhaize
- Origin Country: Netherlands
- Founded: 25th July 2016
- Headquarters: Zaandam Netherlands
- Employees: 385,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: €79.5 billion
- Net Income in 2023: €2.4 billion
- Net Sales: €21.6 billion (Q1, 2023)
- Market Value: $37.5 billion
- Market Cap: $30.0 billion
Ahold Delhaize is a Dutch multinational retail and wholesale holding company that is one of the world’s largest food retail groups. The company was formed in July 2016 from the merger of Ahold and Delhaize Group, both of which have been retail innovators for almost 150 years. The company’s brands include supermarkets, convenience stores, hypermarkets, online grocery, online non-food, drugstores, and liquor stores.
Ahold Delhaize is the largest retailer of food and consumables in the USA. Ahold Delhaize serves 60 million shoppers every week across its 21 local brands. These brands include Food Lion, Giant Food, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, and Peapod in the United States; Albert Heijn, Delhaize, and bol.com in Belgium; and Super Indo in Indonesia, among others. The company employs around 414,000 associates in approximately 7,659 local grocery, small format, and specialty stores
16. Hormel Foods
- Origin Country: Netherlands
- Founded: 25th July 2016
- Headquarters: Zaandam Netherlands
- Employees: 385,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $2.978B (quarter ending April 30, 2023)
- Net Income in 2023: $0.217B (quarter ending April 30, 2023)
- Market Value: $37.5 billion
- Market Cap: $22.15B (August 7,2023)
The American multinational company Hormel Foods is one of the top FMCG companies in 2022 associated with the food processing and packaging industry. The Fortune 500 company is one of the few global brands with a product presence in more than 80 countries via 40 production and distribution facilities. Over 40 of Hormel Foods’ brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their categories. Some of the company’s most iconic and trusted brands include Dinty Moore beef stew, Hormel chili, SPAM brand, HORMEL Pepperoni, and SKIPPY peanut butter.
At the onset, the brand was focused on selling and packaging lamb, beef, chicken, pork, sausage and ham products. With time Hormel Foods increased its portfolio of consumer packaged goods to include a wide range of refrigerated and packaged foods.
17. Tyson Foods
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founder: John W Tyson
- Founded: 1935
- Headquarters: Springdale, Arkansas, USA
- Employees: 139,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $54.5 billion
- Net Income in 2023: $4.2 billion
- Market Value: $35.0 billion
- Market Cap: $30.0 billion
Tyson Foods is one of the top FMCG companies associated with the food processing industry. It has the distinction of being the second-largest marketer and processor of pork, beef and chicken. The company operates major food brands and annually exports more than half of the beef out of the USA. Tyson Foods is a modern, multi-national, protein-focused food company that produces approximately 20% of the beef, pork, and chicken in the United States. The company also has a portfolio of foods under the Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, BallPark®, Wright®, Aidell’s®, and State Fair® brands.
The product portfolio of one of the top global brands includes categories like breaded chicken, meal kits, grilled chicken, frozen chicken, premium beef and pork offerings and chicken sausage.
As of 2022, Tyson Foods employs 142,000 people, 124,000 of which are in the U.S.
18. Restaurant Brands International Inc.
- Origin Country: Canada
- Founded: 15th December 2014
- Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
- Employees: 6,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $1.590B (quarter ending March 31, 2023)
- Net Income in 2023: $0.189B (quarter ending March 31, 2023)
- Market Cap: $22.94B (August 07, 2023)
Restaurant Brands International Inc. is a multinational holding company associated with the food service industry. It is the fifth-largest FMCG company that operates fast-food restaurants all over the world.
Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant companies with more than $35 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 29,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries.
RBI owns four of the world’s most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, POPEYES® and FIREHOUSE SUBS®
RBI is a growth company with a strong track record of driving system-wide sales growth and creating compelling unit economics for its partners.
19. Kellogg’s
- Origin Country: United States of America
- Founder: Will Keith Kellogg
- Founded: 1906
- Headquarters: Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.
- Employees: 32,000
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $4.041B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Net Income in 2023: $0.357B (quarter ending June 30, 2023)
- Market Cap: $22.21B (August 07, 2023)
Kellogg’s is an American multinational food manufacturing company headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States. With a focus on quality, nutrition, innovation and well-being Kellogg’s has single-handedly changed the shape of the entire FMCG industry. It was the first company to launch breakfast cereal and soon became a household name and a trusted brand. The company’s founder, Will Keith Kellogg, was a health food pioneer who believed that a vegetarian diet could improve people’s health.
Kellogg’s is associated with the food processing industry and produces convenience foods and cereal including toaster pastries, vegetarian foods, frozen waffles and crackers. Kellogg’s products are manufactured in 21 countries and marketed in over 180 countries.
20. Lindt
- Origin Country: Switzerland
- Founder: David Sprungli-Schwarz, Rudolf Lindt
- Founded: 1845
- Headquarters: Kilchberg, Switzerland
- Employees: 14,500
- Annual Revenue in 2023: $5.3 billion USD
- Market Cap: $24.0 billion USD
- Sales: CHF 2.09 billion (Q1, 2023)
- Net income: CHF 204.5 million (Q1, 2023)
The Swiss company Lindt is associated with the confectionery industry. It is one of the popular FMCG companies whose name is synonymous with chocolate. Lindt was founded in 1845. It is known for its chocolate truffles and chocolate bars, among other sweets, and is one of the largest Swiss chocolate manufacturers.
Lindt has managed to spread its product presence to various parts of the world via its 12 factories with the main factory and museum located in Kilchberg, Switzerland where it manufactures the goods. Lindt has over 500 prime locations around the world, including 410 chocolate cafés and shops. The product portfolio of this amazing global brand includes handmade chocolate, chocolate truffles, macaroons, ice cream, cakes and chocolate bars.
Conclusion
The top FMCG brands in 2024 are the ones that have managed to satisfy consumer desire for sustainable shopping through convenience buying and ease of use. The focus of the leading FMCG companies was on how many households they can reach with healthy, organic and immunity-boosting products.
The covid-19 pandemic was one of the major reasons for the consumers to shift to online sales and the global brands which have managed to accommodate this channel shift have turned out to be the winners of the year 2024.
Some of the other important brands that have made an impact on the FMCG industry of the world are
- Coca-Cola Company
- Pepsi Co (PepsiCo)
- Procter Gamble
- AB InBev
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