Ranking methodology
The Top 100 Food Companies are ranked by food and beverage sales reported at the end of the most recent fiscal year. Total sales for each company are also listed when that number differs from the food/beverage sales total.

Companies were asked to exclude from food/beverage sales any income generated by fast-food, restaurant or foodservice subsidiaries and divisions.

Rankings sometimes required estimating food/beverage sales based on available information. There are several companies we have reason to believe would qualify for the Top 100 that are not listed for lack of reliable information about food sales.

If this list contains inaccuracies or omissions, we invite you to bring them to our attention. Data for this report were compiled by Ann Meyer, with assistance from Bob Messenger and Mary Ellen Kuhn.

For example, in this year's FOOD PROCESSING Top 100 rankings, Philip Morris Cos. still has the loudest bark among the food and beverage industry's big dogs, thanks to a stable of major players that includes Kraft Foods, Oscar Mayer and Miller Brewing, which account for 1997 food and beverage sales of nearly $28 billion. Nipping at the tobacco and food giant's heels is another formidable competitor, ConAgra Inc., with 1997 sales of $24 billion.

These two companies have ruled the No. 1 and 2 positions for several years now, and are likely to continue their dominance for the foreseeable future. What could change in the next year or two is the No. 1 position, with Philip Morris under constant stress on the bottom line from its controversy-plagued tobacco business (leaving some unpredictability to fester) and an aggressive ConAgra only a stone's throw from the throne if PM stumbles or ConAgra grows through acquisition in 1998.

A couple of major events have taken place that will transform the top 25, but only from an administrative perspective.

The death of fifth-ranked Coca-Cola Co.'s powerful and talented chairman and CEO, Roberto Goizueta, this past October was a major blow to the soft drink giant. By his will and his creative flair, Goizueta turned Coke into a dangerous and constantly evolving competitor, one that archrival PepsiCo (No. 4) has struggled to match, at least in a global sense.

Early on, Goizueta recognized that the United States was practically tapped out when it came to envisioning new growth opportunities for Coke. Not that Goizueta would ignore the U.S. marketplace, but he quickly understood that the best opportunities for double-digit growth would come in the world's developed and developing markets. And he launched the beverage industry equivalent of a worldwide blitzkrieg designed to position Coke as the global kingpin of soft drinks.

It worked. Today, Pepsi is working hard to catch up as an international presence, but it is also preoccupied in what it perceives as a life and death battle with Coca-Cola for bragging rights in the United States. Under Goizueta, Coke applied pressure up and down the line.

He is going to be missed in Atlanta.

Another significant development in 1997 was the not-so-unexpected announcement that William Smithburg, Quaker Oats' long-time chairman and CEO, would retire. It's a pretty safe bet to think that Smithburg had no other options, since he never did bring the company back from its disastrous $1.7 billion Snapple acquisition. That deal took him out, but not before leaving behind a trail of management casualties who individually and collectively were unable to successfully merge the Snapple business into Quaker's beverage culture, which included the lucrative Gatorade franchise. It was an unnecessary and crippling exodus of talent because Snapple never was a good fit for Quaker.

In late October, Smithburg finally departed, and his surprising replacement would change the elite management structure at two Top 100 firms. Robert Morrison, the man at the top of Philip Morris' Kraft Foods subsidiary, was chosen as the new chairman and CEO of Quaker, while former Oscar Mayer boss Robert Eckert assumed the controls at Kraft. Both men are considered bright and talented leaders, but Morrison's task may be the more challenging: Return Quaker to its pre-Snapple positioning as a well-focused, well-managed, and profitable Top 100 performer.

In the name-change department, CPC International, perhaps tired of its role as the strong, silent type whose products are well known while its corporate image is not, is now called Bestfoods. --Bob Messenger

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1 Philip Morris Cos. Inc.

Address: 120 Park Ave., New York, NY 10017

Phone: (212) 880-5000

Fax: (212) 878-2167

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Kraft Foods Inc., Kraft Food International, Oscar Mayer Foods Corp., Miller Brewing

Brands: Kraft, Jello-O, Kool-Aid, Grape-Nuts, Louis Rich, Lunchables, Maxwell House, Miracle Whip, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Taco Bell, Tombstone, Velveeta 

2 ConAgra Inc.

Address: One ConAgra Drive, Omaha, NE 68102-5001

Phone: (402) 595-4000

Fax: (402) 595-4707

Web site: www.conagra.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Beatrice Cheese Co., Butterball Turkey Co., ConAgra Poultry Co., ConAgra Red Meat Cos., ConAgra Frozen Foods, Hunt Foods Co., Knott's Berry Farm Foods, LaChoy/Rosarita Foods, Orville Redenbacher/Swiss Miss Foods Co., Arrow Industries, ConAgra Shrimp Co., Lamb-Weston

Brands: Healthy Choice, Banquet, Butterball, Hunt's Wesson, Van Camp's, Orville Redenbacher, Armour, Peter Pan, Knott's, La Choy 

3 Cargill Inc.

Address: 15407 McGinty Road West, Wayzata, MN 55391-2399

Phone: (612) 742-7575

Fax: (612) 742-7393

Web site: www.cargill.com

4 PepsiCo Inc.

Address: 700 Anderson Hill Road,

Purchase, NY 10577-1445

Phone: (914) 253-2000

Fax: (914) 253-2070

Web site: www.pepsico.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Pepsi-Cola North America, Frito-Lay, Frito-Lay International, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co.

Brands: Chee-tos, Doritos, Fritos, Grandma's Cookies, Lay's, Ruffles, Sunchips, Tostitos, Sunchips, Pepsi, 7Up, Mountain Dew, Slice 

5 The Coca-Cola Co.

Address: One Coca-Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30313

Phone: (404) 676-2121

Fax: (404) 676-6792

Web site: www.cocacola.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Coca-Cola Foods, Minute Maid Co.

Brands: Coca-Cola, Sprite, Barq's, Fanta, Fresca, Mello Yello, Mr. PiBB, Surge, TAB, Bacardi, Bright & Early, Five Alive, Fruitopia, Georgia, Hi-C, Minute Maid, Nestea, PowerAde 

6 Archer Daniels Midland Co.

Address: 4666 Faries Parkway, P.O. Box 1470,

Decatur, IL 62525

Phone: (217) 424-5200

Fax: (217) 424-5447

Web site: www.admworld.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Agri Industries, Tabor Grain Co., Fleischmann Malting Co., American River Transportation Co., Collinwood Grain Inc., Gooch Foods, ADM Animal Health and Nutrition Division, ADM BioProducts Division, ADM Cocoa Division, ADM Corn Processing Division, ADM Food Additives Division, ADM Food Oils Division 

7 Mars Inc.

Address: 6885 Elm St., McLean, VA 22101-3810

Phone: (703) 821-4900

Fax: (703) 448-9678

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Kal Kan Foods Inc., M&M/Mars, Uncle Ben's Inc.

Brands: M&M's, Mars, Milky Way, Dove, Starburst, Snickers, Kal kan, Pedigree, Sheba, Whiska, Uncle Ben's, Combos, Kudos, Twix 

8 IBP Inc.

Address: IBP Ave., P.O. Box 515,

Dakota City, NE 68731-0515

Phone: (402) 494-2061

Fax: (402) 241-2068

Web site: www.ibpinc.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: IBP International, Foodbrands America, The Bruss Co., Lakeside Farm Industries, PBX Inc.

Brands: IBP Supreme Lean, IBP Supreme Trim, Doskocil, Wilson Foodservice, Wilson's Continental Deli, American Favorite, Posada, Marquez, Butcher Boy, TNT Crusts, Rotanelli's, Fred's, Little Juan 

9 Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.

Address: One Busch Place, St. Louis, MO 63118

Phone: (314) 577-2000

Fax: (314) 577-4900

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Anheuser-Busch Inc., Anheuser-Busch International, Busch Agricultural Resources Inc., Busch Entertainment Corp.

Brands: Budweiser, Michelob, Busch, Natural Light, King Cobra, Elk Mountain, Red Wolf, O'Douls 

10 Bestfoods

(formerly CPC International)

Address: International Plaza, P.O. Box 8000, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632-9976

Phone: (201) 894-4000

Fax: (201) 894-2186

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Best Foods, S.B. Thomas, Arnold Foods Co., California Manufacturing Co., Henri's Food Products Co., Entenmann's

Brands: Hellman's, Best Foods, Henri's, Mazola, Skippy, Arnold, Brownberry, Boboli, Sahara, Thomas', Entenmann's, Knorr 

11 H.J. Heinz Co.

Address: 600 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Phone: (412) 456-5700

Fax: (412) 237-7883

Web site: www.hjheinz.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Heinz USA, Heinz Pet Products, Weight Watchers Food Co., Ore-Ida Foods Inc., Heinz Bakery Products, Star-Kist Foods Inc.

Brands: Heinz, Budget Gourmet, Earth's Best, Ore-Ida, Star-Kist, Tater Tots, Weight Watchers, 9 Lives, Amore, Cycle, Gravy Train, Ken-L-Ration, Kibbles 'n Bits, Meaty Bones, Nature's Recipe 

12 RJR Nabisco Inc.

Address: 7 Campus Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054

Phone: (973) 682-5000

Fax: (973) 503-2153

Web site: www.nabisco.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: LifeSavers Co., Nabisco Biscuit Co., Nabisco Tablespreads Co., Planters Co., Specialty Products Co.

Brands: Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, SnackWell's, Premium, Ritz, Triscuit, Wheat Thins, Blue Bonnet, Fleischmann's, Parkay, Planters, A.1 Steak Sauce, Eggbeaters 

13 Campbell Soup Co.

Address: Campbell Place, Camden, NJ 08103-1799

Phone: (609) 342-4800

Fax: (609) 342-3878

Web site: campbellsoup.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Godiva Chocolatier Inc., Pepperidge Farm Inc., Sanwa Foods Inc., Arnotts Ltd., Fresh Start Bakeries, Greenfield Healthy Foods Co. (Swanson Frozen Foods and Vlasic Foods units will be spun off in 1998.)

Brands: Campbell's, Pepperidge Farm, Swanson, Pace, Goldfish, Hungry-Man, Franco-American, Prego, Open Pit, Vlasic, Marie's, Godiva 

14 Sara Lee Corp.

Address: 3 First National Plaza,

Chicago, IL 60602-4260

Phone: (312) 726-2600

Fax: (312) 726-3712

Web site: www.saralee.com

Brands: Sara Lee, Wolferman's, Ball Park, Best's Kosher, Bil Mar, Bryan, Gallo Salami, Hillshire Farm, Kahn's, Hygrade, Jimmy Dean, King Cotton, Mr. Turkey, Rudy's Farm, Seitz, Sinai 48, State Fair 

15 Nestle U.S.A.

Address: Nestle USA, 800 N. Brand Blvd.,

Glendale, CA 01203

Phone: (818) 549-6000

Fax: (818) 549-6952

Web site: www.nestle.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Beverage Division, Chocolate & Confections Division, Food Division, FoodServices Division, Foreign Trade Division, Nutrition Division, PetCare Division, Sales Division

Brands: Nestle, Stouffer's, Carnation, Libby's, Ortega, Taster's Choice, Toll House, Friskies, ALPO 

16 Kellogg Co.

Address: One Kellogg Square,

Battle Creek, MI 49016-3599

Phone: (616) 961-2000

Fax: (616) 961-2871

Web site: www.kelloggs.com

Brands: Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Raisin Bran, Froot Loops, Eggo, Lender's Bagels, Nutri-Grain, Pop-Tarts 

17 Tyson Foods Inc.

Address: 2210 W. Oaklawn Drive, Springdale, AR 72762-6999

Phone: (501) 290-4000

Fax: (501) 290-4061

Web site: www.tyson.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Holly Hill Farms, Henry House Inc., Louis Kemp Seafood Co., Mexican Original Inc.

Brands: Holly Farms, Tastybird, Tyson, Weaver, Wing Stingers, W.W. Flyers, Mexican Original, Arctic Ice, Louis Kemp, Ocean Master 

18 Ralston Purina Co.

Address: Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63164

Phone: (314) 982-1000

Fax: (314) 982-2134

Web site: www.ralston.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Pet Products Group, Protein Technologies International

Brands: Purina Dog Chow, Purina Cat Chow, Purina Puppy Chow, Tidy Cat 

19 The Pillsbury Co.

Address: 200 S. 6th St., Minneapolis, MN 55402

Phone: 612/330-4966

Fax: 612/330-5200

Web site: www.pillsbury.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Pillsbury North America, International, Foodservice

Brands: Pillsbury, Green Giant, Hungry Jack, Totino's, Progresso, Old El Paso, Haagen-Dazs 

20 General Mills Inc.

Address: Number One General Mills Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55426

Phone: (612) 540-2311

Fax: (612) 540-4925

Web site: www.bettycrocker.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Big G Division, Betty Crocker Division, Gold Meal Division, Snacks Unlimited Division, Yoplait-Colombo Division

Brands: Basic 4, Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Clusters, Cocoa Puffs, Crispy Wheats 'N Raisins, Fiber One, Golden Grahams, Kix, Lucky Charms, Total, Wheaties, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Gold Medal, Bugles, Fruit Roll-Ups, Nature Valley, Pop Secret, Colombo, Yoplait 

21 Quaker Oats Co.

Address: Quaker Tower, 321 N. Clark St.,

Chicago, IL 60610-4714

Phone: (312) 222-7111

Fax: (312) 222-8532

Web site: www.quakeroats.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Golden Grain Division, Cereals Division, Convenience Foods Division, Gatorade Worldwide

Brands: Quaker, Life, Cap'n Crunch, Aunt Jemima, Gatorade, Near East, Rice-A-Roni 

22 Procter & Gamble Co.

Address: One Procter & Gamble Plaza,

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Phone: (513) 983-1100

Fax: (513) 983-9369

Web site: www.pg.com

Brands: Crisco, Duncan Hines, Folgers, Hawaiian Punch, Jif, Pringles, Sunny Delight 

23 Mid-America Dairymen Inc.

Address: 3253 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, MO 65802-2584

Phone: (417) 865-7100

Fax: (417) 865-1093

Brands: Ruffles, Tostitos, Breakstone, Sport Shake, Starbucks Frappuccino, Enfamil, Sustacal 

24 Hershey Foods Corp.

Address: 11 Crystal A Drive, Hershey, PA 17033

Phone: (717) 534-6799

Fax: (717) 534-6760

Web site: www.hersheys.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Hershey Chocolate North America, Hershey Pasta and Grocery Group, Hershey International

Brands: Hershey's, Cadbury's, Good & Plenty, Kit Kat, Milk Duds, Peter Paul, Reese's, Whoppers, Ronzoni, San Giorgio, Mrs. Weiss, American Beauty 

25 Smithfield Foods Inc.

Address: 999 Waterside Drive, Suite 900,

Norfolk, VA 23510

Phone: (757) 365-3000

Fax: (757) 365-3017

Web site: www.smithfield.com

Subsidiaries, Divisions: Smithfield Packing Co. Inc., Gwaltney of Smithfield Ltd., John Morrell & Co., Patrick Cudahy Inc., Lykes Meat Group Inc., Brown's of Carolina

Brands: Luter, Patrick Cudahy, Smithfield, John Morrell, Gwaltney, Lykes, Smithfield Lean Generation Pork