Top 10: Largest Health Food Manufacturing Companies
The global health food manufacturing industry has undergone a transformation in recent decades, evolving from niche markets to mainstream consumer demand.
Driven by increasing health consciousness and sustainability concerns, the sector has achieved significant milestones in developing innovative plant-based proteins, functional foods and organic products.
However, challenges persist, including costs, supply chain complexities and regulatory hurdles, with current trends focusing on personalised nutrition and eco-friendly packaging.
Major projects also include developing sustainable protein sources and reducing food waste.
As consumer preferences continue to shift towards healthier options, the industry stands poised for further expansion and technological advancements.
Ranked by 2024 market cap, we look at these innovative companies, and their moves in the health food manufacturing market.
10. Hain Celestial Group
Market Cap: US$0.72bn
CEO: Wendy Davidson
Employees: 2,837
The Hain Celestial Group, headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, is a global health and wellness company.
It specialises in organic and natural products, including infant formula, plant-based beverages, snacks and personal care items.
The company aims to meet growing consumer demand for healthier options while reducing its environmental impact.
It has also invested in sustainability projects, such as upgrading its anaerobic digestion plant in Histon, England, to generate green energy from fruit waste.
The facility produces iconic British brands like Hartley's jams and Robertson's marmalades.
9. Herbalife Nutrition
Revenue: $0.84bn
CEO: Michael Johnson
Employees: 9,900
Herbalife Nutrition is a global multi-level marketing company headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
It develops and sells dietary supplements, weight management products and personal care items.
Operating in 95 countries through a network of independent distributors, Herbalife aims to promote nutrition and healthy lifestyles while offering business opportunities.
Herbalife's Formula 1 protein shake remains the company’s flagship product.
8. Simply Good Foods
Revenue: US$3.22bn
CEO: Geoff Tanner
Employees: 500
Simply Good Foods focuses on expanding distribution and introducing new products to meet growing consumer demand for healthier snacks.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the company specialises in nutrition bars, ready-to-drink shakes, snacks and confectionery products under brands like Atkins.
It also aims to lead the nutritional snacking movement by offering innovative, convenient options.
7. Glanbia
Revenue: US$4.51bn
CEO: Brian Phelan
Employees: 7,000
Glanbia, headquartered in Ireland, is a global nutrition company specialising in sports nutrition, cheese, dairy ingredients and vitamin premixes.
The company operates in 130 countries, focusing on Europe and the USA while expanding into emerging markets.
Glanbia aims to lead in performance nutrition and ingredients, investing in acquisitions like Optimum Nutrition and BSN to strengthen its portfolio.
The company is working on sustainability projects, including a green energy initiative at its Histon facility in England.
6. Sprouts Farmers Market
Market Cap: US$10.27bn
CEO: Jack Sinclair
Employees: 32,000
Sprouts Farmers Market has experienced consistent growth, with employee numbers increasing from 13,600 in 2012 to 32,000 in 2023.
Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, it is a rapidly growing retailer specialising in fresh produce, natural foods and wellness products.
The company operates 350 stores across the United States, focusing on organic, plant-based, gluten-free and keto-friendly offerings.
Sprouts also aims to lead the nutritional snacking movement by providing innovative, health-focused options to meet changing consumer preferences.
Currently, it is expanding its product range to include more wellness-oriented items.
5. Kellanova Company
Revenue: US$27.78bn
CEO: Steve Cahillane
Employees: 23,000
Kellanova, recently rebranded from Kellogg Company, with the new name signifying its ambition for innovation and growth.
It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, as a global food manufacturing company specialising in snacks, international cereals, noodles and North American frozen foods.
Its portfolio includes famous brands such as Pringles, Cheez-It and Pop-Tarts.
The company aims to lead in global snacking and plant-based foods while expanding its market presence.
Kellanova implements a comprehensive food safety program called Kellanova 7 CORE, a strategic framework used by Kellanova to guide its business operations and decision-making processes.
4. General Mills
Revenue: US$39.53bn
CEO: Jeffrey Harmening
Employees: 32,000
General Mills, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a multinational food manufacturer specialising in cereals, baking goods, snacks and pet food.
Its portfolio includes popular brands such as Cheerios, Betty Crocker and Blue Buffalo.
The company aims to lead in global snacking and plant-based foods while expanding its market presence.
It has also partnered with Nestlé S.A. in a joint venture called Cereal Partners.
This partnership aims to market cereals outside North America and produce and market breakfast cereals in over 130 countries outside North America.
The company is working on a regenerative agriculture programme to improve soil health on 1 million acres of farmland by 2030.
3. Kraft Heinz
Revenue: US$43.21bn
CEO: Miguel Patricio
Employees: 37,000
Kraft Heinz produces condiments, sauces, cheese, dairy, meals and snacks.
With its headquarters in Chicago and Pittsburgh, it is a global food manufacturer focusing on food safety and quality.
It implements a comprehensive food safety program called Kraft Heinz 7 CORE, a set of seven core values guiding the company's culture and decision-making.
The company aims to achieve 85% compliance with its Global Nutrition Targets by 2025. Kraft Heinz is also partnering with the Wyss Institute at Harvard University to develop a micro-encapsulated enzyme that converts sugar to healthy fibre in the human gut.
2. Danone
Revenue: US$44.56bn
CEO: Antoine de Saint-Affrique
Employees: 100,000
Danone is a global food and beverage company focusing on health-oriented products across three categories: Essential Dairy & Plant-Based, Waters and Specialised Nutrition.
The company emphasises food health manufacturing, particularly in medical nutrition.
It is headquartered in Paris, yet is also investing €50m (US$55m) in its Opole, Poland facility to expand medical nutrition capabilities.
The company aims to serve more patients with specific nutritional needs, targeting growth in the adult medical nutrition market.
Danone's specialised nutrition business, accounting for 30% of its turnover, includes seven production sites dedicated to medical nutrition.
The company is also investing in research and innovation, exemplified by its new Daniel Carasso Research & Innovation Centre in Paris-Saclay.
1. Nestlé
Revenue: US$276.5bn
CEO: Mark Schneider
Employees: 273,000
Nestlé, headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, is a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.
The company focuses on food health manufacturing across various product lines, including medical nutrition, infant nutrition and active lifestyle nutrition.
Laurent Freixe is soon to be Nestlés CEO and he is interested in developing healthier products as well as future leaders and talents, shown by his role in the Nestlé Leadership and Training Programs as well as the Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative, which promotes youth employment.
Nestlé Health Science, a subsidiary, develops nutritional therapies for medical conditions.
A popular product includes Optifast: a range of meal replacement shakes and bars for weight management that has nutritional supplements for individuals with specific dietary needs, such as those recovering from illness or surgery.
Nestlé also aims to improve global health through nutrition, investing in research and innovation at facilities like the Daniel Carasso Research & Innovation Centre.
The company additionally has committed to making 85% of its sales from healthier products by 2030.
--------------
Make sure you check out the latest news at Food Digital, a BizClik brand.
