Nestlé Surpasses Dean Foods to Top the Dairy 100 List
Three producer-owned dairy co-ops also make the top 10 list.
Source: Dairy Foods magazine
Nestlé USA is North America's largest dairy processor, surpassing Dean Foods Co., which held the spot for at least half of the 20 years of the Dairy 100 list, reports Dairy Foods magazine.
While No.1 Nestlé USA's revenues increased 7% from 2011 to 2012, No. 2 Dean Foods' dropped 36% because it sold its Morning Star business to No. 3 Saputo and it spun off its WhiteWave Foods business into a stand-alone operation. No. 19 WhiteWave completed an initial public offering that raised over $365 million of net equity proceeds.
Nestlé makes packaged ice cream, including the brands Dreyer's, Edy's, Häagen-Dazs and Eskimo Pie. The company also produces flavored Nesquik milk, Coffee-Mate and Natural Bliss coffee creamers and powdered beverages. Parent company Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland, reported that sales in its Americas division in 2012 were approximately $11.1 billion, coming from powdered and liquid beverages, milk products and ice cream.
This is Dairy Foods' 20th annual list of the largest processors of dairy foods and beverages based in the U.S. and Canada. The Dairy 100 this year is comprised of 101 dairy processors because of a tie for No. 100. These 101 companies have combined annual sales of $114.2 billion.
Here’s the top 10 list (in order):
1. Nestlé USA, Oakland, Calif.
2. Dean Foods, Dallas, Texas
3. Saputo, Montreal, Quebec
4. Schreiber Foods, Green Bay, WIs.
5. Land O'Lakes Inc., Arden Hills, Minn.
6. Kraft Foods Global Inc., Northfield, Ill.
7. Agropur Cooperative, Longueuil, Quebec
8. Dairy Farmers of America Inc., Kansas City, Mo.
9. Lactalis USA, New York, N.Y.
10. Prairie Farms Dairy, Carlinville, Ill.
Lactalis USA cracked the top 10 due to its parent company’s acquisition of Italy’s Parmalat, which has a division in Canada. Lactalis USA and Parmalat Canada were listed separately in our previous report.
Nestlé is the largest publicly held processor on the list and No. 4 Schreiber Foods is the largest privately owned business. The top dairy co-op is No. 5 Land O'Lakes. Two other producer owned co-ops, Dairy Farmers of America and Prairie Farms Dairy, also made the top 10 list.
The list below shows the fastest-growing dairy processors, based on revenue growth from 2011 to 2012. The list excludes companies for which Dairy Foods estimated revenues.
Joseph Gallo Farms - 24%
Schreiber Foods - 22%
The Dannon Co. - 19%
Sargento Foods Inc. - 17%
Organic Valley - 16%
The YoFarm Co. - 15%
Clover Farms Dairy - 14%
Lifeway Foods - 13%
Franklin Foods - 13%
