The dairy industry plays a vital role in providing essential nutrients to people all over the world. With advancements in technology and a growing global population, the demand for milk and milk products has been on the rise.
The global dairy industry is valued at around $600 billion, with a projected growth rate of 2.5% annually. The industry includes milk production, processing, and distribution of various dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream. The industry is highly concentrated, with a few major players dominating the market.
Factors that drive the growth of the industry include population growth, urbanization, and changing consumer preferences towards dairy-based products. However, the industry faces challenges such as fluctuating milk prices, changing consumer preferences towards plant-based alternatives, and increased competition from non-dairy products.
The largest dairy companies around the world:
- Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd. – Headquartered in New Zealand, Fonterra is the world’s largest exporter of dairy products and one of the largest dairy companies globally, with revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020.
- Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) – Based in the United States, DFA is a milk marketing cooperative that supplies milk to major dairy processors and brands. It had a revenue of $14.6 billion in 2020.
- Lactalis Group – A French dairy company, Lactalis is one of the largest dairy companies in the world, with a revenue of $15.8 billion in 2020. The company produces a wide range of dairy products including milk, cheese, and yogurt.
- Arla Foods – Headquartered in Denmark, Arla Foods is a cooperative owned by dairy farmers in Sweden, Denmark, the UK, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The company generated revenue of $13.2 billion in 2020.
- Saputo Inc. – A Canadian dairy company, Saputo is one of the largest dairy processors in the world, with a revenue of $9.4 billion in 2020. The company produces a wide range of dairy products including milk, cheese, and butter.
- FrieslandCampina – A Dutch dairy company, FrieslandCampina is one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the world, with a revenue of $9.3 billion in 2020. The company produces a wide range of dairy products including milk, cheese, and yogurt.
- Nestlé S.A. – A Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate, Nestle is one of the largest dairy companies in the world, with a revenue of $91.4 billion in 2020. The company produces a wide range of dairy products including milk, cheese, and yogurt.
- Danone – A French multinational food-products corporation, Danone is one of the largest dairy companies in the world, with a revenue of $27.5 billion in 2020. The company produces a wide range.