The Global Dairy Top 20, Rabobank’s latest annual survey of the world’s largest dairy companies, highlights the giants of one of the most valuable food sectors on the globe. “While the names of the world’s 20 largest dairy companies will be familiar to industry followers, the order saw something of a shakeup compared to 12 months prior”, says Rabobank Global Dairy Strategist Tim Hunt.
Nestlé remained at the top of the table, but Lactalis edged into second position for the first time, ahead of Danone, while Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) pushed into the top five.
Currency shifts impacted company rankings, but also highlighted the deterioration of economic growth and near-term growth prospects for dairy in many emerging markets, along with enhancing the buying power of US and Chinese companies.
Faced with slowing growth at home, Chinese companies may need to harness that improved spending power if they are to continue to rise up the ranks at the pace they have achieved over the last decade.
