You see, dairy products are something that we all use every single day, and those dairy products you bought must have come from somewhere, right? Well, if you are lucky, you can get some dairy products from the local market, like authentic, without any additives, just pure dairy goodness, you know? But we live in a place where packaged dairy products are all that most of us can get, right? And that’s precisely where dairy companies’ role comes into play, and that’s exactly the topic for today’s post. But not just any dairy companies, we’ll actually be talking about the top 10 biggest dairy companies in the world as of 2024. So yeah, let’s get to just that.
Largest Dairy Companies In The World
1. Lactalis
First up, we’ve got Lactalis, straight out of France, leading the pack with a whopping €27.2 billion turnover. Picture this: a small start in 1933 by a guy named André Besnier in a French town called Laval, with just 35 liters of milk a day. Now, fast forward to today, and they’re the biggest name in dairy worldwide. How cool is that? Lactalis isn’t just about milk though, they’ve got a whole range of stuff like cheese, butter, and drinks under big names like Président and Galbani. Their secret sauce? Sticking to top-notch quality and smartly buying up other companies to grow big, like Jalna Dairy Foods and a fresh dairy division in Germany.
2. Dairy Farmers of America
Taking the silver medal is Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a group effort from the USA, boasting a €23.3 billion turnover. Think of it as a super-duper team-up of over 12,500 dairy farmers since 1998. This cooperative setup means the farmers handle everything from milking cows to getting milk products out there, keeping everything top-quality. DFA’s got a big menu that includes all sorts of milk, cheese, and ingredients, reaching customers far and wide. Their growth story? It’s all about staying flexible and true to their farmer roots.
3. Nestlé
Now, who hasn’t heard of Nestlé? This Swiss giant, with roots going back to 1866 thanks to Henri Nestlé, isn’t just in the game, they’re playing to win with a turnover of €22.1 billion in the dairy sector. Starting off with a game-changer in baby food, Nestlé now has a finger in every pie, with dairy favorites like Carnation and Coffee-Mate. What makes them stand out though? Their dedication to keeping us healthy and pushing the envelope on innovation, making sure they’re always where the consumers are. Despite juggling a massive range of products, Nestlé holds its ground in dairy, proving they’re all about evolving and meeting our needs.
4. Danone
Now, here’s a name you’ve probably heard a zillion times, Danone. With a whopping €20.1 billion turning the wheels, it’s sitting pretty at number four globally. Born in Spain in 1919 before saying ‘Hola’ to France as its new home, Danone’s been all about keeping things healthy. Whether it’s their yogurts or plant-based goodies under big names like Activia, Actimel, and Alpro, they’re all about getting those good vibes through food. They’re not just talking the talk though, they’re walking the walk with their huge push for a greener planet. Danone’s mixing up the perfect recipe: health, planet love, and a nice chunk of profits, making them big shots in the dairy and plant-based scenes.
5. Yili
Cruising into the top five, we’ve got Yili Group from China, boasting a cool €17.3 billion in turnover. Kickstarting its journey in 1956, Yili’s not just a household name back home, nah man, it’s taken the world stage by storm. From your morning milk to that creamy ice cream treat, Yili’s got it all. What’s their secret sauce? They’re all in on innovation, top-notch quality, and really getting what tickles consumers’ taste buds, especially in a bustling market like China.
Also See: Top 10 Popular Ice Cream Brands In The World
6. Arla Foods
Now, this giant’s story is rooted deep in the Scandinavian love for dairy, backed by a hefty €13.8 billion turnover. What makes Arla stand out though? It’s owned by the folks who get up at dawn to milk the cows, yeah, the dairy farmers. Arla’s more than just a company, in reality though, it is more like a big and happy community of everyone who’s there to produce, process, and then stack those dairy products on the shelves of your nearby supermarket. And yes, it is pretty much safe to say, or we must say it that Arla Foods is kinda like the pioneers in stuff like green packaging and cutting down those pesky carbon footprints, you know? So yeah, next time you’re spreading some Lurpak on your toast or enjoying a slice of Castello cheese, remember, you’re tasting success backed by a commitment to sustainability and a nod to tradition.
7. FrieslandCampina
Coming in at number seven is FrieslandCampina, a name that you’d be able to recognize if you live in the Netherlands, you know? This one you see, is at number seven with a mind-boggling turnover of €13.7 billion, which is literally HUGE. And as you may already know the Netherlands is known for the best cows in the world, so no wonder why this company has made it to this list. But yeah, FrieslandCampina isn’t just limited to one nation, they’re kinda global, selling those highly nutritious and quality dairy products to other parts of the world too.
8. Mengniu
Now, Mengniu is the second Chinese company on this list, which says a lot about how good of a dairy business is down there, you know? And just like FrieslandCampina, Mengniu is also sitting pretty in this biggest dairy companies’ list with a huge turnover of nearly €13.7 billion. But the thing with this dairy company is that the people behind the scenes know how to run this using tech advancements, and that’s pretty much all they’re doing, while mixing the traditional way of milk production with the newer and more effective ways, you know?
9. Fonterra
Now, as you may already know, New Zealand is known for those lush, green, and stunning grass fields where most of their cows munch all day long, right? Looking at that, you can already have a good idea of how good their dairy scene is going to be, correct? Well, that’s pretty much how it is, and the huge turnover of more than €13.4 billion proves just that. The thing about Fonterra’s dairy products is that, they’re filled with nutrition to the fullest, and that’s precisely what is the secret to this company’s incredible success, you know?
10. Saputo
You thought we were done here? Nah! And how could we though, especially when there is a company like Saputo that we must talk about? Alright, we know, this one is last, but keep in mind, it is no less impressive with that cool €13.0 billion in turnover. You want delicious and nutritious cheese? Milk? Or Any other dairy product? If yes, Saputo is one such brand or company you can trust, especially if you live in the western part of the world because Saputo is actually a Canadian company.
Conclusion
That’s all for now. So yeah, as long as you are sticking with any of these companies listed in today’s post, you know you are getting the quality stuff, you know? And we don’t know what you’ll do with the information we shared about these dairy companies, but we hope it was useful to you.
Brandon is the cheif editor and writer at WorldUnfolds.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen editorial eye, he crafts engaging content that captivates and enlightens readers worldwide.
