Introduction
PLUNKETT'S FOOD INDUSTRY ALMANAC,
the second edition of our guide to the food field, is designed
as a general source for researchers of all types.
The data and areas of interest covered
are intentionally broad, ranging from the various aspects of
the food and beverage industry, to emerging technology, to an
in-depth look at the 400 major firms (which we call “THE
FOOD 400”) within the many segments that make
up the food industry.
This reference book is designed to
be a general source for researchers. It is especially intended
to assist with market research, strategic planning, employment
searches, contact or prospect list creation (be sure to see
the export capabilities of the accompanying CD-ROM that is available
to book and eBook buyers) and financial research, and as a data
resource for executives and students of all types.
PLUNKETT'S FOOD INDUSTRY
ALMANAC takes a rounded approach for the general reader.
This book presents a complete overview of the food field (see
“How To Use This Book”). For example, sales trends
in the U.S. and abroad are discussed, as well as the power of
Wal-Mart in the grocery sector, changes in distribution and
new technology within the scope of the industry.
THE FOOD 400 is
our unique grouping of the biggest, most successful corporations
in all segments of the food industry. Tens of thousands of pieces
of information, gathered from a wide variety of sources, have
been researched and are presented in a unique form that can
be easily understood. This section includes thorough indexes
to THE FOOD 400, by geography, industry, sales,
brand names, subsidiary names and many other topics. (See Chapter
4.)
Especially helpful is the way in
which PLUNKETT’S FOOD INDUSTRY ALMANAC enables
readers who have no business background to readily compare the
financial records and growth plans of food companies and major
industry groups. You’ll see the mid-term financial record
of each firm, along with the impact of earnings, sales and strategic
plans on each company’s potential to fuel growth, to serve
new markets and to provide investment and employment opportunities.
No other source provides this book’s
easy-to-understand comparisons of growth, expenditures, technologies,
corporations and many other items of great importance to people
of all types who may be studying this basic global industry.
By scanning the data groups and the
unique indexes, you can find the best information to fit your
personal research needs. The major companies in food and beverages
are profiled and then ranked using several different groups
of specific criteria. Which firms are the biggest employers?
Which companies earn the most profits? These things and much
more are easy to find.
In addition to individual company
profiles, an overview of food technology and its trends is provided.
This book’s job is to help you sort through easy-to-understand
summaries of today’s trends in a quick and effective manner.
Whatever your purpose for researching
the food field, you’ll find this book to be a valuable
guide. Nonetheless, as is true with all resources, this volume
has limitations that the reader should be aware of:
• Financial data and other
corporate information can change quickly. A book of this type
can be no more current than the data that was available as of
the time of editing. Consequently, the financial picture, management
and ownership of the firm(s) you are studying may have changed
since the date of this book. For example, this almanac includes
the most up-to-date sales figures and profits available to the
editors as of early 2005. That means that we have typically
used corporate financial data as of mid-2004.
• Corporate mergers, acquisitions and downsizing are occurring
at a very rapid rate. Such events may have created significant
change, subsequent to the publishing of this book, within a
company you are studying.
• Some of the companies in
THE FOOD 400 are so large in scope and in variety of business
endeavors conducted within a parent organization, that we have
been unable to completely list all subsidiaries, affiliations,
divisions and activities within a firm’s corporate structure.
• This volume is intended
to be a general guide to a vast industry. That means that researchers
should look to this book for an overview and, when conducting
in-depth research, should contact the specific corporations
or industry associations in question for the very latest changes
and data. Where possible, we have listed contact names, toll-free
telephone numbers and World Wide Web site addresses for the
companies, government agencies and industry associations involved
so that the reader may get further details without unnecessary
delay.
• Tables of industry data and statistics used in this
book include the latest numbers available at the time of printing,
generally through mid-2004. In a few cases, the only complete
data available was for earlier years.
• We have used exhaustive efforts to locate and fairly
present accurate and complete data. However, when using this
book or any other source for business and industry information,
the reader should use caution and diligence by conducting further
research where it seems appropriate. We wish you success in
your endeavors, and we trust that your experience with this
book will be both satisfactory and productive.
