The worldwide bread market is worth a whopping $38 billion!
China is responsible for $66.08 billion of that figure. And — in terms of population size — the US generates per person revenues of $49.68.
When we look at how many loaves of bread the US population eats, that figure starts to make a little more sense.
In a 2020 survey, over 90% of the US population reported having consumed at least one loaf of bread in the previous week. And 9.77 million Americans said they had consumed five packages of bread or more — in just one week!
The bread market is also expected to grow by a CAGR of 8.38% annually between 2022 and 2027. That’s due, in part, to growing demand for baked goods in new markets, like the Middle East and Africa.
The bread market is huge and still growing. And it’s largely up to big bakery businesses to satisfy the demand.
Here, we’ll take a look at the biggest bread companies globally, all running massive operations to get bread onto the tables of the world.
How does bread get from the bakery to the table?
So how does bread end up on our plates at mealtimes?
First up, bakeries take the raw ingredients used to make bread — flour, yeast, water, and salt — and then transform them into packaged goods, fit for grocery store shelves.
Then it’s time for distribution.
The biggest bread companies need the help of the biggest bread distributors to get their products from a factory to retail, restaurant, and other food service establishments.
Some bread companies have their own distribution arm, taking care of all their distribution needs. Others contract a third party to fulfill this part of the supply chain.
Frozen bread goods can be warehoused — transported from factory to warehouse to grocery store, for example.
But with fresh bread goods, time is of the essence. Distributors take bread from a manufacturer and sometimes deliver it straight to a retailer. This is known as direct store delivery or DSD.
The end result? Freshly baked bread for your customers, every day of the week.
Here at Buffalo Market, we specialize in distributing a range of specialty CPG products — including freshly baked bread — to retailers.
Want to find new products for your store shelves? Then get in touch to find out more.
What are the biggest bread companies?
Here we’ve put together a list of the biggest bread companies from across the world.
Some of these players dominate the market within their own country, and others have international and even cross-continental operations. All of them have impressive turnover and supply a wide range of retail locations.
Let’s take a look.
Mondelēz International
Annual revenue: Approx $29 billion
HQ location: USA
Reach: Products distributed to over 150 countries worldwide
The first on our list of the biggest bread companies in the world is Mondelēz.
Based in the USA, Mondelēz has 80,000 employees spread across 80 different countries, creating products for 150 different markets.
As well as bread, the company manufactures a range of baked products including cookies, crackers, pastries, and other snack foods.
Associated British Foods PLC
Annual revenue: Approx £3.6 billion (grocery division)
HQ location: UK
Reach: 53 countries across all continents
Associated British Foods was founded as Food Investments Limited back in 1935.
Nowadays, nine in ten UK consumers buy Associated British Foods brands. And the company has expanded its reach across the world.
Bakery brands under the Associated British Foods PLC umbrella include Allied Bakeries, Speedibake, and George Weston Foods.
Finsbury Food Group
Annual revenue: Approx £313.3 million
HQ location: UK
Reach: UK, Europe, and the Middle East
Another of the biggest bread companies based in the UK, Finsbury Food Group produces a diverse range of breads, cakes, and bakery snacks, from basic bread rolls to specialty artisan loaves.
As well as in the UK, the company has a strong presence in France, Norway, Switzerland, and Ireland. And it’s developing a presence in the Middle East and other European countries.
The organization’s most recent acquisition was Ultrapharm, a specialist gluten-free bakery, back in 2018.
Grupo Bimbo
Annual revenue: Approx $17.2 billion
HQ location: Mexico
Reach: 33 countries across the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa
Grupo Bimbo was founded in Mexico in 1945. Now, with over 134,000 employees and 196 plants, it is one of the biggest bread companies in the world.
The company makes bakery items, including fresh and frozen bread, along with English muffins, bagels, tortillas, cookies, and cakes. Retailers will also find healthy and organic baked goods available.
All in all, Grupo Bimbo offers a range of over 13,000 different products and 100 different brands.
Yamazaki Baking Co.
Annual revenue: Approx $9.583 billion
HQ location: Japan
Reach: Primarily Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. But the company is also building a presence in the US.
Yamazaki Baking Co. was established in Japan in 1948. It’s now a leading manufacturer of bread, baked goods, and confectionery.
Acquisitions have been a key part of the company’s growth strategy.
Yamazaki owns Vie de France in the US and Japan. It also acquired Bakewise Brands, parent of Fleischer’s Bagels and Tom Cat Bakery, in 2016.
Campbell Soup Company
Annual revenue: Approx $8.476 billion
HQ location: USA
Reach: North America, Europe, and Asia
Despite starting out in the soup-making business, Campbell Soup Company now offers so much more. Well-known Campbell brands can be found in 95% of American homes.
Since it was founded in 1869, Campbell’s has grown to become one of the biggest bread and grocery companies in the world, with 14,100 employees across North America.
It produces meals, beverages, and snacks as well as bread, via brands such as Pepperidge Farm, Milano, Lance, and many others.
Canada Bread
Annual revenue: Approx $1.3 billion
HQ location: Canada
Reach: Throughout Canada
In business for over a century, Canada Bread has long been supplying baked goods across Canada.
With 17 bakeries and 4,800 employees, Canada Bread succeeds in supplying fresh bread and other baked products to grocery stores every day of the week.
Products include sliced bread, buns, rolls, and tortillas. A gluten-free range is also available.
And whilst consumers may not be so familiar with the Canada Bread name, they’re sure to recognize its brands: Dempster’s, Villaggio, POM, Vachon, Stonemill, and Bon Matin, to name just a few.
Flowers Foods
Annual revenue: Approx $4.3 billion
HQ location: USA
Reach: Across the whole of the USA
Brands under the Flowers Foods umbrella reach an incredible 85% of the US population.
We’re talking Canyon Bakehouse, Wonder, Dave’s Killer Bread, Sunbeam Bread, Bunny Bread, Merita, Captain John Derst’s, Nature’s Own, Mi Casa, and many others.
The company was founded in the US in 1919. It’s now one of the biggest bread companies in the world, producing fresh and frozen bakery goods.
Retailers buy bread, rolls, buns, tortillas, and baked snacks from Flowers Foods, and will find a range of healthy, organic, and gluten-free options to choose from too.
Britannia Industries
Annual revenue: Approx $196 million
HQ location: India
Reach: A strong presence in India, the UAE, and Nepal but also operating in North American, European, African, and South East Asian markets.
Britannia Industries was established in India in 1892 and has grown to dominate the Indian bread market.
It currently sells close to one million loaves every day, across more than 100 cities and towns in India, reaching 50% of Indian homes.
The company has also expanded internationally, selling its bread, biscuits, cakes, and dairy products to more than 60 other countries.
Harry Brot
Annual revenue: Approx €1.09 billion
HQ location: Germany
Reach: Throughout Germany
Far and away the oldest bread company on this list, Harry Brot was founded all the way back in 1688.
This bakery business is now the market leader for bread and baked goods in Germany.
A team of 4,790 employees helps to ensure fresh bread gets delivered to 12,200 shops and 10,000 in-store bakeries every day.
From spelt sandwich loaves to artisanal breads, to bake-at-home and frozen baked products, Harry Brot covers all bases for the German market.
Barilla Group
Annual revenue: Approx $4 billion
HQ location: Italy
Reach: More than 100 countries worldwide, with a strong presence in Europe
Brothers Guido, Luca, and Paolo are at the helm of this huge corporation, started by their great grandfather back in 1877.
What started as a small pasta and bread shop in Parma, Italy, has become one of the biggest bread companies in the world.
Barilla produces a range of grocery products including bread, pasta, and baked snacks. It employs 8,000 people across 28 production sites. Popular bread brands include Mulino Bianco and Harrys.
Warburtons
Annual revenue: Approx £567.9 million
HQ location: UK
Reach: Throughout the UK
Warburtons bakery was founded in 1876 in the UK and is now the biggest bakery brand in the country.
It’s still a family-run business but, now in the bakery game for well over a century, the company counts 5,000 employees and produces over 2 million bakery products every day.
There are over 70 baked goods on the Warburtons production line, including bread, English muffins, crumpets, teacakes, tortilla wraps, and fruit loaves. Gluten-free and wheat-free varieties are also available.
Arytza
Annual revenue: Approx €1.525 billion
HQ location: Switzerland
Reach: Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand
Arytza sold its operations in North America back in 2021. But it is still one of the biggest bread companies in the world, thanks to its dominance in the European market.
With a local approach, Arytza aims to create bakery products — including bread, pizzas, and baked snacks — that meet the needs and expectations of each individual market.
Brands under the Arytza umbrella include Pré Pain, Mette Munk, Cuisine de France, and Le Brea Bakery.
Want to stock a slightly smaller bread company?
These big bread companies are the world’s go-to when it comes to stocking large, chain retail shelves.
But what if your retail establishment doesn’t operate on that scale?
If you want to work with smaller bread makers, closer to home, there are plenty of small-scale and artisanal bakeries to choose from.
And a bread distributor like Buffalo Market can help get that fresh bread from the baker straight to you.
If you need help with a slightly smaller distribution operation, Buffalo Market is the place for you! We are experts in good for you, good for the planet CPGs and distribution.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help with all your CPG and distribution needs.
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