Anheuser-Busch, Nestlé, PepsiCo top Forbes list of world’s most powerful companies

According to the 2018 Forbes Global 2000—the magazine’s annual and comprehensive list of the world’s most powerful public companies as measured by a composite score of revenue, profit, assets, and market value—Anheuser-Busch, Nestlé, and PepsiCo are the top three food and drink companies in the world.

Anheuser-Busch jumped 85 spots to No. 41 on the 2018 Global 2000 thanks to its $56 billion in revenue and $7.9 billion in profit recorded in the 12 months ending on May 11. The improvement was good enough to put the beer giant at the top of the food and beverage sector, breaking Nestlé’s winning streak and bumping the chocolate, coffee, and ice cream conglomerate to No. 2 in the food and drink sector. Despite growth plays Nestlé made last year—like its acquiring of a majority stake in roaster Blue Bottle Coffee—the company dropped 14 spots to No. 48 overall on the Global 2000. On a year-over-year basis its revenue remained stable at $91 billion, but its profit slipped to $7.3 billion (compared to the $8.6 billion in profit it recorded in the period analyzed for the 2017 Global 2000).

Coming in at No. 3 for the sector and No. 102 overall is PepsiCo. At the end of 2017, the company said that its “better for you” and “good for you” categories (which contain products like Quaker Oats, Sabrahummus, and Naked Juice) now account for 50% of its product offerings, up from about 38% 10 years ago. This shift translated to $64 billion in revenue and $4.9 billion in profit for the 12 months ending on May 11.

Coca-Cola recorded one of the biggest drops for a food and drink company on the Global 2000, dropping to No. 209 overall from No. 86 in 2017. However, the beverage giant came in at No. 7 in the food and drink sector.

2018 Forbes Global 2000