Which are the world’s 10 biggest broiler producers?

Learn which are the world’s largest chicken meat producers and just how much they produce each year.

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The 10 leading broiler producers in the world, combined, slaughter 13,081 million chickens per annum, according to data from the World’s Top Poultry Companies Database. By number of head slaughtered, these 10 companies alone account for over 48% of all the chickens slaughtered by the 50 biggest poultry producing businesses in the world.

Some of these leading producers can trace their roots back to the nineteenth century, while others, in comparison, are relative newcomers, emerging as recently as the 1990s. Some have global reach, while others are more regionally, or nationally, focused, and, also where geography is concerned, all are in either the Americas or Asia.

While at first glance, overtaking some of these companies would seem almost impossible given their high production volumes, size is no guarantee of survival either in our rankings or the global market. The world is constantly changing, and businesses emerge and disappear. Since the last top 50 was compiled from the World’s Top Poultry Companies Database, Sanderson Farms, of the U.S., in eighth position in the database’s most recent ranking, has been purchased by a joint venture between Cargill and Continental Grains. This will certainly affect its position when the rankings are next compiled.

1. JBS S.A. 

JBS S.A., of Brazil, is by far and away the largest broiler producer in the world. Slaughtering 4,426 million birds annually, it stands head and shoulders above its competitors.

The São Paulo-based multinational can trace its history back over 70 years to a small slaughter business with a capacity to slaughter five head of livestock a day. It is now the largest animal protein company in the world, producing, in addition to poultry, beef, swine and sheep, and is the second largest food company.

Various acquisitions and investments have resulted in it having operations in 15 countries around the world, with a product portfolio ranging from fresh and frozen meats to prepared meals. Beyond its immediate food operations, the company also operates in related businesses, such as leather, biodiesel and transport.

Within Brazil, its Seara division is responsible for poultry, pork and processed foods and exports to over 140 markets around the world. In 2021, a significant modernization of the division was announced.

Further afield, the company produces processed chicken products in the U.S., Mexico and Europe with its Pilgrim’s Pride business.


Tyson TonganoxieTyson is thought to sell into over 115 markets around the world. Courtesy Tyson.

 

2. Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods, of the U.S., slaughters 1,900 million birds annually, making it the second-largest producer of broiler meat in the world.

The international food company, based in Springdale, Arkansas, is a leader in the production of chicken, beef and pork as well as prepared foods. In addition to supplying its home market, the company is thought to sell into 115 countries around the world.

Latest figures from the World’s Top Poultry Companies Database, show that its broiler sales increased slightly in 2021 to reach US$13.7 billion. The same year, the company announced numerous investments in its broiler operations, ranging from a new cooked chicken facility through to robotics with artificial intelligence for chicken processing.


Perdigao Truck2023 will by the 10th anniversary of BRF, formed through the merger of food companies Perdigão and Sadia. Courtesy BRF.

 

3. BRF

The world’s third-largest broiler meat producer also hails from Brazil, and slaughters 1,732 million birds annually.

The global food company’s product portfolio comprises fresh to frozen meats. Its processed products include chicken, turkey, beef and frozen ready meals, among others. The company’s offering is broad and includes, for example, products as diverse as cream cheese and animal feed.

BRF can trace its origins back over 80 years and has established operations beyond its home market in the Americas, Middle East, Asia and Africa, employing 90,000 people around the world.

4. Wen's Food Group

China’s Wen’s Food Group, established in the early 1980s, slaughters 1,101 million broiler each year, making it the world’s fourth largest producer. Headquartered in Yunfu City, Wen’s is the result of the consolidation of more than 326 companies and sells into 20 provinces in its home market. The company produces broilers, ducks and geese, is one of China’s largest pork producers, and is also active in the egg, sheep and fish industries. It also supplies dairy products.

5. Wellhope Agri-Tech

China’s Wellhope Agri-Tech, slaughtering 695 million birds per annum, is ranked fifth in the world for broiler production. The company was established as recently as 1995 and operates out of Shenyang City. Originally set up as a feed and raw materials business, in addition to broilers, Wellhope now raises swine, is active in meat processing and sells smart farming equipment. The company sells into 32 provinces within its home market and is active in 22 export markets.


Cp Chicken Saudi ArabiaCPF restarted shipments of chicken to Saudi Arabia last year following the lifting of an 18-year ban on Thai chicken exports. Courtesy CP Foods.

 

6. CP Group

Thailand’s Bangkok-based CP Group is the world’s sixth-largest poultry producer slaughtering 685 million head. It is the major shareholder in CP Foods, an extensive network of agrifood holdings operating primarily in Asia and Europe. CP Foods is active in the broiler, duck, layer and swine sectors as well as in aquaculture. Its vertically integrated businesses include the manufacture of animal feed, animal breeding, meat and food processing. The company was established in the early 1920s and has since expanded to be present in 21 countries around the world. In addition to producing poultry in its home market, the company also has poultry operations in Russia, India, Vietnam and Turkey.


Koch FoodsPrivately held Koch Foods employs over 13,000 people. Courtesy Pas Reform.

 

7. Koch Foods Inc.

Koch Foods Inc, of Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S., slaughters 655 million chickens per annum. The company was established in 1985 as a one room chicken deboning and cutting operation with 13 employees. Since then, it is has grown to employ 14,000 staff and has operations across six states.

In 2021, Koch Foods produced over 60.7 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken on a weekly basis and recorded sales of US$3.8 billion. 55% of the company’s sales goes to foodservice, 15% to retail, 15% to institutions while 15% is sold overseas. Frozen chicken accounts for 75% of sales with the remainder being fresh. The company sells under the brand Koch Foods, and also supplies private label.

Wayne Sanderson LargeSanderson Farms is now Wayne-Sanderson Farms, following its purchase via a joint venture. Courtesy Wayne-Sanderson Farms.

 

8. Sanderson Farms Inc.

Sanderson Farms, of the U.S., slaughtered 635 million birds annually, prior to becoming Wayne-Sanderson farms last year. Founded as a general feed and seed business in 1947, the company was purchased by a joint venture between Cargill and Continental Grains in mid-2022, which resulted in the U.S.’s third largest poultry producer merging with the country’s seventh-largest, Continental’s Wayne Farms, to become Wayne-Sanderson.

In 2021, Sanderson Farms produced almost 94.6 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken per week. The same year, it recorded sales of US$4.8 billion. 58% of the company’s business came from foodservice, 33% from retail and 8% from exports. The company sold under the brand Sanderson Farms and had 18,000 employees.

 Bachoco Packaged ChickenMexico’s Industria’s Bachoco moved into chicken processing in the early 1970s having started as an egg business. Benjamín Ruiz

 

9. Industrias Bachoco S.A.

Mexico’s Industrias Bachoco slaughters 627 million birds per annum. In addition to chicken, it produces swine and ranks among the world’s 15 largest egg producers. The Celaya-headquartered company has over 1,000 production and distribution facilities organized into nine complexes throughout Mexico. In the U.S., the company owns OK Foods and Morris hatchery.

Bachoco was established as an egg business in the early 1950s and started chicken processing in the early 1970s. It also produces turkeys and pigs and made its first overseas sales in 2010.


Cargill Plant Ever NuggetsLike many other companies, Cargill is venturing into plant-based protein. Courtesy Cargill

 

10. Cargill

The oldest company in our top 10, Minneapolis-based Cargill, slaughters 625 million birds. Founded in 1865, the company is active in food, agriculture, finance and industry. Poultry operations include Cargill China, Cargill Meats Asia, Cargill Meats Europe, Cargill Protein (U.S. turkey) and Cargill Protein Latin America.

Recent activities in its poultry operations, include setting up primary processing in its integrated poultry complex in Anhui Province, China; the opening of a further processing facility in China; expansion of capacity in China and the purchase of Sanderson Farms, U.S., via a joint venture, resulting in the creation of Wayne-Sanderson.


To learn more about the world’s leading poultry meat and egg producers, visit:

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