Coverage of our 24th annual ranking of the largest dairy processors in North America is available here. Nestle USA once again heads the list and Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery holds down the No. 100 spot.

The state of North America’s dairy industry is constantly in motion. Since our last report, dairies have been on an acquisition spree. And the deals kept happening even after we finished tabulating the 2016 revenues of the 100 largest dairy processing companies based in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Just as Dairy Foods was wrapping up its research into the 100 largest dairy processors in North America, the French dairy giant Danone announced it was buying Colorado-based WhiteWave Foods, a processor of organic dairy and plant-based beverages.

Dairy processor Dean Foods Co. said adjusted net sales in 2015 fell to $8.1 billion from $9.5 billion in 2014. Net income was $115.3 million in 2015.

"In U.S. Retail, our Yoplait yogurt business returned to growth, with volume, sales, and market share gains,” said General Mills Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ken Powell in a statement today. 

Dairy Foods has enhanced its 2014 report of the largest dairy processors. Visitors to the 2014 Dairy 100 can link to company websites directly from the listing. We have also provided links to annual reports and other financial information for publicly held dairy processors.

Nestlé (based in Switzerland), Saputo (Canada) and Dean Foods (Dallas) are the three largest dairy processors in North America, according to the 21st annual Dairy 100.

Agropur, Canada's largest dairy cooperative, is acquiring Davisco Foods International, a U.S.-based cheese and dairy ingredients company.