When we think of massive food brands, the ones that come to mind – Kellogg’s or Quaker, say – are actually just the tip of the global iceberg. You might be surprised to learn that just a handful of the world’s biggest food brands are U.S.-based – and there are a number that you’ve quite possibly never even heard of. (Food and otherwise, here are some classic American brands now owned by foreign companies.) 

The world’s largest food brands achieve that standing for a variety of reasons. Some have spent decades buying out competitors and cornering a specific market – Tyson with chicken (and, surprisingly, also with beef), for example – while others are parent companies to brands and products sold worldwide, like Lay’s, which owns snack brands from Rold Gold to Doritos.  

To compile a list of the 10 most valuable food brands in the world, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a global ranking by Brand Finance, a brand and business valuation consultancy that publishes more than 100 rankings a year. Brand Finance defines “brand” as the “Trademark and associated IP including the word mark and trademark iconography.” 

Click here to learn about the most valuable food brands in the world

The next time you find yourself staring at a wall of snack food or breakfast cereal at the supermarket, realize that many of those products are owned by the same brands – and those brands might be among the most valuable on earth. (These are the biggest grocery store chains in North America.)