Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing Industry Profile

Companies in this industry make ready-to-serve packaged cereal and cereals such as oatmeal and farina that must be cooked prior to eating. Major companies include General Mills, Kellogg, Post Consumer Brands, Quaker (owned by PepsiCo), and TreeHouse Foods (all based in the US); along with Cereal Partners Worldwide, a joint venture between General Mills and Nestlé (Switzerland) and The Jordans & Ryvita Company (the UK).

The global breakfast cereals market amounts to about $82 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow annually by 5.7% (CAGR 2024-2028), according to Statista. In global comparison, the US generated the most revenue in 2024.

The US breakfast cereal manufacturing industry includes about 85 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $10 billion. This industry does not include companies that primarily manufacture granola bars, breakfast bars, or packaged cereal snacks.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by demographics and health considerations, particularly the attitudes of busy families and working professionals toward the first meal of the day. The profitability of individual companies depends on managing raw material costs, operating efficiently, and maximizing retail shelf space. Large companies have advantages in purchasing, distribution, and marketing. Small operations can compete effectively by manufacturing cereals that emphasize organic or healthful ingredients. The US industry is highly concentrated: the top four companies account for about 80% of revenue.

Import and export markets for cereal ...