The food processing industry in California encompasses a diverse array of companies each offering unique products and services. These firms are integral market leaders in areas such as dairy manufacturing, nut distribution and metal food containers. Each organization pushes for excellence, innovation, and quality in their products, ranging from tasty snacks to commercial cheeses or unique food containers. Given the dynamic and evolving consumer trends, the industry is leaning towards adopting sustainable practices, embracing technology and delivering healthier food options. This industry provides a panoramic view of the food system, from field to table, sharpening our understanding of the future of food in California and beyond.


Top 21 food processing companies in California

1. Silgan Containers

Silgan Containers is a company that specializes in manufacturing metal food containers. They offer a wide range of products including 3-Piece Welded Cans, 2-Piece DRD Steel and Aluminum Cans, 2-Piece D&I Hybrid Cans, and more. Their containers are designed to seal in nutrition, freshness, and flavor. Silgan Containers also provides customer services, training, and equipment services to support their products.


2. Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is a dairy manufacturer that offers commercial cheeses for private label, regional, and national brand packagers.


3. Blue Diamond Growers

  • Website: bluediamond.com
  • Headquarters: Sacramento, California, United States
  • Founded: 1910
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • LinkedIn

Blue Diamond is a company that specializes in the production and distribution of high-quality almond products. With a history of over 100 years, they offer a range of snacks, including almond nuts and nut-thins, as well as almond milk and blends. Their products are crafted by passionate growers, ensuring exceptional flavor and quality.


4. Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds is an industry leader in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and specializes in on-site quality testing, field sanitation, and product integrity. They are committed to sustainability and giving back to the community. Their products include pistachios and almonds, which are grown and processed to provide healthier options for consumers.


5. BakeMark

  • Website: bakemark.com
  • Headquarters: Pico Rivera, California, United States
  • Founded: 1909
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn

BakeMark is a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality bakery ingredients, products, supplies, and service. With over 200 years of experience, they offer a complete line of bakery mixes, fillings & icings, glazes, donut sugar, and frozen goods. They also provide flour, sugar, shortening, dairy & egg, packaging & supplies, and gourmet chocolate through their exclusive brands. BakeMark is committed to delivering exceptional value to the baking and food industry.


6. Ruiz Foods

  • Website: elmonterey.com
  • Headquarters: Dinuba, California, United States
  • Founded: 1964
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • LinkedIn

El Monterey® is a frozen Mexican food company that offers a wide range of products including burritos, chimichangas, taquitos, snacks, breakfast items, and signature entrees.


7. Lyons Magnus

Lyons Magnus is a leader in the foodservice industry, offering quality products with innovative packaging. They cater to the needs of the Foodservice, Ingredient, and International customers. Their website provides product information, new product introductions, promotions, menu ideas, and recipe suggestions. They also have a dedicated healthcare category with an extensive line of products and information. Lyons Magnus strives to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the food and beverage industry.


8. Stanislaus Food Products

Stanislaus Food Products is a 75-year-old family-owned company specializing in fresh-packing high-quality tomatoes and Italian sauces for Italian restaurants and pizzerias across the US and Canada.


9. The Morning Star Company

Morning Star is a tomato processing and packing company that provides a wide range of tomato products to the food service and retail trade. With three processing facilities located in California's Central Valley, Morning Star is the largest producer of ingredient tomato paste and diced tomatoes in the world. They are actively involved in the global tomato industry and have pioneered changes in production technology to increase efficiencies. Their mission is to produce high-quality tomato products in an environmentally responsible manner.


10. Golden West Food Group

  • Website: gwfg.com
  • Headquarters: Vernon, California, United States
  • Founded: 1970
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn

Golden West Food Group is a premium manufacturer and distributor of high-quality fine food products. They offer a vast array of raw, cooked, fresh, and frozen products, including classic favorites and innovative plant-based alternatives. Their culinary professionals utilize the latest processing and cooking technologies, such as kettle and pressure cooking, spiral and linear ovens, steaming, grilling, frying, smoking, and high-pressure pasteurization. Golden West is a one-stop food solution for customers.


11. Caro Nut

  • Website: caro-nut.com
  • Headquarters: Fresno, California, United States
  • Founded: 2008
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Latest funding type: Debt Financing
  • LinkedIn

Caro Nut Company is a global provider of high-quality tree nut products, specializing in innovation and sustainability. With state-of-the-art facilities in California, they offer a wide range of tree nut products for diverse marketplaces, including retail, private label, and industrial/ingredient nuts. Caro Nut Company prides itself on sourcing the best quality nuts and supporting their customers with forward-thinking solutions.


12. Casa Herrera, Inc.

Casa Herrera is a leading designer and manufacturer of custom machinery for the production of corn and flour tortillas, chips, tostadas, taco shells, and other ethnic foods. With six decades of experience, they provide their customers around the world with top-quality equipment and reliable service.


13. Wawona Frozen Foods

  • Website: wawona.com
  • Headquarters: Clovis, California, United States
  • Founded: 1963
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • LinkedIn

Wawona Frozen Foods specializes in growing and freezing fresh fruit, offering consumer-packaged products for retail supermarkets, club stores, and convenience stores. They produce a range of America's favorite fruits, including peaches, strawberries, pears, plums, and mixed fruit blends, meeting the highest quality standards. Their premium fruits are also popular in school meal programs, providing variety, economy, and nutrition. With a focus on food safety, Wawona upholds the highest standards while delivering flavorful and nutritious frozen fruit products. They are known for their quality, consistency, and excellent service.


14. Jensen Meat Company

  • Website: jensenmeat.com
  • Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
  • Founded: 1958
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • LinkedIn

Jensen Meat is a food manufacturing company that specializes in high-quality ground beef products. With over 60 years of experience, the company offers a wide range of retail and food-service products, including individually quick-frozen (IQF) and fresh patties in various shapes and lean/fat ratios. Jensen Meat prioritizes food safety and efficiency in its operations, delivering safe and delicious products to its customers.


15. Maf Industries

MAF Industries is a company that specializes in providing cutting-edge technology and equipment for the fruit and vegetable industry. They offer innovative solutions for sorting, grading, packing, and palletizing produce, helping to streamline operations and improve efficiency. With a focus on quality and safety, MAF Industries is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of their customers in the agricultural sector.


16. Fresh Innovations California, LLC

  • Website: fresh-innovations.com
  • Headquarters: Stockton, California, United States
  • Founded: 2001
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Fresh Innovations California, LLC specializes in fresh, healthy and delicious cut produce. They have been slicing and packaging great quality organic and conventional produce for over 20 years.


17. Ocean Direct, LLC

Ocean Direct is a seafood company that manufactures a diverse range of high-quality fin-fish, shellfish, and breaded seafood. They are committed to meeting the highest industry standards and offer custom packing services.


18. Stapleton-Spence Packing Company

Stapleton-Spence is a family-run company that offers a wide range of quality locally grown fruit products. With a focus on prunes, raisins, and fruit juices, they provide private labeling, packaging, and distribution services. Since 1951, they have been preserving prunes without chemical preservatives, making them the largest packer of private label canned prunes in the Foodservice industry.


19. American Food Ingredients

American Food Ingredients is a company that specializes in dehydrated vegetables. They offer a wide range of customized packaging and labeling options, as well as personalized customer service and technical support.


20. MPBS Industries

  • Website: mpbs.com
  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Founded: 1938
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

MPBS Industries is a supplier of food processing, packaging and butchery supplies equipment like meat grinders, bowl choppers, commercial mixers, and vacuum tumblers, and also provides equipment maintenance and training.


21. Alpaq Seafood Processing Pte Ltd

  • Website: alpaqgroup.com
  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Founded: 2004
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Alpaq Group is a trusted distributor of fresh and frozen seafood products in Singapore. They offer customization of seafood processing methods and packaging, as well as cold chain management of processed seafood products to establishments and organizations.


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