The food manufacturing industry in Illinois is thriving with a diverse array of companies that produce everything from packaging solutions, baked goods to candy treats. These organizations are committed to maintaining high quality standards and operational efficiency while creating a variety of food solutions that delight the palate and connect people. This spectrum of companies includes multinational corporations, private enterprises, and innovative start-ups. As a bustling hub for food innovation, Illinois' food manufacturing sector is set on a path to drive future trends and meet dynamic consumer demands.


Top 23 food manufacturing companies in Illinois

1. Pactiv Evergreen Inc.

  • Website: pactivevergreen.com
  • Headquarters: Lake Forest, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 2020
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Latest funding type: Ipo
  • LinkedIn

Pactiv Evergreen is a company that offers a broad array of containers, drinkware, tableware, and trays in various sizes and materials. They also design and manufacture state-of-the-art gable top packaging equipment. Their packaging solutions aim to protect freshness and drive impulse sales.


2. Hearthside Food Solutions

  • Website: hearthsidefoods.com
  • Headquarters: Downers Grove, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 2009
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Hearthside Foods is a leading food solutions company, specializing in large-scale production and operational efficiency. They manufacture a wide range of high-quality food products, including bars, baking goods, fresh and frozen foods. With a world-class safety record and a dedication to continuous improvement, Hearthside Foods is the trusted partner for leading brands.


3. Ferrara

  • Website: ferrarausa.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 1908
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Ferrara Candy Company is a candy manufacturer and supplier that offers a wide variety of sweet and tart treats. They are known for their iconic flavors and innovative creations, including gummy worms, fruit snacks, and NERDS. With a production capacity of 800 million pounds of candy annually, Ferrara aims to sweeten everyday moments for its customers.


4. Morton Salt

  • Website: mortonsalt.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 1848
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Morton Salt is a company that offers a wide range of salt products and solutions for various industries and consumers. They provide salt for food manufacturing, food service, bulk deicing, pharmaceuticals, general industrial applications, oil & gas, and agriculture. With a long history dating back to 1848, Morton Salt has become a trusted brand that is known for unlocking flavors in food, improving water quality, and keeping businesses and industries running smoothly.


5. Gilster-Mary Lee Corp.

Gilster-Mary Lee is a leading Private Label food manufacturer, producing over 8,000 items in over 500 different private label brands. With 13 different manufacturing facilities across three states, the company offers a wide range of retail and food service products.


6. Greenleaf Foods

Greenleaf Foods, SPC is a company that specializes in plant-based foods. They offer a wide range of products, including sausages, roasts, deli slices, burgers, and cheese slices, all made with whole food ingredients and traditional food-making practices. They are committed to shaping the future of plant-based foods and providing simple and delicious options for customers.


7. Provisur Technologies Inc

  • Website: provisur.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 2008
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn

Provisur Technologies is a leading industrial food processing equipment manufacturer headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. They offer reliable and innovative solutions for ground, formed, and portioned products, sliced products, whole muscle products, mechanically separated products, bone-in products, sausages, protein alternatives, pet food, treats, and pharma bakery. They are known for their advanced technology, application innovation, and high-performance brands.


8. Van Drunen Farms

Van Drunen Farms is a food ingredient manufacturing company that specializes in individually quick frozen (IQF) ingredients. They offer high-quality, natural freeze-dried, drum-dried, and air-dried ingredients for commercial applications. With a commitment to quality from seed to store, they provide innovative solutions and customizable fruit, vegetable, and herb ingredients.


9. Middleby Processing and Packaging Technology Brands

Middleby Corporation is a global company specializing in food processing and packaging technologies. They offer a wide range of innovative equipment solutions for both high volume and smaller producers in the food industry. Their product offerings include professional mixers, packaging systems, slicing systems, and complete food production lines. With a focus on advanced technologies and efficient handling of products, Middleby is a trusted partner for food manufacturers and retailers.


10. Baily International, Inc.

  • Website: bailyfoods.com
  • Headquarters: Granite City, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 1983
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn

Baily Foods is a company that specializes in the production and distribution of various food products such as egg rolls, noodles, tofu wrappers, dim sum, and fortune cookies. With years of experience in the industry, they offer high-quality and delicious food options for both individual and wholesale customers.


11. The Suter Company Inc.

  • Website: suterco.com
  • Headquarters: Sycamore, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 1925
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • LinkedIn

The Suter Company is a manufacturing facility that has been producing prepared food products since 1925. They offer real-world solutions to customers in the United States and Canada, focusing on innovation and customization based on each customer's unique needs.


12. Miracapo Pizza Company

Miracapo Pizza is a frozen pizza company that specializes in developing and manufacturing high-quality pizzas. They offer a wide range of crust styles and toppings to meet the needs of their customers. They are dedicated to innovation and partner with their clients to bring their ideas to life.


13. Axium Foods, Inc.

  • Website: axiumfoods.com
  • Headquarters: South Beloit, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 1960
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

Axium Foods is a company that specializes in providing private brand solutions for various snack foods. With capabilities in private label, co-packing, and contract manufacturing, they are an industry leader in the snack foods sector.


14. Planters

  • Website: planters.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 1905
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Latest funding type: Acquired

PLANTERS® is a brand that specializes in providing a wide variety of nuts to its customers. They offer everything from salted and unsalted nuts to dry roasted and honey roasted nuts. In addition to nuts, they also offer nut mixes and NUT-RITION® products.


15. Henry Broch Foods

  • Website: hbroch.com
  • Headquarters: Waukegan, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 1941
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • LinkedIn

Henry Broch Foods is a food processing company that specializes in the production and distribution of dehydrated vegetables, powders, and oleoresins. With 82 years of experience, they offer a wide range of high-quality products for various industries.


16. Weidenmiller Company

Weidenmiller Company offers FDA compliant release coatings for various doughs, providing customized die roll coatings and CNC engraved die rolls for the production of cookies, crackers, snacks, confectionery, and pet food. They specialize in utilizing state-of-the-art technology and innovative design concepts to meet the production requirements of their customers.


17. Profile Food Ingredients

Profile Food Ingredients is a dry food packaging and blending company that offers a wide variety of baking ingredients. They provide custom blended stabilizers and emulsifier systems for the dairy, bakery, beverage processor, and more industries. With their expertise in developing and formulating products, they offer texturizing solutions and support to meet the needs of their customers.


18. Slagel Family Farm

Slagel Family Farm is a producer of high quality, all-natural meat products. They raise their livestock outdoors and feed them with their own farm-raised grain, grass, and hay without the use of implants or hormones. Their products include beef, pork, lamb, goat, rabbit, turkey, chicken, eggs, and pet food.


19. Menza Foods LLC

Menzafoods is a food products manufacturing company based in an undisclosed location. Its products range from snacks, grains and flour, and instant food.


20. Hispanic Cheese Makers- Nuestro Queso

  • Website: hcmakers.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 2009
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

HCMakers is a Hispanic Cheese Makers company that offers a wide array of formats, sizes, and packages of high-quality Hispanic cheeses and creams. They focus on serving private brands, co-packing, and ingredient customers


21. National Foodworks Services

National Foodworks Services is an innovative management and production company offering customizable production experiences and lasting results to startups, mid-size companies, and enterprise level clients. Their flexible, scalable production facility in Decatur, Illinois specializes in bar production and serves as an outsource resource for launching new food products.


22. Eaglestone Inc.

Eaglestone is a company that specializes in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of conveyor systems for various industries. They offer complete layout management and ensure seamless production line operations. The company's products include the Constant Turn Fabric Belt Conveyor and the Flex-Scraper, which provide accurate sorting and efficient material transportation. With their expertise and innovative solutions, Eaglestone helps businesses optimize their production processes.


23. Industrial Solutions Unlimited

  • Website: isullc.com
  • Headquarters: West Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 2008
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Industrial Solutions Unlimited is a manufacturing industry service provider with 30 years of experience. They assist with reducing downtime and preventing product loss by customizing specific plans for facilities based on objectives.


Want to find more food manufacturing companies?


If you want to find more companies that offer a wide array of food solutions, sweet treats, and packaging you can do so with Inven. This list was built with Inven and there are hundreds of companies like these globally.


With Inven you'll also get to know the company's:


  • Ownership: Which of these are private equity backed? Which are family-owned?
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...and a lot more!