GLOBAL INDEX 2016

METHODOLOGY
Company selection
The 2016 Global Index ranks 22 of the world’s largest food and non-alcoholic beverage
manufacturers, including companies that are publicly listed, privately owned or
cooperatives. These companies are the twenty largest food and beverage manufacturers
by total global FY2013 revenues, plus two that were included in the 2013 Global Index
and ranked between the top 20-25 largest food and beverage manufacturers in 2013
(Ajinomoto and Campbell). As both these companies were in the top 20 in 2013, the
2016 situation may be an anomaly. For this reason and to increase continuity between
the 2013 and 2016 indexes and also to lend encouragement to continuing efforts by
both countries, they were included in the 2016 Global Index. 5
Of the 22 manufacturers assessed on this Global Index most sell a range of food and
beverage products, four are primarily dairy and/or baby food producers
(FrieslandCampina, Lactalis, Arla, Danone), three are large confectionary companies
(Ferrero, Mars, Mondelez) and one produces mostly beverages (Coca-Cola).
Most of the assessed companies sell their products globally, only two companies sell
very little outside their home markets (Kraft and ConAgra). Four are headquartered in
emerging market countries (Grupo Bimbo, Brasil Foods, Wahaha and Tingyi). The
companies also differ in ownership type, and include publicly traded companies,
privately held companies (Ferrero, Lactalis, Mars, Tingyi and Wahaha) as well as
cooperatives (Arla and FrieslandCampina). The combined food and beverage sales of
these companies was estimated at $502 billion for FY2013. This is half a billion dollars
more than the estimated sales of the 25 companies in the 2013 Index report and shows
the increased influence and size of the sector.
The company research approach is described in Annex 2.
Approach to assessing breast-milk substitute manufacturers
The Global Index aims to reflect the contribution each company is making to improving
consumers’ health worldwide by helping them to choose healthier diets and improve
their nutritional status, both in higher- and lower-income countries. Optimal
breastfeeding is considered by the WHO and nutrition experts to be essential to the
health and development of infants worldwide. Therefore a new criteria on supporting
breastfeeding mothers in the workplace (E2) has been introduced in this Index.
Moreover, it is also essential to assess baby food manufacturers’ marketing of BMS
products because inappropriate marketing can undermine breastfeeding.
The 2016 Global Index has significantly strengthened the approach taken to assessing
BMS manufacturers’ compliance with The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes (The Code) and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly (WHA)
resolutions, compared to that used in 2013. ATNF recognised that the approach used
previously, based solely on whether International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN)
had identified one or more violations, was not sufficiently robust for ATNI research
purposes. This was also the view expressed by many stakeholders.
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ACCESS TO NUTRITION INDEX GLOBAL INDEX 2016