Arkansas has an abundance of resources to help food processing companies succeed. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission works directly with food processing companies looking to start-up, expand or relocate. In addition, we assist companies with finding the best incentives so companies are able to make money quickly and efficiently.
There were 522 food and beverage companies in Arkansas at the end of 2022. These companies employed 55,130 people. Arkansas is home to Tyson Foods and numerous other food processing facilities, including Nestle, JBS USA, Kraft Heinz, Mars Inc., Cargill Inc., Hormel Foods Corp, Riceland Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, ConAgra Brands Inc., Land O’ Frost and Frito-Lay, Inc.
Arkansas has the 5th largest percentage of food processing workers in the United States. The growth rate of the food and beverage industry from 2017 to 2022 was 6 percent in Arkansas.
The food processing industry is booming in Arkansas and continues to grow exponentially. Eight of the top 10 food and beverage companies by revenue in the world have manufacturing facilities in the state.
Arkansas is meeting the workforce needs for food processing companies. The state now has the second-largest number of food processing workers in the US and Arkansas has responded to industry growth by modernizing the workforce.
Five Arkansas companies have been named to the Fortune 500 list for 2022.
Arkansas-based companies that made the latest Fortune 500 list include Walmart, Tyson Foods, Murphy USA, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and Dillard’s. The state saw its company representation on the Fortune 500 list increase by one.
The Fortune 500 list, now in its 68th year, ranks the largest companies in the United States. Collectively, the 500 companies posted $16.1 trillion in revenue and $1.8 trillion in profits in 2021, according to Fortune.
Arkansas-founded Walmart took the top spot on this year’s list as the largest company in the United States.
The Bentonville retailer has maintained the no. 1 spot on the Fortune 500 list since 2013. The company first made the list in 1995 and has been ranked no. 1 since 2002, only dropping to the second spot in three years: 2006, 2009 and 2012.
In 2022, Springdale-based Tyson Foods was the second-highest ranked Arkansas company on the Fortune 500 list at no. 81. followed by Murphy USA, based in El Dorado, at no. 240. J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Dillard’s made the list at no. 311 and no. 488, respectively.
Walmart, Tyson Foods, Murphy USA, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services all made the list in 2021. Dillard’s returned to the Fortune 500 list in 2022.
“We are proud of the five Arkansas-based companies that made this year’s Fortune 500 list,” said Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “Companies like Walmart, Tyson Foods, Murphy USA, J.B. Hunt, and Dillard’s are industry leaders, and they are making a global impact from Arkansas. These companies, all founded in Arkansas, demonstrate the vibrant business environment of The Natural State, which has created many successful businesses and continues to do so.”
One additional company, ArcBest of Fort Smith, made the Fortune 1000 list, coming in at no. 696.
