Cargill

Cargill logo

Cargill, Incorporated is an American privately held global food corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and incorporated in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 1865, it is the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2015, number 15 on the Fortune 500, behind McKesson Corporation and ahead of AT&T.

History

Cargill was founded in 1865 by William Wallace Cargill when he bought a grain flat house in Conover, Iowa. The company expanded into the grain storage business and later diversified into other agricultural commodities, including livestock and feed. Over the years, Cargill has grown through acquisitions and expansions into various sectors, including food processing, commodity trading, and financial services.

Operations

Cargill operates in four major segments:

• Agriculture: This includes grain and oilseed origination, storage, and transportation.
• Food: This segment involves the production and distribution of food ingredients and products.
• Financial Services: Cargill provides risk management and financial solutions to its customers.
• Industrial: This includes the production of bio-industrial products and the management of energy and metals.

Agriculture

Cargill's agricultural operations include the trading, processing, and distribution of grains and oilseeds. The company is a major player in the global soybean and corn markets. It also provides animal nutrition products and services.

Food

Cargill produces a wide range of food ingredients, including sweeteners, starches, and texturizers. The company supplies these ingredients to food manufacturers, foodservice companies, and retailers.

Financial Services

Cargill's financial services division offers risk management and financial solutions to help customers manage commodity price volatility. This includes hedging and trading services.

Industrial

Cargill's industrial segment focuses on the production of bio-industrial products, such as biofuels and bioplastics. The company also manages energy and metal trading operations.

Corporate Governance

Cargill is a privately held company, primarily owned by the descendants of the founder, William Wallace Cargill. The company is governed by a board of directors and an executive team. The current CEO is David W. MacLennan.

Environmental and Social Responsibility

Cargill has faced criticism and legal challenges related to its environmental and social practices. The company has been involved in controversies over deforestation, child labor, and human rights violations. In response, Cargill has implemented various sustainability initiatives and committed to improving its environmental and social impact.

See Also

• Agribusiness
• Commodity trading
• Food industry
• Sustainability

Related Pages

• Agriculture
• Food processing
• Commodity trading
• Financial services
• Bio-industrial products