March 2026 • Industry Profile
Industry Profile:
Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Anchored by a long legacy as the nation’s food capital, Chicagoland is home to the #1 food manufacturing cluster in the U.S., producing everything from packaged foods and beverages to ingredients and advanced food technologies.
The region combines one of the country’s largest and most experienced food production workforces with a dense network of suppliers, co-packers, packaging firms, and R&D institutions.
Supported by unmatched TD&L infrastructure, food manufacturers in Chicagoland can efficiently source inputs, innovate new products, and reach national and global markets—making the region one of North America’s premier platforms for scaling food production.
Read about why Chicagoland is one of North America's premier platforms for scaling food production in our Industry Profile: Food & Beverage Manufacturing - updated March 2026.