ADM named 'most admired' food company by Fortune magazine

Archer Daniels Midland Company, one of the largest manufacturing employers in Cedar Rapids, was ranked the world's most admired company in the food production industry for the third consecutive year by Fortune magazine.

Fortune has released its annual list of the “World's Most Admired Companies,” which ranks companies in a number of major industries.

“We are extremely proud to again be acknowledged by our peers for our leadership in the food production industry,” said chairman, CEO and President Patricia A. Woertz. “To be recognized for excellence in the work we do to serve vital needs for food and energy speaks to the passion and commitment of our 29,000 employees.”

ADM has approximately 600 employees in Cedar Rapids. The company's facilities in Cedar Rapids include a corn dry mill, corn wet mill, cogeneration power plant, and trucking and railcar repair facilities. Products ADM produces in Cedar Rapids include corn sweeteners and starches, animal feed products and ethanol.

Fortune ranked ADM highest in six of the nine categories by which food companies were evaluated: People management, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, quality of products and global competitiveness.

A total of 673 companies from 32 countries were evaluated by more than 4,100 executives, directors and security analysts. Survey respondents were asked to rate companies in their industry on nine criteria, including innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment value, quality of products and global competitiveness.