Top 7 Companies Dominating the Global Pulses Market Landscape

The global pulses market reached a volume of about 101.64 MMT in 2023. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 1.7% in the forecast period of 2024-2032 to reach around 118.96 MMT by 2032. As per the analysis by Expert Market Research, the market is expected to be driven by consumers’ growing demand for plant-based diets.

The rapid urbanisation, changing lifestyles, and hectic working hours are contributing to a greater adoption of ready-to-eat (RTE) food products. Consumers are seeking healthy ready to eat meals and snacks options. Pulses are an excellent ingredient to incorporate into convenience foods due to their health benefits.

Due to the large vegetarian and vegan population in developing countries such as India, pulses are being consumed as a source of protein. In 2023, around 42% of Indian population identified themselves as vegetarian. Organic pulses are gaining popularity as they are free from chemicals and fertilisers. Major countries in Europe, such as France, Italy, and Germany, share a significant area of organic pulses farming.

Pulses boast extended shelf stability and offer low food wastage footprint, hence they play a vital role in ensuring household food security. Pulses serve as a cost-effective protein and mineral source for large proportion of rural populations globally. Additionally, as the global population is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, experts anticipate a scarcity of meat and a subsequent surge in demand for plant-based proteins, particularly pulses.

In February 2023, the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) and IBRAFE of Brazil signed a MoU at the Pulses Conclave in Mumbai. The aim is to establish cooperative actions that contribute to the food security of both countries.

Figure: Key Countries with Vegetarian Population, 2023

Top 7 Pulses Companies in the World:

Adani Wilmar Group

Adani Wilmar stands as one of the leading FMCG food company, providing a comprehensive range of essential kitchen commodities to Indian consumers. It is a 50:50 joint venture between Adani Group of India and Wilmar Group of Singapore. Adani Wilmar Limited operates manufacturing facilities at 50 locations in India, comprising 27 self-owned plants across 10 states. The company offers multiple products under the Fortune brand. Pulses offered by the company include arhar dal, unpolished arhar dal, unpolished chana dal, unpolished masoor dal, and others.

Archer Daniels Midland Company

ADM stands as a global leader in the production of sustainable nutrition ingredients. Its extensive range includes essential staples like flour, oils, and sweeteners, as well as cutting-edge alternatives such as plant-based meat and dairy. The company offers bean and pulse ingredients both in raw and pregelled forms, under NutriStem™ brand. Its product portfolio includes navy bean, black bean, pinto bean, chickpea (also roasted and seasoned), fava bean (also roasted and seasoned), green lentil, and others.

BroadGrain Commodities Inc.

BroadGrain Commodities Inc., is engaged in the marketing and origination of grains, cereals, oilseeds, pulses, speciality crops, and associated by-products catering to both the food and feed markets. The company distributes its products to more than 85 countries through shipping. Pulses offered by the company include whole red lentils – crimson type, whole green lentils – laird type and eston type, black beans, navy beans, and others.

Louis Dreyfus Company B.V.

Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. stands as a prominent merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Its extensive range of business activities encompasses diverse lines, covering the entire value chain from origination to distribution. Pulses such as chickpeas, mung beans, and yellow peas are offered by the company. The company offers a diverse array of products under various business segments, including animal feed and pet food, bioenergy, among others.

Ardent Mills, LLC

Ardent Mills, LLC, stands as an independent joint venture resulting from the amalgamation of ConAgra Mills™ and Horizon Milling®. The company operates community mills situated in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Each of these community mills provides distinctive ingredients and capabilities derived from the grain varieties cultivated on farms in the surrounding regions. The company offers pulses under alternative grains. The type of pulses offered by the company include chickpeas, green lentils, red lentils, dry peas, and beans.

Arbel A.S.

Arbel Group stands as a prominent player in the pulses export industry, both in Turkey and globally. The company specialises in the production of red and green lentils, chickpeas, beans, and bulgur. The company's facilities are strategically located eight kilometers from the Port of Mersin (Turkey's largest port for agricultural and food product exports), also encompass duty-free warehousing facilities within the Mersin Free Zone. The company offers various types of pulses under its portfolios such as chickpeas, lentils, beans, bulghur and peas.

La Milanaise

The Milanese mill specialises in producing organic flour and grains for both retailers and the food industry. La Milanaise offers a diverse portfolio exclusively consisting of 100% organic products. The company's BRC-certified production facilities, advanced equipment, and substantial production capacity ensure outstanding flexibility in operations. It offers a diverse array of organic pulses under its product portfolio, which include organic adzuki beans, organic black beans, organic chickpeas, and organic mung beans, among others.