ByRani Molla

The consolidation of the food industry spares no quarter, including brands that are known for their small size and independence. Large food-processing companies are buying up organic brands, as the market for products made without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers continues to grow.

The latest consolidation on this list was Earthbound Farms, a packaged produce company, acquired by WhiteWave Foods earlier this year. WhiteWave, in turn, had been spun off from dairy giant Dean foods the year before.

Looking at the top brands by market share along with their brand owners might yield some surprises: