Food

Andrew Lazar captures the crown for an eighth consecutive year, thanks in part to consistently impressing investors with his detailed knowledge and broad view of the sector.

After two years in third place, Alexia Howard of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. climbs one rung, to second.

Terry Bivens, who spent the past four years in second place, slips one notch to No. 3. The J.P. Morgan analyst “has a special knack for finding the nuggets of incremental information through his industry and company contacts that gives him a competitive advantage,” asserts one money manager.

It’s nine straight years at No. 1 for Meredith Adler, who “draws on lengthy experience to make quick reads on situations and evolving trends and their impact on companies and the industry as a whole,” extols one satisfied client.

Edward Kelly of Credit Suisse repeats in second place.

Deborah Weinswig is No. 3 for a third year running; she is also No. 1 in Retailing/Broadlines & Department Stores.

J.P. Morgan claims the top spot for the first time since 2003, this time under the direction of Alan Alanis.

Down one notch to second place is the New York-based Morgan Stanley trio led by Loredana Serra, who also guides the top-ranked team in Retailing.

In third place for a third straight year is the New York–based BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research trio captained by Robert Ford — “the wise man you want to have by your side,” according to one money manager.

Naomi Takagi rises one rung to finish on top for the first time.

Dubbed by one fund manager “the dean of the supermarket and drug retail space.

Andrew Lazar “is smart, very analytical, and has significant depth of knowledge from long tenure covering food manufacturers.