01 — Local economy
Business in Chicago, IL
Futures and options exchanges run by CME Group and Cboe grew out of the city's role as the Midwest's grain market, and every major North American freight railroad meets here, surrounded by intermodal yards and warehouses. Food companies including Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, McDonald's, ADM and Conagra are headquartered in Chicago, alongside United Airlines and a large base of law, accounting and consulting firms.
Also known as Chi-Town and Windy City.
Where software helps: Food manufacturers and distributors here sell to grocery chains with strict EDI, deduction and promotion rules, so matching trade-spend deductions to invoices, along with lot traceability for recalls, takes significant finance and quality-team time.