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Fla. Companies With Promise
These, all founded within the past 10 years, have experienced growth that has brought them to prominence. Vote for the most promising. Also, read other success stories of older companies.
Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach
Founded: 1961 in Long Island Beach, N.J.; moved to Florida in 1963
2007 Revenue: Not available
Growth: Forty-five years after New Jersey surfing enthusiast Ron DiMenna opened his second Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach, Ron Jon Surf Shop is a multimillion-dollar corporation with stores stretching from coast to coast.
Raymond James Financial, St. Petersburg
Founded: 1962
2007 Revenue: $3.1 billion
Growth: Starting with a single office and fiscal year revenue of less than $100,000, Raymond James Financial has grown into one of the largest financial services firm in the U.S. Its 4,750 financial advisers serve 1.6 million accounts from 2,200 locations.
Benihana Inc., Miami
Founded: 1964 in New York; headquartered in Miami since 1980
2007 Revenue: $272 million
Growth: Starting with one Japanese steakhouse in Manhattan, Japanese-born entrepreneur Rocky Aoki grew Benihana into the leading Asian restaurant chain in the U.S.
Haskell Co., Jacksonville
Founded: 1965
2007 Revenue: $714 million
Growth: Haskell Co. has completed more than 1,250 construction projects over the past 43 years, making it Florida’s largest privately held construction company and one of the top design/build firms in the country.
Jabil Circuit Inc., St. Petersburg
Founded: 1966 in Detroit; moved to Florida in 1982
2007 Revenue: $12.3 billion
Growth: Originally founded to repair and produce circuit board assemblies, Jabil has benefited from rapid growth of the electronic manufacturing services industry. Ranked 219 in the Fortune 500, Jabil has enjoyed an annual growth rate of 4.6% between 1997 and 2007.
Greenberg Traurig, Miami
Founded: 1967
2007 Revenue: $1.2 billion
Growth: Since its launch 41 years ago by three Miami lawyers, Greenberg Traurig has grown into an international law firm reaching across the world from Los Angeles to Dallas to New York, to Zurich, Amsterdam and Shanghai.
Perry Ellis International Inc., Miami
Founded: 1967
2007 Revenue: $863 million
Growth: Supreme International’s 1999 purchase of Perry Ellis International catapulted the Miami-based licensing and marketing group into the big leagues of the international fashion industry. The company, which went public in 1993 and assumed the Perry Ellis name three years later, designs, distributes and licenses a broad line of men's and women's apparel, accessories, and fragrances.
Darden Restaurants, Orlando
Founded: 1968
2007 Revenue: $5.6 billion
Growth: Grew from one Red Lobster restaurant in Lakeland into the largest full-service dining restaurant company in the world. Darden owns six restaurant brands: Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Grille and Seasons 52.
Holland & Knight LLP, Miami
Founded: 1968
2007 Revenue: $612 million
Growth: Formed 40 years ago by the merging of two Florida law firms, Holland & Knight is among the 18 largest law firms in the world, with more than 1,100 attorneys in the U.S. and offices in 22 cities worldwide.
Kraft Construction Co., Naples
Founded: 1968
2007 Revenue: $559 million
Growth: Nearly 40 years after embarking on its first major public works project, building an addition to Naples Community Hospital, Kraft Construction is the largest privately held general building contractor in Florida.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Miami
Founded: 1968
2007 Revenue: $6.1 billion
Growth: Founded in 1968 by three Norwegian shipping companies, Royal Caribbean has grown into one of the world’s largest passenger cruise lines with a fleet of 20 ships capable of carrying 50,126 passengers.
Sonny’s Franchise Co., Maitland
Founded: 1968
2007 Revenue: $288 million
Growth: Forty years after Floyd “Sonny” Tillman opened his first Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q in Gainesville, Sonny’s has more than 138 restaurants and 6,000 employees in nine states in the Southeast.
Westgate Resorts/Central Florida Investments, Orlando
Founded: 1970
2007 Revenue: $1.1 billion
Growth: The real estate development firm David Siegel started out of a small office in his garage has become the largest privately held timeshare company in the world, with 28 resorts and 400,000 owners worldwide.
Carnival Corp., Miami
Founded: 1972
2007 Revenue: $1.3 billion
Growth: Ted Arison started the company by buying a used ship for $1 and assuming $5 million in debt. Carnival is now the largest cruise line in the world. Carnival, which went public in 1987, carries 3.7 million passengers annually aboard its 22 ships.
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