St. Louis' top private firms exhibit growing pains - St. Louis Business Journal:

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percent more revenue in 2008 than they did in2007 $92.3 billion, an increase of $7.3 billion from $85 billion a year Granted, two companies — and Centef Oil Co. — accounted for $5.1 or 69 percent, of the increase. Still, that leaves 31 percenrt and $2.2 billion from other companies. And in these economif times, all billion-dollar increases are welcome. “Any revenue increase in 2008 is and if 2009 is higherthan 2008, that would be said Gerry Sparrow of in St. “Business activity fell off a cliff in the first quarterdof 2009.
” Although many private companiesa saw revenue increase last year, the majoritu saw their profit margins shrini as a result of highef prices for commodities, especially energy, tighter credit and an overall pullback in all sectors because of the troubles economy. Enterprise Rent-A-Car boosted revenue by a whopping 38 to $13.1 billion, though it wasn’t painless. In November, it shed 2,0090 of its 75,000 employees. “As tough as these steps were, they have helpecd preserve the company’s overall strength,” said Pam president and chief operating A big contributor to revenur was the additionof , whichu Enterprise acquired in 2007.
Center Oil also exceeded 30 percentt growth, posting $6.4 billion in revenuee in 2008. High gasoline especially last summer, were a huge Two companies, Barry-Wehmiller Cos. Inc. and , surpassedf $1 billion in sales for the firsy time. Barry-Wehmiller, which owns capital equipmeng manufacturers aroundthe world, made its 41st and 42nd acquisitions since 1987 and boosted revenue by 25 percent, to $1.2 CIC Group, a holding company with a dozenb subsidiaries in the energy industry, reportesd $1.12 billion, an 18 percent increase. Terrh Jansing, CIC vice presidenty and chieffinancial officer, said CIC has a big backlog for refinery equipment and expects anothert strong year this year.
“We’re not seeinfg any significant downturns,” he In addition to Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Centetr Oil, 12 other companies enjoyef revenue increases of 30 percenor more. They are: , Bush O’Donnell, Millstone , CSI Leasing, Purcell Tire, The , , , KCI GS Robins and . Sales were up 138 percenr at Branding Iron, a newcomer to the list at No. 57, primarilgy because of added It was formed in August 2007 as a holdinfg company for in Sauget and three othertmeat companies. Branding Iron’x chief executive, Scott Hudspeth, expectzs a more modest increasethis year, to $315 “When commodities prices so do ours, and beef pricesz are coming down,” he said.
Othere newcomers are Millstone Bangert, Roeslei & Associates, , HDA, , Angelica, The Co. and HDA, with a 14 percent revenues increaseto $211.5 million, was named Lowe’s exclusivde category manager for magazines and maps. “The big box stores will seldomn allow a single vendor to handle an entire saidBob Ketterer, HDA’s chief executive and majorithy owner. Even a companhy that serves banks and other financial institutions managed a deceng year by diversifying itsproduct line. Revenued at NewGround, which designs and builds bank buildings, did but only 9 percent from arecorrd $111 million in 2007.
In recent years, it has been movingg into other services needed by financial institutionsd asthey consolidate, such as employee training and digital communications. “We diversified the company to capitalizer on the turmoil in the saidKevin Blair, president and chieff executive.