Agustin "Tino" Herran's father and elder cousin gave him a tough act to follow. After all, how do you top building the nation's largest Hispanic-owned supermarket chain from scratch?
Simple. You take over as president of the chain, Miami-based Sedano's Management Inc. and, on the side, build your own multi-million dollar enterprises.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Sedano's is on the path to book approximately $400 million in revenue this year, according to Tino Herran, whose other company, General Real Estate Corp., is a $400 million firm specializing in condominium conversions. He launched the Miami-based real estate development firm in 1994 with business partner and cousin Emiliano Herran and longtime business associate James Dorsy.
"My father obviously trusts the second generation," Tino Herran says.
Entrepreneurship is practically a requirement in the Herran clan. Armando Guerra Sr. bought the first Sedano's store in east Hialeah in 1962 after arriving from Cuba. Manuel Herran, Tino's father, was a savvy 28-year-old cutlery salesman before he joined Guerra to expand Sedano's. Cousin Armando Guerra Jr., recently launched Nueva Tierra LLC, a Coral Gables-based land acquisition company.
No doubt, the 36-year old Tino grew up privileged. The Miami native and scion of a wealthy family, was groomed by his father and Guerra Sr. to become a shrewd entrepreneur. Tino graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing and finance from Florida International University in 1992 and quickly set about leveraging his family fortune and connections.
"Tino's a workaholic. He is relentless," says Angel Medina, Regions Bank's president of Miami-Dade operations, who has known Tino Herran since 1999 and in May nominated him for induction into the FIU business school's Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. "It's not about advantages, but rather being able to take those opportunities and make things happen. When you look at Tino and his background, he's really made a name for himself."
At age 21, Herran launched his first real estate company, Arca Developments Inc. In 1992, he formed Tire Group International Inc., a wholesaler in Miami that today exports more than 20 brands of tires to 70 different countries and generates nearly $40 million in annual sales.
But Herran's business career did not really take off until he launched General Real Estate. The company has invested in various projects, including high-rise condominiums in Miami, shopping centers in southwest Miami-Dade's Kendall area, and about a dozen upscale single-family homes just south of Surfside near Miami Beach. The mansions, which are in the planning stages, are expected to cost between $3 million and $12 million. Herran, General Real Estate's president, says the firm earned about $257 million in revenue in 2004 and should generate about $400 million this year.
In late 2002, Tino joined his father, Guerra Jr., Miami developer Sergio Pino and several others to form Miami-based US Century Bank, one of South Florida's more successful new bank launches. Regions Bank's Medina credits US Century's directors, which include Tino, as a major reason why, in less than three years, it has grown into a $500 million financial institution. Each director, Medina says, has "tentacles throughout the community" and keeps the bank's interests in mind while operating their own businesses.
"Tino is a true entrepreneur in that he finds opportunities in many areas and not just in a single trade," Medina says. "He's able to accomplish things in many diverse areas of business."
[The Bag Boy]
Tino got his first taste of business at age 14 working as a bagger and stock boy in the Hialeah Sedano's store. Dozens more stores, including Sedano's brand pharmacies, opened throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties during the late 1980s and 1990s and Tino eventually became a manager to help with the company's expansion.
Today, Sedano's has approximately 40 supermarkets and pharmacies combined--an expansion funded by Sedano's profits instead of bank loans, Herran says.
"We're not crazy out there opening up 20 stores a year," he says. "We don't like to have a lot of debt in the company. That flows into the [consumer] pricing, so that's important."
Herran's father remains chairman of the family-owned supermarket chain but has scaled back his involvement with the business. "My main objective with Sedano's is to grow it," Tino says. "On a daily basis, I'm looking for new locations for us, negotiating new locations for us." Though Herran is president, his cousin, Jose Herran, runs the day-to-day operations as vice president of Sedano's.
Tino's General Real Estate gives him a competitive edge, he says, because he can spot a promising Sedano's site while looking for other kinds of property. Sedano's executives study complicated charts and US Census figures to track Hispanic population trends in the region, all to figure out where to put the next store and what products to sell there. For example, Herran says the Sedano's Doral store sells many products native to Venezuela to cater to the area's heavy Venezuelan population. The chain's Homestead store, its largest at 63,000 square feet, is heavy on Mexican products because of the large Mexican community in that area.
Marc Silverman, a Miami-based consultant who specializes in family business in Latin America, says Sedano's is a great example of how a family-run enterprise can pass the reins smoothly to the next generation. He says it is common for original owners to be reluctant to let their children run the operation. He also likes the conservatism Sedano's shows when considering an expansion.
"There's a size where [companies] just excel," Silverman says. "Under that they don't reach their potential and over that they're not able to sustain the quality. All successful companies have a core identity, a core purpose and core values."
Indeed, Sedano's has faced staunch competition from larger supermarket chains such as Publix, Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Herran says Winn-Dixie is having a "hard time staying afloat" with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, and other supermarkets such as Albertson's Inc. and Xtra Super Food Centers Inc. have tried to thrive in South Florida and failed.
"You just don't want to open up one store at a time," Tino Herran says. "That's very difficult. Albertson's tried it here and it didn't work out with them."
Publix recently opened one of its two new Sabor (Spanish for "flavor") supermarkets across from the Westland Mall in Hialeah. Sabor, which also exists in Orlando, carries a large variety of Hispanic products, along with featuring a Cuban-style cafe bar, Latin music on the store's loudspeakers, and a butcher that cuts meat to customers' preference, similar to small, Hispanic-style butcher shops. The store will eventually house a nail and beauty salon.
Tino Herran says Lakeland-based Publix was wise to open the store in heavily Hispanic Hialeah. However, he says he welcomes the competition and that Sedano's is not worried about losing market share to Sabor. He also questions how successful the store will be because many of Publix's non-Hispanic customers may be turned off by a store heavy on products they may not want.
"It takes them a little out of their core business. It's something very different for them," Herran says. "We've been here for a long time. We know our customer. It's a long learning process. It's not overnight."
Maria Brous, Publix's director of media and community relations, disagrees that Publix is a newcomer to the Hispanic grocery market.
"There have been some [Publix] stores that have been focused on Hispanic customers," says Brous, noting that Publix opened its first South Florida supermarket in 1959. "We just made a formal store with new name. We've learned a lot along way."
For now, Tino Herran says he is trying to find a suitable site for a Sedano's store in Miami Beach, which has a large Argentine population. He also may look to add more stores in Palm Beach County to compliment the one that opened two years ago in Lake Worth. As for expansion opportunities outside of Florida, Herran says Sedano's may eventually tap into the large Hispanic niche markets in New York, New Jersey, Texas and California.
"One of the successes we have is that a lot of our stores have a homey feel to them. People feel comfortable going in there," Herran says. "Sometimes big stores lose a little bit of that coziness to them."
Continued from page 1.
Indulgent Profit--Car, alcohol and media dealers lead off this year's list, with gambling and tabloids not far behind. While the money in vice is no surprise, the company it keeps on this year's list may be: law firms, vitamin makers and banks, among others. The largest local for-profit private firms are all here. We have excluded private equity funds, which are represented through their local holdings.
Continued from page 2.
Company Name / Top Revenues Percent Local
Executive Type of (Millions) Change Employees
Business / County
Rank 2004 2003 From 2003 2004
1) JM Family $8,200 $7,700 6% 1,620
Enterprises Inc. Pat
Moran Diversified
automotive company
/ Broward
2) Southern Wine and $5,800 (e) $5,500 (e) 5% 600 (e)
Spirits of America
Harvey R. Chaplin
Alcoholic beverages
distributor /
Miami-Dade
3) Cisneros Group of $4,000 $4,000 0% 360
Companies Gustavo A.
Cisneros Media and
technology
conglomerate /
Miami-Dade
4) D.C.A. Grantor Trust $3,300 $3,218 (e) 3% 500
Allan H. Applestein
Private investment
trust / Miami-Dade
5) The Related Group of $2,125 $1,082 96% 390
Florida Jorge M.
Perez Real estate
developer /
Miami-Dade
6) Brightstar $1,700 $1,205 41% 440
Corporation R.
Marcelo Claure
Wireless
telecommunications /
Miami-Dade
7) Purity Wholesale $1,500 (e) $1,750 (e) -14% 180 (e)
Grocers Salvadore
Ricciardi Health,
beauty,
pharmaceuticals
distributor / Palm
Beach
8) Burger King Corp. $1,300 (e) $1,120 (e) 16% 2,100 (e)
Greg D. Brenneman
Quick service
restaurant chain /
Miami-Dade
- Turnberry Associates $1,300 $600 117% 840
Jackie Soffer /
Jeffrey Soffer Real
estate developer /
Miami-Dade
10) The Oasis Group Mark $1,284 $1,120 15% 130
Perlberg
Professional
employer
organization / Palm
Beach
11) Planet Automotive $1,278 (e) $1,470 (e) -13% 560
Group Inc. Alan
Potamkin / Robert
Potamkin Automotive
dealerships /
Miami-Dade
12) Alliance $1,000 (e) $870 (e) 15% 1,100 (e)
Entertainment Corp.
(1) Alan Tuchman
Entertainment
products distributor
/ Broward
- Vista Healthplan of $1,000 1,000 0% 1,000
South Florida Ronald
J. Berding Medical
insurance / Broward
14) Neighborhood Health $801 $790 1% 450
Partnership Inc.
Joseph R. Papa
Health maintenance
organization /
Miami-Dade
15) Seminole Tribe of $798 (e) $300 (e) 166% 2,000 (e)
Florida Mitchell
Cypress Agriculture,
gaming and tourism /
Broward
16) Greenberg Traurig PA $712 $573 24% 780
Cesar L. Alvarez Law
firm / Miami-Dade
17) BrandsMart USA $643 $581 11% 1,520
Michael Perlman
Discount electronics
and appliance
retailer / Broward
18) Ed Morse Automotive $637 $607 5% 760
Group Edward J.
Morse Jr. Automotive
dealerships /
Broward
19) Pharmed Group Corp. $600 (e) $589 2% 260 (e)
Carlos M. de
Cespedes / Jorge M.
de Cespedes Vitamin,
pharmaceuticals and
medical supplies
distributor /
Miami-Dade
20) NationsRent Inc. $590 $487 21% 270
Thomas J. Putman
Equipment services /
Broward
21) abc Distributing Co. $495 (e) $550 (e) -10% 1,850 (e)
Marvin H. Leibowitz
Mail order retailer
/ Miami-Dade
22) American Media Inc. $516 (e) $400 (e) 29% 400 (e)
David Pecker
Magazine and
newsweekly publisher
/ Palm Beach
23) AmeriPath Holdings $507 $485 5% 300
Inc. Don Steen
Health
care/laboratory
services / Palm
Beach
24) Rick Case Automotive $506 $547 -7% 440
Group Rick Case /
Rita Case Automobile
and motorcycle
dealerships /
Broward
25) Associated Grocers $500 $650 -23% 500
of Florida Inc.
Calvin J. Miller
Wholesale food
distributor /
Miami-Dade
26) CarePlus Health $486 $396 23% 1,080
Plans Inc. Miguel B.
Fernandez Managed
health care /
Miami-Dade
27) Spirit Airlines Inc. $485 $450 8% 1,160
Jacob M. Schorr
Airline / Broward
28) United Trust Fund $482 $444 9% 10
Sidney Domb
Corporate real
estate / Miami-Dade
29) Codina Group Inc. $480 (e) $500 -4% 190
Armando Codina
Commercial real
estate and
construction
services /
Miami-Dade
30) Transeastern $466 $180 (e) 159% WND
Properties Inc. (2)
Arthur J. Falcone
Residential real
estate developer /
Broward
31) Stiefel Laboratories $457 $357 28% 60
Inc. Charles W.
Stiefel Skin disease
medications /
Miami-Dade
32) The PBSJ Corp. John $451 $389 16% 330
B. Zumwalt III
Engineering
consulting /
Miami-Dade
33) Southeast Frozen $450 $400 13% 240
Foods Co. LP John
Robinson Wholesale
food distributor /
Miami-Dade
34) Century Homebuilders $440 $239 84% 100
Sergio Pino
Residential real
estate developer /
Miami-Dade
35) Oxbow Corp. William $429 (e) $429 (e) 0% 20 (e)
I. Koch Energy
holdings / Palm
Beach
36) Florida Crystals $400 (e) $470 (e) -15% 2,000 (e)
Corp. Alfonso Fanjul
/ Jose "Pepe" Fanjul
Sugar producer /
Palm Beach
- Sedano's Management $400 $396 1% 3,000
Inc. Agustin Herran
/ Manuel A. Herran
Supermarkets /
Miami-Dade
38) Steel Resources LLC $396 $288 38% 40
Carlos R. Charur
Steel trader /
Miami-Dade
39) Intcomex Inc. $373 $291 28% 150
Anthony Shalom
Wholesale
information
technology
distributor /
Miami-Dade
40) Gold Coast Beverage $372 $352 6% 690
Distributors Inc.
Art Friedman Beer
distributor /
Broward
41) Quirch Foods Co. $349 $297 17% 280
Guillermo Quirch Jr.
Meat
importer/exporter /
Miami-Dade
42) Brown Jordan $346 (e) $346 (e) 0% 40 (e)
International Inc.
James R. Malone
Contract and casual
furniture maker /
Broward
- Power Voice $346 $325 7% 140
Communications Inc.
Jose Garcia Call
center services /
Miami-Dade
44) Vibo Corp. Vidal $335 $284 18% 80
Suriel Tobacco /
Miami-Dade
45) Aurafin-OroAmerica $325 (e) $325 (e) 0% 250 (e)
Michael Gusky Gold
jewelry supplier /
Broward
46) The Parker Company $305 (e) $268 (e) 14% 40 (e)
LLC Douglas Parker
Hospitality
procurement /
Miami-Dade
47) Fortune $301 (e) WND WND 700
International Group
Edgardo DeFortuna
Real Estate
development,
marketing and sales
/ Miami-Dade
48) Catalfumo $300 $223 35% 310
Construction and
Development Inc.
Daniel S. Catalfumo
Construction,
development and
management / Palm
Beach
- Dezer Development $300 $240 25% 280
LLC Gil Dezer Real
estate developer /
Miami-Dade
- GL Homes of Florida $300 (e) $300 (e) 0% 200 (e)
Inc. Itzhak Ezratti
Homebuilder /
Broward
51) City Furniture Keith $297 $264 13% 1,380
Koenig Furniture
retailer / Broward
52) The Cornerstone $294 $239 23% 400
Group Stuart I.
Meyers Real estate
developer /
Miami-Dade
53) Shefaor Development $281 $95 196% 30
LLC Gilbert Benhamou
/ Claudio Stivelman
Real estate
developer /
Miami-Dade
54) Avante Group Inc. $280 $200 40% 460
Darren Carusuo
Nursing home
management / Broward
55) Sweet Paper Sales $276 $254 9% 120
Corp. Michael Scheck
Food service and
janitorial supplies
wholesaler /
Miami-Dade
56) Ocean Bank Jose $274 $268 2% 950
Concepcion Financial
services /
Miami-Dade
57) General Real Estate $257 $222 16% 180
Corp. Agustin Herran
Real estate
developer /
Miami-Dade
58) North American $250 $235 6% 10
Company LLLP Charles
L. Palmer Real
estate holding
company / Broward
59) Dade Paper & Bag Co. $248 $178 39% 360
Irving Genet /
Leonard Genet Paper
and plastic products
distributor /
Miami-Dade
- The Answer Group $248 (e) $248 (e) 0% 3,200 (e)
Inc. Bruce Quinn
Customer
relationship
management services
/ Broward
61) Perez Trading Co. $244 $197 24% 100
Inc. John Perez
Paper and printing
supplies distributor
/ Miami-Dade
62) Coverall Cleaning $243 $242 0% 130
Concepts Ted Elliott
Commercial cleaning
services / Palm
Beach
63) Landstar Development $239 (e) $260 (e) -8% 10 (e)
Corp. Rodolfo Stern
Homebuilder /
Miami-Dade
64) Bill Ussery Motors $233 $232 0% 250
Inc. Robert W.
Brockway
Automobile
dealership /
Miami-Dade
65) Hollander Home $230 $230 0% 60
Fashions Corp. Jeff
Hollander
Bedding designer /
Palm Beach
66) Hopper Radio of $229 (e) $396 (e) -42% 100 (e)
Florida Inc. Barry
Smith
Consumer electronics
/ Broward
67) Arch Aluminum & $225 $192 17% 290
Glass Co. Inc. Leon
Silverstein
Architectural glass
and aluminum
manufacturer /
Broward
- Renwill Seafoods $225 $205 10% 10
Inc. Gene Willner
Seafood
importer/exporter /
Miami-Dade
69) Autohaus Holdings $220 (e) $230 (e) -4% 290 (e)
Inc. Robert A.
Kirland
Automobile
dealerships /
Broward
70) Coastal Construction $218 $167 31% 180
Group Thomas P.
Murphy Jr.
General contractor /
Miami-Dade
71) generalRoofing $216 (e) $312 (e) -31% 30 (e)
Richard M. Nugent
Commercial roofing
and construction /
Broward
72) Bella Automotive $215 (e) $195 (e) 10% 230 (e)
Group Ltd. Jeronimo
Esteve III
Automobile
dealership /
Miami-Dade
73) Sunbeam Television $212 (e) $215 (e) -1% 140 (e)
Corporation Edmund
N. Ansin
TV
stations/commercial
property /
Miami-Dade
74) Peebles Atlantic $203 $82 148% 270
Development Corp. R.
Donohue Peebles
Real estate
developer /
Miami-Dade
75) Sefico Inc. Emilio $200 (e) $200 (e) 0% WND
A. Zabaleta
Infrastructure
developer / Palm
Beach
76) Navarro Discount $199 $200 -1% 1,300
Pharmacies Jose F.
Navarro
Drugstores /
Miami-Dade
77) Cheney Brothers Inc. $197 (e) $380 (e) -48% 550 (e)
Mark Jayne / Byron
Russell
Wholesale grocery
distributor / Palm
Beach
78) Northwestern Meat $192 $154 24% 280
Elpidio Nunez
Meat wholesaler /
Miami-Dade
79) First Equity $191 $205 -7% 20
Mortgage Bankers
Inc. Daniel
Rodriguez
Direct mortgage
lender / Miami-Dade
80) Meyer Jabara Hotels $190 $193 -2% 30
LLC William Meyer
Hotel operator/owner
/ Palm Beach
81) Amcomp Incorporated $189 $169 11% 140
Fred R. Lowe
Insurance carrier /
Palm Beach
82) AequiCap Philip E. $187 $178 5% 590
Morgaman
Financial
services/
transportation /
Broward
- Stiles Corp. Terry $187 $131 43% 460
W. Stiles
Real estate
developer / Broward
84) Home Quality $184 (e) $205 (e) -10% 70 (e)
Management Paul M.
Walczak
Health care /
Broward
85) Bio Med Plus Inc. $178 (e) $184 (e) -3% 70 (e)
Martin J. Bradley
III
Plasma derivative
distributor /
Miami-Dade
86) Trust USA Mortgage $176 $135 30% 60
Corp. Ron Davidson
Mortgage banking /
Miami-Dade
87) Blackstone Calling $174 (e) $154 (e) 13% 20 (e)
Cards Luis Arias
Prepaid calling card
services /
Miami-Dade
88) Centerline Homes $173 $127 36% 170
Inc. Craig Perry
Real estate
developer / Broward
89) Community Asphalt $172 $142 21% 740
Corp. Jose L.
Fernandez
Heavy highway
construction /
Miami-Dade
90) Alliance $170 $121 41% 70
Construction LLC
Frank W. White III
General contractor /
Miami-Dade
- King of Fans Inc. $170 (e) $109 (e) 55% 50
Shih-Tza Wu
Appliance maker /
Broward
92) Ocean Properties $168 (e) WND WND 100 (e)
Ltd. Michael Walsh
Hotel owner/manager
/ Palm Beach
93) Coscan Homes LLC $167 $47 258% 100
Albert C. Piazza
Real estate
developer / Broward
94) AMI Trading Inc. $166 (e) WND WND 20 (e)
Martin B. Netsky
Scrap metal broker /
Miami-Dade
95) Interim HealthCare $165 (e) $600 (e) -73% 150 (e)
Inc. Allan C.
Sorensen
Health care staffing
/ Broward
96) Akerman Senterfitt $163 $145 13% 450
J. Thomas Cardwell
Law firm /
Miami-Dade
97) Interfoods of $162 $160 1% 450
America Inc. Robert
S. Berg
Popeyes franchisee /
Miami-Dade
98) Coex Coffee $158 $147 7% 30
International Inc.
Ernesto Alvarez /
Ernesto Romero
Coffee merchants /
Miami-Dade
99) Aero Toy Store Mayer $155 (e) $140 (e) 10% 70 (e)
Shirazipour
Aircraft dealer /
Broward
100) Neoris Inc. Claudio $154 (e) $154 (e) 0% 60 (e)
Muruzabal
Professional
services /
Miami-Dade
101) Arrow Air Inc. Frank $150 (e) $190 -21% 600
J. Visconti
Air cargo /
Miami-Dade
- Bill Seidle's $150 (e) $150 (e) 0% 300 (e)
Automotive Group
William Seidle
Automobile
dealerships /
Miami-Dade
- Gregg Covin Real $150 $30 400% 10
Estate Development
Gregg Covin
Real estate
developer /
Miami-Dade
- Hudson Capital Group $150 WND WND 5
Whit Hudson
Real estate
investment / Broward
- Stuart Weitzman Inc. $150 (e) $100 (e) 50% 30 (e)
Stuart Weitzman
Women's shoes and
handbags
manufacturer,
designer / Broward
- Supra $150 WND WND 100
Telecommunications &
Info. Systems Inc.
Kenneth Meister
Telecommunications /
Broward
107) South Motors Group $145 (e) $260 (e) -44% WND
Charles Dascal
Automobile
dealerships /
Miami-Dade
108) Oriole Homes Corp. $143 (e) $40 (e) 256% 50 (e)
Richard D. Levy
Residential
construction and
sales / Palm Beach
109) Kellstrom Industries $140 $136 3% 220
Donald Schreiber
Aircraft components
distributor /
Broward
- King Motor Co. Clay $140 (e) $140 (e) 0% 310 (e)
King
Automobile
dealerships /
Broward
- Vector Manufacturing $140 (e) WND WND 90 (e)
Ltd. Michael Krieger
Motor vehicle parts
and accessories
maker / Broward
112) Flagler System Inc. $135 (e) $140 (e) -4% 1,800 (e)
James G. Kenan
Owner of The
Breakers Palm
Beach/real estate
developer / Palm
Beach
113) Caribe Homes Corp. $133 $100 33% 50
Emilio Martinez
Homebuilder /
Miami-Dade
114) Gunther Mazda Joseph $132 (e) $132 (e) 0% 330 (e)
Gunther
Automobile
dealership / Broward
115) All American $131 (e) $121 (e) 8% 140 (e)
Containers Remedios
Diaz-Oliver
Glass, plastic and
metal containers and
closures /
Miami-Dade
- Boston Proper $131 (e) $76 (e) 73% 430 (e)
Michael W. Tiernan
Apparel retailer /
Broward
- Costa Nursery Farms $131 $110 19% 930
Inc. Jose I. Smith
Plant nursery /
Miami-Dade
118) Current Builders $130 (e) $91 (e) 43% 200 (e)
Charles P. Reid
General contractor /
Broward
- Muvico Theaters Inc. $130 $130 0% 1,650
Hamid Hashemi
Movie theaters /
Broward
120) Carl's Furniture $128 $123 4% 550
Inc. Myron Baker
Furniture retailer /
Palm Beach
- City National Bank $128 $127 1% 400
of Florida Leonard
L. Abess
Commercial bank /
Miami-Dade
- Hooley Family $128 (e) $128 (e) 0% 170 (e)
Management Inc.
Michael Hooley
Automobile
dealership / Broward
123) El Dorado Furniture $127 (e) $127 (e) 0% 840
Group Manuel Capo
Furniture retailer /
Miami-Dade
124) Estrella Insurance $126 $134 -6% 310
Holdings Group Inc.
Nicolas Estrella
Insurance /
Miami-Dade
125) Certified Vacations $125 (e) $125 (e) 0% 300 (e)
Group Inc. Michael
Egan
Wholesale tour
operator / Broward
- Champion Motors Dave $125 (e) $125 (e) 0% 120 (e)
Maraj
Automobile
dealerships /
Broward
127) Rupari Food Services $122 $110 11% 20
Inc. Robert Mintz
Meat wholesaler /
Broward
128) Quantum Builders Inc. $121 $117 4% 60
Oscar Barbara
Homebuilder /
Miami-Dade
129) Gulfstream Motors $120 (e) $120 (e) 0% 150 (e)
Inc. Richard E.
Bastin Automobile
dealership / Palm
Beach
130) Baers Furniture Co. $118 (e) $102 (e) 16% 80 (e)
Inc. Alan Baer
Furniture retailer /
Broward
131) Sugar Cane Growers $116 (e) $116 (e) 0% 500 (e)
Co-op of Florida
George H. Wedgworth
Agricultural
products processor /
Palm Beach
132) Pet Supermarket Inc. $115 $113 2% 130
Charles E. West Jr.
Retail pet stores /
Broward
133) Alienware Corp. $112 $92 22% 270
Nelson Gonzalez
Computer
manufacturer /
Miami-Dade
134) Apollo Ship $111 (e) $111 (e) 0% WND
Chandlers Rafael A.
Odonez Cruise ship
catering /
Miami-Dade
135) Florida Marlins LP $110 WND WND 500
Jeffrey H. Loria
Baseball team /
Miami-Dade
- Superior Design $110 $125 -12% 280
International Inc.
Carmen Castillo
Information
technology and
staffing / Broward
137) Bayview Financial $108 (e) WND WND 800 (e)
David Quint
Investment banking /
Miami-Dade
- Don Greene Poultry $108 (e) $98 (e) 9% 120 (e)
Inc. Stephen M.
Greene Food
distributor /
Miami-Dade
139) Trends Ivory $107 (e) $113 (e) -5% 250 (e)
International Thomas
Cabrerizo Sportswear
manufacturer /
Miami-Dade
140) James B. Pirtle $106 $114 -7% 140
Construction Co.
Inc. James B. Pirtle
General contractor /
Broward
141) Overseas Service $105 (e) $105 (e) 0% 50 (e)
Corp. Francis J.
Hogan Grocery and
soft goods
distributor / Palm
Beach
142) Braman Enterprises $104 (e) $104 (e) 0% 10 (e)
Norman Braman
Automobile
dealerships /
Miami-Dade
- Construction $104 $81 28% 90
Services &
Consultants Inc. Ron
Goldburg
Construction
Contractor / Palm
Beach
- Delray Lincoln $104 (e) $110 (e) -6% 190 (e)
Mercury Inc. Edwin
W. Young Automobile
dealership / Palm
Beach
145) BMI Financial Group $102 $96 7% 120
Inc. Tony Sierra
Insurance /
Miami-Dade
- Eastern Metal Supply $102 $84 21% 190
Inc. Susan Walsh
Aluminum wholesale
distribution / Palm
Beach
147) Ale House Management $101 (e) $124 (e) -18% 20 (e)
Inc. John W. Miller
Restaurants /
Broward
- Royal Palm $101 $65 57% 10
Communities Daniel
Kodsi Real estate
developer / Palm
Beach
149) American Network $100 (e) WND WND 10 (e)
Commercial Edward M.
Renzulli Real estate
broker / Broward
- Industrias Desafio $100 (e) $100 (e) 0% 5
Inc. Shahen
Gheblikian Apparel
manufacturer /
Miami-Dade
- Quick Test Opinion $100 (e) $100 (e) 0% 30 (e)
Center Morgan Van
Lefferdick Market
research data
collection / Palm
Beach
- Ranger Construction $100 (e) WND WND 300 (e)
Industries Leo
Vecellio Highway and
street construction
contractors / Palm
Beach
- Schumacher $100 (e) $100 (e) 0% 150 (e)
Automotive Inc.
Chuck Schumacher
Automobile
dealership / Palm
Beach
154) Palm Beach Motor $99 (e) $99 (e) 0% 130 (e)
Cars Robert W.
Simpson Automobile
dealership / Palm
Beach
155) American Woolen Co. $98 $97 1% 460
International Inc.
Richard S. Marcus
Blanket manufacturer
/ Miami-Dade
- Larkin Community $98 $93 5 530
Hospital Inc. Jack
J. Michel Hospital /
Miami-Dade
157) The Tower Group $97 (e) $169 (e) -43% 50 (e)
Anthony J. Burke
General contractor /
Broward
158) Sam International $96 (e) $96 (e) 0% 50 (e)
Group Inc. Sami Slim
Flour wholesaler /
Broward
159) Gus Machado Ford Gus $95 (e) $87 (e) 9% 160 (e)
Machado Automobile
dealership /
Miami-Dade
- Refricenter of Miami $95 (e) $85 (e) 12% 120 (e)
Inc. Jose C.
Hernandez
Refrigeration parts
wholesaler /
Miami-Dade
161) Lumbermen's $94 (e) $104 (e) -9% 190 (e)
Underwriting
Alliance Christine
E. Lynn Insurance /
Palm Beach
162) Aetna Construction $93 (e) $93 (e) 0% 30 (e)
Inc. Steven Watkins
Commercial
construction /
Broward
- The Heat Group Pat $93 (e) $91 (e) 2% 477
Riley Basketball
team and arena owner
/ Miami-Dade
164) Coral Springs Honda $92 (e) $92 (e) 0% 280 (e)
Kenneth Page
Automobile
dealership / Broward
- United Mortgage $92 (e) $92 (e) 0% 10 (e)
Lending Luis F.
Molina Mortgage
brokerage /
Miami-Dade
- Wayne Akers Ford $92 (e) $93 (e) -1% 160 (e)
Inc. Donald Cook
Automobile
dealership / Palm
Beach
167) Jeffrey Hart Group $91 (e) $91 (e) 0% 10 (e)
Inc. Jeffrey S.
Obligen Acquisition
search and private
equity investors /
Palm Beach
- Terrace Food Group $91 $76 20% 220
Inc. Jon Lasko Food
distributor and
custom packager /
Broward
169) Business $89 $74 20% 40
Telecommunications
Services Inc. Rafael
Olloqui
Telecommunications /
Miami-Dade
- Geosyntec $89 $83 7% 50
Consultants Rudolph
Bonaparte
Geoenvironmental
consulting / Palm
Beach
- Miccosukee Indian $89 (e) $93 (e) -4% 900 (e)
Gaming Billy Cypress
Gaming/tourism /
Miami-Dade
- New Auto Toy Store $89 (e) $89 (e) 0% 40 (e)
Inc. Ray G. Anthony
High-end auto
dealership / Broward
- Warren Henry $89 (e) $238 (e) -63% 200 (e)
Automobiles Warren
H. Zinn Automobile
dealerships /
Miami-Dade
174) Associated $88 (e) $88 (e) 0% 170 (e)
Industries Insurance
Services Jon L.
Shebel Insurance /
Palm Beach
- Homes By Kennedy $88 $68 29% 60
Ltd. Robert J.
Trautman Real estate
developer / Broward
176) Falcon Farms Inc. $87 (e) $72 (e) 20% 190 (e)
Jairo Rengifo
Flowers / Miami-Dade
- Toyota of Hollywood $87 (e) $87 (e) 0% 200 (e)
Craig Zinn
Automobile
dealership / Broward
- Trujillo & Sons Inc. $87 $58 50% 100
Lucas Trujillo Jr.
Grocery wholesaler /
Miami-Dade
179) Champion Solutions $86 $83 4% 100
Group Chris Pyle
Information
technology
consulting / Palm
Beach
- Ivory International $86 (e) $86 (e) 0% 120 (e)
Robert J. Lodge
Clothing
manufacturer /
Miami-Dade
181) Compson Development $85 (e) $85 (e) 0% 10 (e)
Corp. Anthony
Comparato Real
estate developer /
Palm Beach
- Fortun Insurance and $85 $82 3% 50
Financial Services
Group Hector D.
Fortun Financial
services /
Miami-Dade
- RC Aluminum Raul $85 $82 4% 500
Casares Door and
window manufacturer
/ Miami-Dade
184) The Graham Companies $84 $77 9% 650
William A. Graham
Real estate
developer/agriculture
/ Miami-Dade
- Intelliflix Inc. $84 (e) WND WND 10 (e)
Christophe Hickey
Video and video game
rental service /
Palm Beach
- Sunlight Foods Inc. $84 (e) $81 4% 180 (e)
Arthur Green Food
processor /
Miami-Dade
187) Gaddis Capital Corp. $83 (e) $83 (e) 0% 30 (e)
Jesse Gaddis
Financial services /
Broward
188) Avborne Accessory $82 (e) $78 (e) 4% 280 (e)
Group Inc. (3)
Eduardo Montalvo
Aviation maintenance
/ Miami-Dade
- ERI Inc. Randy $82 (e) WND WND 120 (e)
Parker DVD, music
and video tape
distribution /
Broward
- Precision Trading $82 (e) $62 (e) 33% WND
Corp. Israel Lapciuc
Consumer electronics
exporter /
Miami-Dade
- Ruden McClosky Carl $82 $75 9% 330
Schuster Law firm /
Broward
- Sheehan Family of $82 (e) $82 (e) 0% 120 (e)
Dealerships Sherwood
H. Sheehan
Automobile
dealerships /
Broward
193) Nafex Zakay Sasson $81 (e) $81 (e) 0% 30 (e)
Appliance wholesaler
/ Miami-Dade
- Suram Trading Corp. $81 (e) $68 (e) 19% 10 (e)
Guido Adler Seafood
distributor /
Miami-Dade
195) Alpine Marketing $80 (e) $80 (e) 0% 60 (e)
Corp. Jose B.
Sanchez Produce
importer /
Miami-Dade
- Causeway Lumber Co. $80 $71 13% 280
Inc. M. Scott
Whiddon Commercial
Building material
supplier / Broward
- DFASS Bernard $80 (e) $75 (e) 7% 40 (e)
Klepach Duty-free
retailer /
Miami-Dade
- Lehman Dealership $80 (e) $80 (e) 0% 10 (e)
Enterprises William
Lehman Automobile
dealerships /
Miami-Dade
- Seaway Group Gene $80 (e) $80 (e) 0% 1,200
Prescott Hotel
management and
development /
Miami-Dade
- Tallard Technologies $80 $63 27% 50
Humberto Y. Gonzalez
Information
technology products
distributor /
Miami-Dade
FOOTNOTES: (1) Alliance Entertainment Corp. merged with Bonita
Springs-based Source Interlink in February 2005. (2) Transeastem
Properties Inc. agreed to be acquired by Hollywood-based Technical
Olympic USA Inc. in June 2005. (3) Avborne Accessory Group Inc. was sold
to New York-based Dover Corp. in January 2005, and is now a subsidiary
of Sargent/Avborne.
- = Tie. / e = Estimate:
WND = Would not disclose.
Employees data rounded to nearest ten.
RELATED ARTICLE: Cisneros Group of Cos.
A new year means new ventures for privately held media, entertainment, technology, and consumer products giant Cisnero Group of Cos., which recently acquired three Miami-based firms. One, Movida Communications Inc., is a pay-as-you-go wireless communications firm targeting the more than 40 million Hispanics in the United States. Another, Latcel, is a content provider for mobile phone networks, distributing ring tones and logos, and also targets Hispanics. In April, Movida teamed up with Sprint and Wal-Mart and launched pay-as-you-go phone service at Wal-Mart stores in Phoenix and San Diego. Plans are to extend services in the South, East and Midwest by year end. Cisneros also gained majority interests in Venevision Productions LLC, a leading producer of Spanish-language television programming for the North American market. Diego Cisneros launched the $4 billion company in 1929 as a small Venezuelan transportation operation. Today, Cisneros Group is comprised of 78 companies serving millions of consumers in 80 nations.
--Yeleny Suarez
#3
City Furniture
How do you grow an 800-square-foot waterbed store into a multi-million dollar furniture business? Go with the flow.
City Furniture, once known to South Floridians as Waterbed City, started in 1971 as an operation so small founder Kevin Koenig would make the waterbed frames by night and sell them by day. The company grew, but when waterbed sales slowed during the early 1990s Koenig brothers Kevin and Keith turned to home furnishings to bring in more business. Today, City Furniture is a $297-million-a-year business with 13 locations in South Florida and a spot at No. 51 on our private companies list.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
With the help of a booming real estate market, City Furniture (the name was officially changed in 1994), is once again rolling with the changes, with plans to open five new stores in South Florida in 2005 as it continues manufacturing upholstered furniture under the Kevin Charles Fine Upholstery brand, a subsidiary named in honor of the company's late founder.
--Andrea Carneiro
#51
King of Fans
Leave it to King of Fans Inc. to blow past the competition. The Fort Lauderdale-based company manufactures a variety of home decor items, including ceiling fans, interior and exterior lighting, solar and low-voltage lighting and portable heaters. The firm also does original equipment manufacturing for large corporations such as St. Louis-based Emerson Electric Co. and Corona, Calif.-based Minka Group. King of Fans' products are sold at major retailers nationwide, including The Home Depot, Target and Wal-Mart. King of Fans, which launched in 1978, posted estimated revenues of more than $169.9 million in 2004, up from the estimated $109.4 million posted in 2003. Gary Grieve, King of Fans' director of marketing, says the company employs approximately 45 people at its South Florida headquarters and operates four manufacturing plants in the Far East.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
--Jaime Hernandez
#90
Miami-Dade County's Largest Companies:
#4
Lennar Corp.
(Public)
2004 revenues:
$10.5 billion
#5
Carnival Corp. & PLC
(Public)
2004 revenues:
$9.7 billion
#2
Southern Wine and Spirits of America
(Private)
2004 revenues:
$5.8 billion (e)
#6
World Fuel Services Corp.
(Public)
2004 revenues:
$5.7 billion
#7
Ryder System Inc.
(Public)
2004 revenues:
$5.2 billion
Broward County's Largest Companies:
#1
AutoNation Inc.
(Public)
2004 Revenues:
$19.4 billion
#1
JM Family Enterprises Inc.
(Private)
2004 Revenues:
$8.2 billion
#10
Republic Services Inc.
(Public)
2004 Revenues:
$2.7 billion
#11
Technical Olympic USA Inc.
(Public)
2004 Revenues:
$2.1 billion
#12
Spherion Corp.
(Public)
2004 Revenues:
$2.0 billion
Palm Beach County's Largest Companies:
#2
Office Depot Inc.
(Public)
2004 Revenues:
$13.6 billion
#3
FPL Group Inc.
(Public)
2004 Revenues:
$10.5 billion
#13
TBC Corp.
(Public)
2004 Revenues:
$1.9 billion
#7
Purity Wholesale Grocers
(Private)
2004 Revenues:
$1.5 billion (e)
#15
Jacuzzi Brands Inc.
(Public)
2004 Revenues:
$1.3 billion
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