Rapid Refill Recognized By INC. Magazine As One Of America's Fastest Growing Companies

First ranking places them 3068 on the 2010 Inc. 5000 list with Three-Year Sales Growth of 67%

[Edina, Minnesota]--- When Inc. magazine released its fourth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, it included Eden Prairie’s Rapid Refill. With a 67% three-year growth rate, it ranked #50 among all Twin Cities companies.  As a U.S.-based retailer in the multi-billion dollar ink and toner industry with stores across the US, Rapid Refill provides environmentally friendly alternatives to the printing process. It remanufactures ink and toner cartridges which are sold at a reduced cost compared to an Original Equipment Manufacturer.

Inc. magazine touts its list as representing the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. Music website Pandora, convenience store chain 7-Eleven, Brooklyn Brewery, and Radio Flyer, maker of the iconic children’s red wagon, are among the prominent brands featured on this year’s list. For Rapid Refill CEO Roger Block, this is exactly the description of the kind of company he wants to keep.

“To create and sustain the kind of growth we have had at Rapid Refill, the credit goes entirely to the passion and creativity of our owner-operators.  Even in an economic downturn, they continue to create local jobs and growth through excellent customer service and dedication to their communities.  It’s an honor and we hope this is the first of many years that will see Rapid Refill make the list.”

Roger’s recognition of his team was repeated by Inc. president Bob Appointee, who said, “The leaders of the companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression.  The 2010 Inc. 5000 showcases a particularly hardy group of entrepreneurs.”

Despite the fact that most of this year’s measuring period of 2006-2009 took place during the latest recession, aggregate revenue among the companies on the list actually increased to $321.6 billion, up more than 50 percent from last year. The effects of the recession are seen, however, in the median three-year growth rate, which dropped to 96 percent from last year’s 126 percent. This year’s Inc. 5000 companies employ a record 1.4 million people, up from one million on last year’s list. With unemployment remaining stubbornly high, policymakers and business leaders will need to look to the Inc. 5000 companies for fresh ideas on achieving growth and creating jobs.

In total, 85 companies in the Twin Cities metropolitan area were recognized by Inc. magazine.  Still, it’s a long way from the top metro areas for entrepreneurial growth where New York boasts 410 companies on the list followed by Washington DC (363), Los Angeles (262), Chicago (203) and Boston (189.)

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/5000.

For more information, to invest in a Rapid Refill franchise or to find a Rapid Refill store near you, visit www.rapidrefillink.com.

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SIDEBAR #1:

The Inc. 5000 at a Glance

The Real Estate sector, although small, was the top-performing industry, with a total growth rate of 189%. Software was second with a growth rate of 126%, and Telecommunications was third with 119%.

In total, the companies on the Inc. 5000 have created 1.4 million jobs. The Health sector is the top employer with 287,726 jobs, followed by Business Products & Services (230,066), Food & Beverage (108,344), Human Resources (107,924), and Retail (96,858).

Business Products & Services had the most companies on this year’s list with 640, followed by IT Services (607), Advertising & Marketing (410), Health (396), and Government Services (336).

This year’s fastest-growing company is Ambit Energy, a Dallas-based firm that buys electricity and natural gas at wholesale prices and resells the energy to customers acquired through a direct sales channel. The company saw $325 million in revenue in 2009 and a three-year growth rate of 20,369 percent.

The top woman-run company is Lexicon Consulting (No. 4 overall), based in El Cajon, California. Lexicon creates mock Iraqi and Afghan villages used to train military personnel. The firm, founded by Jamie Arundell-Latshaw in 2005, recorded revenue of $17.9 million in 2009 and a three-year growth rate of 14,018 percent. The top minority-run company is WDFA Marketing (No. 5 overall), a San Francisco–based firm that specializes in guerrilla, grass-roots, and micromarketing. WDFA, founded by Raj Prasad, posted revenue of $38.4 million in 2008 and a three-year growth rate of 13,350 percent.

The Inc. 5000 posted an aggregate revenue of $321.6 billion in 2009, up more than 50 percent from the previous year. The top five industries by total revenue are Business Products & Services ($84.7 billion), Health ($48.3 billion),

Consumer Products & Services ($26.4 billion), Retail ($22.3 billion), and Government Services ($15.1 billion).

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SIDEBAR #2:

THE TWIN CITIES INC. 5000 AT A GLANCE

While 85 Twin Cities companies were recognized by Inc. magazine, the Metropolitan area fell short of the leading markets where New York boasts 410 Inc. 5000 companies, making it the top metro area, followed by Washington, D.C. (363), Los Angeles (262), Chicago (203), and Boston (189).  Within the Twin Cities, Rapid Refill of Eden Prairie ranked 50th.  The Minneapolis area companies represent an impressive $2.157 Billion in annual revenues.

Minnetonka’s Anulex Technologies, a business services company, led the list.  Business Service Companies were 58% of all revenue in the Minneapolis ranking, followed by Technology companies with 20% and Manufacturing at 13%.

The top 20 list follows:

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18732 Lake Dr E

Chanhassen, MN 55317-9384

Web site:        www.rapidrefill.com