Leading CompaniesTwo Greater MSP Companies Make SBA 100 List for Job Creation (2011)
Two Twin Cities companies were named to the SBA 100 list of businesses that have created at least 100 jobs since receiving SBA assistance. Great Clips in Edina has created 15,000 jobs since 1997. Shield Services LLC, a security services firm in Princeton, now employs more than 130 people in six states.
20 Twin Cities Companies Make Fortune 500 List (2011)
The Twin Cites Minnesota boasts 20 Fortune 500 companies per capita than any other state, according to Positively Minnesota. In 2011, that number was 20, including some of the most recognized firms in the world. All but one located is the Minneapolis Saint Paul region.
Eight Greater MSP Firms Make Inc. 500 List of Fastest-Growing Private Companies (2011)
Eight Minneapolis Saint Paul firms made Inc. magazine’s 2011 list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in America. Another 82 Minnesota firms made the Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest-growing private firms. Both lists measure revenue growth from 2007 through 2010 among US-based, privately held, for-profit and independent companies. Two 2011 winners, Jobs2web and MetroSpec, were among 2010’s 500 fastest-growing private companies as well. At least 35 Minnesota companies have been included in the Inc. 500 list over the past five years.
Ecolab and General Mills Rank Among World’s “Most Innovative Companies” (2011)
Ecolab and General Mills made Forbes’ list of the world’s “most innovative" companies in 2011. Saint Paul-based Ecolab was ranked 28th on the list. Golden Valley-based General Mills followed closely at 31st. Massachusetts-based Boston Scientific, which employs about 5,000 people in the Twin Cities, was ranked No. 91 on the list of 100 companies worldwide. Forbes calculated the ratings using an “innovation premium,” which measures the difference between the value of the company’s existing businesses and its expected future innovations.
Seven Twin Cities Firms Make Fortune’s Global 500 List (2011)
Seven companies in the Greater MSP region made Fortune magazine’s 2011
Global 500 list, with UnitedHealth Group leading the way at No. 62 in the world. Representing Minneapolis Saint Paul in the magazine’s annual ranking of the world's largest corporations, ranked by revenue, are:
No. 62: UnitedHealth, $94.2 billion in revenue
No. 106: Target Corp., $67.4 billion
No. 165: Best Buy Co., $50.3 billion
No. 229: Supervalu, $37.5 billion
No. 364: 3M Co., $26.7 billion
No. 383: CHS Inc., $25.3 billion
No. 476: US Bancorp, $20.5 billion
Two companies with strong regional presence Twin Cities also are on the list:
Wells Fargo, $93.2 billion
Delta Air Lines $31.8 billion
Target, US Bank and Wells Fargo Celebrated as “World’s Most Valuable Brands” (2011)
The latest entrant into the battle of the brands is Millward Brown, a global brands agency that published its first brand ranking in May 2011. Target and US Bancorp led Minnesota companies on the list of the world’s most valuable brands, placing 65th and 84th, respectively. Target had a value of $12.5 billion, up 3% from 2010. US Bank had a value of $10.5 billion, up 26%. San Francisco-based Wells Fargo, which has large regional operations in Minneapolis, was ranked 16th with a value of $36.9 billion. It was the third-largest gainer in value, increasing by 97%.
Four Minnesota Companies Ascend in Harris Interactive’s Reputation Survey (2011)
3M and General Mills rank in the Top 10 of Harris Interactive’s annual poll of corporate reputations. Both moved up one spot in 2011, with Maplewood-based 3M ranking third and Golden Valley-based General Mills placing ninth. Richfield-based Best Buy and Minneapolis-based Target also ascended on the list, placing 27th and 28th, respectively. Two firms with large Minnesota operation also ranked highly: Wells Fargo came in at 45th and Delta Air Lines followed closely at 51st. The results were based on an online survey of 30,000 people.
14 Greater MSP Companies Make Forbes’ Global 2000 List (2011)
UnitedHealth Group ranks 106th in the world on Forbes' 2011 list of the largest public companies. It leads a group of 14 Minneapolis Saint Paul companies on the first-ever Global 2000 list of the world’s largest publicly traded companies. In compiling the list, Forbes considered four equally weighted factors – company sales, profits, assets and market value. Twin Cities companies, in rank-order, include:
UnitedHealth Group, No. 106
US Bancorp, No. 131
Target, No. 155
3M, No. 190
Medtronic, No. 247
Ameriprise Financial, No. 371
Best Buy, No. 388
General Mills, No. 410
Mosaic, No. 476
Xcel Energy, No. 545
St. Jude Medical, No. 833
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, No. 1001
Ecolab, No. 1049
Supervalu, No. 1184
In addition, Wells Fargo places 11th and Delta Air Lines ranks 470th. Although they aren't headquartered in the Greater MSP region, both companies have large operations here.
3M, General Mills and Target Top Forbes’ List of “Most Reputable Big Companies” (2011)
Forbes’ 2011 list of “America’s Most Reputable Big Companies” includes nine Twin Cities companies. Maplewood-based 3M is named the most reputable large company in Minnesota and ranks fourth nationally. Golden Valley-based General Mills and Minneapolis-based Target also place among the top 25. The Forbes list measures consumers’ perceptions of the 150 largest companies in the country. It was compiled by the Reputation Institute, a New York-based private consulting firm, which conducted an online study of almost 33,000 consumers in the first quarter of 2011. Each company earned a score between zero and 100. The scores represent an average measure of people’s feelings – or reputation – for a company. The scores were statistically derived from four emotional indicators: trust, esteem, admiration, and good feeling. Also on the “Most Reputable” list are Medtronic, Supervalu, Best Buy, UnitedHealth Group, Xcel Energy and US Bancorp.
Target and Best Buy Recognized Among World’s Top Retail Brands (2011)
Minneapolis-based Target and Richfield-based Best Buy are among the world’s most valuable retail brands, according to a 2011 study by Interbrand, a brand consultancy with 40 offices in 25 countries. The study examines “the ongoing investment and management of the brand as a business asset.” The report takes into account each company’s financial performance, multiplying earnings by the percentage of profits that can be attributed specifically to its brand.
Target ranked second among US brands with a “brand value” of $23.3 million. Best Buy ranked fourth with a brand value of $18.8 million – up 6% from the previous year’s report. Throughout the United States, the top 50 brands increased in value by about 5% from 2010, reaching a value of $20 billion. Increased retail spending prompted the growth.
Business Journal Lists Minnesota's Top Public Companies (2011)
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal announced Minnesota’s top 100 companies for 2011. Leading the list is UnitedHealth Group, with 2010 revenues of $94 billion. Next in line are retail giant Target, with revenues of $67.4 billion, and consumer electronics retailer Best Buy, with revenues of $50.6 billion. Also on the list are SuperValu, 3M (Minnesota’s most improved revenue performer), US Bancorp, and medical device manufacturer Medtronic.
Four Greater MSP Companies Make Ethisphere’s "Most Ethical" List (2011)
Best Buy, Ecolab, General Mills and Target made the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” list in 2011 for the second consecutive year. The 110-company list, published by the Ethisphere Institute, recognizes companies that “demonstrate real and sustained ethical leadership within their industries, putting into real business practice the Institute’s credo of ‘Good. Smart. Business. Profit.’” Ethisphere does not rank the firms on its list.
General Mills Named a Top-10 Company for Executive Women (2011)
For the second year in a row, General Mills was named as one of the Top 10 companies for executive women by the National Association for Female Executives. Although NAFE does not rank the winners, it confirmed that General Mills was among the top 10 on its list of top 50. The list recognizes companies that have policies and practices that encourage women's advancement.
General Mills, Target, Wells Fargo Recognized as Top Companies for Diversity (2011)
General Mills, Target and Wells Fargo ranked among the "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" in Diversity Inc.’s 11th annual list. General Mills ranked 27th and Target placed 44th. Wells Fargo, which is based in San Francisco but has significant regional operations in Minnesota, took 40th place. 2011 marks General Mills’ seventh appearance on the list, up two spots since 2010. The editors like that General Mills has a formal succession-planning program for blacks, Latinos, Asians and American Indians. They also appreciate that a third of General Mills' philanthropic giving is directed to ethnic, LGBT and disability non-profits. The magazine applauded Target’s requirement of four hours of diversity training for its entire workforce every month. It also recognized that 90% of all Target employees participate in "a strong mentoring program with a cross-cultural component." The Top 50 list is based on a diversity management survey that measures CEO commitment, human capital, corporate communications and supplier diversity.
3M, Target and Best Buy Rank Among Fortune’s “Most Admired Companies” (2011)
3M, Target and Best Buy made Fortune magazine's top 50 list of the "World's Most Admired Companies" in 2011. 3M was ranked 15th, Target 22nd, and Best Buy 36th. Wells Fargo, which is based in San Francisco but has significant regional operations in Minneapolis, placed 41st. Fortune also singled out three Twin Cities companies as "industry champions," indicating that they are the most admired companies in their sector. The winners were 3M in the medical and precision equipment sector; US Bancorp in the super regional banks sector; and UnitedHealth Group in insurance and managed care.
Six Greater MSP Firms on Corporate Responsibility List of Best Corporate Citizens (2011)
3M led a group of six Greater MSP companies named among the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" in America by Corporate Responsibility Magazine. Maplewood-based 3M placed sixth on the 2011 citizenry list. Other top-ranked Minnesota companies include Golden Valley-based General Mills (12th), Minneapolis-based Target (42nd), Fridley-based Medtronic (66th), Plymouth-based Mosaic (67th), and Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy (91st). The 12th annual list drew upon public information in seven categories: environment, climate change, human rights, philanthropy, employee relations, financial performance, and governance.
General Mills Moves Up on Fortune’s “Best Companies to Work for” List (2011)
General Mills moved up five slots on Fortune’s 2011 list of the “100 Best Companies to Work for,” ranking 58th nationally. Fortune praised the Golden Valley-based food company for its culture, which it claims “is not flashy, loud or arrogant.” The magazine also noted that nearly 2,500 of General Mill’s 33,000 employees are 25-year veterans.
Five Greater MSP Companies Make Newsweek’s “Green Rankings” List (2010)
Five Twin Cities companies – 3M, Ecolab, Medtronic, Target and Best Buy – rank among America’s top 90 companies on Newsweek’s Green Rankings list. The 2010 tally ranks the 500 largest public companies in the US based on their “green score,” which encompasses environmental impact, green policies, and reputation. Of the Greater MSP companies, Maplewood-based 3M ranked highest at 22nd. Saint Paul-based Ecolab was close behind at 26th. Newsweek teamed with three environmental partners – MSCI ESG Research, Trucost and CorporateRegister.com – to compile the list.
Three Greater MSP Companies Make Working Mother’s Top 10 List (2010)
Golden Valley-based General Mills is one of the best companies in America for working mothers, according to Working Mother. The magazine placed the maker of Cheerios and Hamburger Helper in its 2010 Top 10 list. Two other Greater MSP operations, Minnetonka-based Carlson and Bloomington-base McGladrey, made the magazine’s Top 100 list.
General Mills is a perennial on the annual ranking. Carlson and McGladrey both have appeared in past years. The magazine notes that General Mills has moms running five of its seven US retail divisions. It credits Carlson hospitality and travel company with giving workers renewable scholarships to attend the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Women make up half of Carlson’s top earners and management team members. Bloomington-based McGladrey is credited with embracing alternative schedules. More than 90% of its employees work a flexible schedule.
Six Greater MSP Companies Make Inc’s 500 Fastest-Growing List (2010)
Six Greater MSP companies made Inc. magazine’s annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. The 2010 list is based on each company’s percentage of revenue growth between 2006 and 2009. The list includes:
43: Anulex Technologies, Minnetonka
91: Direct Exteriors, Maple Grove
219: RBA Consulting, Wayzata
226: Jobs2Web, Minnetonka
307: MetroSpec Technology, Mendota Heights
372: Reach Sports Marketing Group, Eden Prairie
Working Mother Names General Mills Among Best Companies for Multicultural Women (2010)
Working Mother magazine named Golden Valley-based General Mills as one of the top five companies in America for multicultural women. Selection was based hiring, pay and promotion data submitted by the companies and the results of a 350-question survey. The survey focused on representation of multicultural women; recruitment, retention and advancement programs; and company culture.
Although General Mills is the only Minnesota-based company to make the 2010 short list, two other top companies (Verizon and Deloitte) have significant operations in the state. “Keeping cultural inclusiveness top of mind during the economic downturn was a business imperative (to these companies)…Our winners retain star staffers by recognizing that top talent comes from different backgrounds,” said the magazine.
General Mills and 3M Win Golds at Edison Innovation Awards (2010)
Two Twin Cities companies took first place the 2010 Edison Best New Product Awards, a national innovation contest held in New York City. Maplewood-based 3M won gold medal in the technology category for its mobile projection technology, and another in electronics and computers for the Littmann electronic stethoscope model 3200. Golden Valley-based General Mills received a gold in consumer packaged foods for its Betty Crocker gluten-free dessert mix line. “The Edison Award winners are the moving parts in the engine of economic growth,” said Sarah Miller Caldicott, great grandniece of Thomas Edison and chairperson of the Edison Awards steering committee.
Three Minnesota Companies Make Forbes’ Most Trustworthy List (2010)
Forbes’ annual list of the 100 most-trustworthy companies includes three Minnesota-based companies: Capella Education of Minneapolis; Fastenal of Winona; and Hormel Foods of Austin. Companies on the list have “consistently demonstrated transparent and conservative accounting practices and solid corporate governance and management,” according to Forbes.
Forbes engaged New York-based Audit Integrity to compile the list. The research firm evaluated more than 8,000 publicly traded companies, all with market caps of $200 million or more. It penalized companies for unusual executive compensation, significant management turnover, excessive insider trading and major short-term executive compensation.
Fastenal ranked eighth on the large-cap list, with Hormel following closely at 13th. Capella placed 41st on the mid-cap list, which contained the largest number of companies.
21 Minnesota Companies Make Fortune 500 List (2010)
Twenty-one Minnesota-based companies made the 2010 Fortune 500 list, an annual ranking of the country’s largest corporations. All 19 companies from last year’s list made the cut, plus two new companies: Saint Paul-based St. Jude Medical, and Eden Prairie-based Alliant Techsystems.
Four Minnesota companies are among Fortune’s top 50: Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group; Minneapolis-based Target Corporation; Richfield-based Best Buy; and Eden Prairie-based Supervalu.
Target and Best Buy Rank 2nd and 3rd Among Most Valuable Retail Brands (2010)
Target and Best Buy brands are second only to Wal-Mart as the “most valuable US retail brands,” according to a 2010 report by the global Interbrand Design Forum. Minneapolis-based Target ranked second and Richfield-based Best Buy ranked third on the list of the top 50 brands.
"Target’s enduring blend of style and mass discount proves that value and hip are not mutually exclusive," according to the report. The Forum also mentioned how Best Buy influences which products come to market by working with suppliers.
Medtronic Named Top Innovator (2010)
Medtronic was the only Minnesota company to make Technology Review’s 2010 list of the 50 “most innovative companies” in America. The magazine, published by MIT, recognized Medtronic for its deep brain stimulation technology. That technology improves certain neurological conditions by using implanted electrodes to stimulate areas of the brain. In compiling the unranked list, the magazine considered companies’ business models, technology deployments, scaling-up strategies, and likelihood of success.
Five Greater MSP Companies Named “Best Corporate Citizens” by Corporate Responsibility Magazine (2010)
Five Minnesota companies made the 2010 list of America’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens published by Corporate Responsibility Magazine (formerly CRO Magazine). Golden Valley-based General Mills came near the top at No. 3. Xcel Energy of Minneapolis came next at No. 30. It was followed by 3M of Maplewood at 32, Mosaic of Plymouth at 45, and Medronic of Fridley at 77.
