Fortune Magazine released its list of the 100 fastest growing companies today. Which glamorous company topped the list? Forget shiny tech products or innovative start-ups. The number one fastest growing company was online diet company NutriSystem. Fortune offers the company’s expanding men’s business and its ads featuring former NFL superstar, Dan Marino, as reasons for its success. The top 5 are:
- Nutrisystem — Online diet company
- Hansen Natural — Energy drinks maker
- Arena Resources — Oil and gas firm
- Intuitive Surgical — Surgical robot maker
- Titanium Metals — Metal producer
What other trends does the list reveal? Fortune’s analysis concludes:
“For the third year in a row, the list is gushing oil; 37 energy companies made our cut, compared with 19 in 2005 (when oil prices were already exploding),” say Yuval Rosenberg and Eugenia Levenson… “It’s no wonder, with the price of crude still hovering around $70 a barrel.”
Internet and technology companies made a strong showing with 17 names, from A (Apple) to, well V (Vasco Data Security). Strong sales of iMacs and laptops helped Apple break into the top ten this year at No. 6.
As the housing market reeled, homebuilders Toll Brothers and Meritage Homes dropped off the list. But other seemingly fleeting trends—energy drinks, laser cosmetics, UGG boots—proved to have surprising staying power. Metals and mining companies have also continued to shine, taking 12 spots on the list.
The list gives managers a fascinating look at which sectors are surging ahead. Other lessons might include that every trend (America’s obesity epidemic comes to mind) can be capitalized on, and that, if sales to one market segment have stalled (say overweight women), then it’s time to expand into a new niche (overweight men). NutriSystem’s position at the top of the list also confirms what many already suspected — men respond well to advertising from sports stars that plays on anxieties about their sexual fitness (Viagra’s maker knew what it was doing when it sponsored Major League Baseball). Dan Marino’s opener in those commercials: “Guys, has your sex life slowed down or come to a screeching halt?”
(Image of NutriSystem product by miss_rogue, CC 2.0)
