28 September 2007

South Australia’s Top 100 companies turned over almost $21 billion in the past financial year as ‘mature’ sectors put on an impressive management display.
The Top 100 SA Company Index, compiled by South Australia in-business magazine and released today (Friday, September 28), ranks the biggest South Australian-owned private companies and locally based public companies, by turnover, in the 2006-07 financial year.

Resource firms stood out for explosive growth. Last year’s co-leader on the table, Santos, now holds the no.1 spot by a comfortable margin. Beach Petroleum more than quadrupled turnover from $121 million to $566 million.
But mining and resource development is still a small fraction of SA’s gross state product and the inspiring part of this year’s results is the proof that big players in our ‘traditional’ strong sectors – manufacturing, agribusiness and, lately, construction – continue to perform well.

The CEO profiles in the in-business Top 100 edition out next week show how South Australian big business is adapting, innovating and overcoming barriers to more than hold their own.

“The Top 100 performance is impressive this year and we’re proud to be the most accurate reflection available of that achievement,” in-business publisher, Graham Wakeling said.

“These are constantly innovating, agile enterprises. We hope highlighting them can encourage the wider SA business community to observe and emulate them.”

SA Great has partnered South Australia in-business for the annual Top 100 Luncheon since the project’s inception in 2003.

“It’s terrific to see the manufacturing industry holding on,” SA Great chief executive officer, Judy Potter said. “What’s really good to see is 36 of the companies are drawing significant revenues from outside Australia.

“And pipe manufacturer Fibrelogic was one of the first companies to receive the Federal grant money made available after the Mitsubishi engine plant closure. Fibrelogic has gone from 95 to 170 employees and that’s employment in the southern suburbs. It’s terrific to see Federal money working exactly as it is supposed to.”

Top 100 SA Company Index compiler, Max Franchitto of MGF Consulting Group said the results represented the most accurate “snapshot” of South Australia’s home-grown leaders.

“This is an economic leadership list which highlights the growing employee numbers and a significant increase in revenue – for the first time, it’s good to see the Top 100 has passed the $20 billion mark as a group.

“It also highlights the fact that we are a multiple sector state and we’re not trapped by the traditional things of wine, manufacturing and defence.
“We’re exporting across 14 sectors – not 14 companies, but sectors – which says something about business depth in this state.”

2007 TOP 100 COMPANIES:
Santos
Elders Australia
ABB Grain
Hills Industries
Adelaide Brighton
Statewide Superannuation
Scott Group
Adtrans
Commercial Motor Vehicle Group
Peregrine Corporation
Beach Petroleum
Drake Foodmarkets
Detmold Packaging
T & R Pastoral
Envestra
Adelaide Bank
McGuigan Simeon Wines
Lifeplan Funds Management
Legend Performance
& Technology
Badge Constructions
The Adelaide Community
Healthcare Alliance
Agostino Mitsubishi
Argo Investments
San Remo Macaroni
Hickinbotham Group
RAA
Built Environs
Bianco Building Supplies
Penrice Soda Holdings
Coopers Brewery
Internode Systems &
Agile Communications
Ahrens Group
Booth Transport
Community CPS Australia
Gerard Corporation
Candetti Constructions
Sarah Group
Codan
Maughan Thiem Automotive
HPS Pharmacies
Le Messurier Timber
Yalumba
Michell
Adelaide Airport
VIP Home Services
Australian Central Credit Union
Gilbert Motors
SA Liquor Distributors
SANFL
Savings & Loans Credit Union
Cavpower
Seeley International
NPS
Catcon
CCW Co-operative
Worldlink International
McMahon Services
Phil Hoffman Travel
Adelaide Fasta Pasta Group
Medical Defence Association
Bardavcol
Tagara Builders
Leed Engineering and Construction
SeaLink Travel Group
Angove's
Finsbury Green 
Romaldi Constructions
Korvest
Ellex Medical Lasers
Grant Burge Wines
Masonic Homes
Balco
John Shearer
Stuart Petroleum
SAGE Automation
Data Action
IJF Australia
Weslo Holdings
Fibrelogic
MGA Whittles
d'Arenberg
Resourceco
Haighs
Chariot
Guidera O'Connor
Hostworks
Adam Internet
Kinsmen
E.S.Wigg & Son
Power State Credit Union 
Robern Menz 
Extrastaff Recruitment
SCF Containers International
Lenswood Cold Stores Cooperative
Hamilton Health Science Group
Nova Aerospace
Rossi Boots
Beerenberg
Knispel Fruit Juices
Barossa Valley Estate