DENVER, U.S. — Denver-based Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea Company made its debut on Inc. Magazine’s 37th Annual Inc. 5000 list – the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies – at number 2,000.
The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment: Its independent small businesses. Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow – and coffee companies such as Intelligentsia and La Colombe – have also gained national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
Gov. Hickenlooper celebrated Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea Company, the top-ranking Colorado company on the list within the manufacturing industry, at a reception for all the state’s winners on Monday, Oct. 15.
The accolade follows Luna’s recognition as “Emerging Business of the Year” from the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce in 2009, and as one of 2013’s “Colorado Companies to Watch.”
“We couldn’t be more honored to have made this prestigious list,” said Jason Barrow, co-founder and president of Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea Company. “Our inclusion amongst the nation’s fastest-growing private companies is a reflection of our dedicated employees, who roast the finest coffees for the customers who rely on Luna to deliver what’s on-trend in a very competitive coffee market.”
For 21 years, Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea Company has been committed to roasting specialty grade coffees and blending whole leaf teas, while remaining socially responsible throughout the process. As the largest family-owned roaster in Colorado, Luna’s brands include Boyer’s Coffee, Boca Java, Luna Roasters and Boulder Organic Coffee.
The company’s diverse lineup of products – including proprietary blended roasts, flavored coffee and imported coffee beans from more than 40 different origins around the globe – are sold in grocery stores, restaurants, cafes and online.
“In our industry, it’s important to realize that the simple act of drinking coffee every day can have a lasting impact throughout the world. That’s why we’re committed to being ethically sourced, socially responsible and open to opportunities to give back to the community – both locally and worldwide,” says Douglass Barrow, co-founder and roastmaster.
Not only have the companies on the 2018 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists. The 2018 Inc. 5000 achieved an astounding three-year average growth of 538.2 percent, and a median rate of 171.8 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $206.1 billion in 2017, accounting for 664,095 jobs over the past three years.
“If your company is on the Inc. 5000, it’s unparalleled recognition of your years of hard work and sacrifice,” says Inc. Magazine’s editor-in-chief, James Ledbetter. “The lines of business may come and go, or come and stay. What doesn’t change is the way entrepreneurs create and accelerate the forces that shape our lives.”
Methodology
The 2018 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2014 and 2017. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2014. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2017. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2014 is $100,000; the minimum for 2017 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
