WHO ARE BRISBANE'S TOP PRIVATE COMPANIES?

TERRY White Chemists has reclaimed the No.1 spot as Brisbane’s top private company with revenues of $1.75 billion and 4000 staff.

The pharmacy giant joins a plethora of organisations to be profiled in Brisbane Business News annual Top Private Companies edition – out now in more than 500 greater Brisbane newsagencies.

Terry White Chemists is determined to buy back all of its stores from Symbion Pharmacy Services after raising $12 million.

CEO Anthony White believes that despite a consumer slow-down and challenges resulting from the Government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the business has a healthy future.

Boasting combined revenue of $18.7 billion, driven by 46,660 staff across a diverse range of industries, the Top 50 have ridden out a tumultuous start to the year and emerged stronger and more resilient.

There’s no market cap in this list to draw upon, instead it has been compiled using revenue and staff figures as indicators of size. Interviews with the leaders of companies have also helped in putting the list together.

While publicity is used as a marketing tool for public companies, particularly when trying to draw capital, for private companies, the thrill of the spotlight is far less inviting.

New additions this year include Queensland Sugar at No.2, JJ Richards and Sons (13), Ingeus (27), Steel Line Garage Doors (45) and 9th placed Springfield Land Corporation.

Teys Brothers, which fell one place to No.3 this year after it was bumped by Queensland Sugar, merged with Cargill Beef Australia to form Teys Australia – A Cargill Joint Venture.

The joint venture is a combination of all beef processing and cattle feeding operations previously run by Teys and Cargill Beef and is the result of James Packer selling his 50 per cent stake.

All of the companies featured share an ethos built around workplace culture, passion and experience. Take Hutchinson Builders for example, described by managing director Greg Quinn as having a ‘wonderful culture –just a big, small business’.

Focussed on empowering people within is also a common thread, with BMD Group executive director Scott Power emphasising the importance of family values and Workpac boss Phil Smart, who says his growth strategy is based on people, the people currently working within the company and the people he would like to employ in the future.

Three companies that are notably absent from this year’s list are Collins Foods, ERM Power and Corporate Travel Management – all who have gone public with considerable success.

This Top Private Companies edition is not a rich list but rather a showcase of the power of private enterprise across broad industry sectors, representing the diversity and prosperity for which Brisbane has showed remarkable resilience and spirit.

Get your copy of the September edition today at more than 500 greater Brisbane newsagents.