Arkay Industries, Inc.

Street: 228 Byers Road, Suite 200

City & Zip: Miamisburg 45342

Year started: 1986

Phone: (937) 847-5588

Fax: (937) 847-2882

Principal business: Manufacturing

Thumbnail sketch: Custom plastic injection molded products for automotive, waste management, material handling and television industry.

Sales for 1998: $80.5 million

Miami Valley employees: 30

Employees elsewhere: 648

Outlook: Chief Executive Arthur Kuhnash says this will be a year of digesting recent strong growth. `This is the first in several years in which a new facility is not planned - a refreshing thought,' Kuhnash said. `This will allow us to focus inward and fine tune the existing operations. Efficiencies already have been obtained in 1999 as well as improved product quality and customer satisfaction.'

I Supply Co.

Street: 1255 Spangler Road

City & Zip: Fairborn 45324

Year started: 1944

Phone: (937) 878-5240

Fax: (937) 878-9236

Principal business: Distribution

Thumbnail sketch: Restaurant supplies and paper products across nine states

Sales for 1998: $74.3 million

Miami Valley employees: 101

Employees elsewhere: 5

Outlook: Sales are expected to climb to around $80 million this year from $75 million in 1998, says Vice President Joe Parisi. Employment should remain level. `We're trying to do more with less,' Parisi added. `We know we can't increase margins so we're trying to cut costs.' The company has another 40,000 square feet under construction for freezer and cooler storage.

Miami-Luken, Inc.

Street: 265 Pioneer Blvd.

City & Zip: Springboro 45066

Year started: 1962

Phone: (513) 743-7775

Fax: (513) 743-7786

Principal business: Distribution

Thumbnail sketch: Wholesale and mail order supplier of pharmaceuticals, home health care equipment and candies.

Sales for 1998: $74 million

Miami Valley employees: 60

Employees elsewhere: 18

Outlook: Miami-Luken is expecting a 10 to 12 percent sales increase this year and will add up to six more jobs. To combat the trend of large drug chains buying out and closing independent pharmacies, Miami-Luken established a subsidiary company, REM Corp. Its mission is to find independent buyers and help finance their purchase of stores ahead of the large chains. When this is not feasible, REM can step in and make the acquisition or restart the closed store. REM currently owns two active pharmacies. Two more in the start-up stages will open by June.

Woolpert LLP

Street: 409 East Monument Ave.

City & Zip: Dayton 45402

Year started: 1911

Phone: (937) 431-5660

Fax: (937) 461-0743

Principal business: Service

Thumbnail sketch: Engineering and architectural consulting firm

Sales for 1998: $72.8 million

Miami Valley employees: 271

Employees elsewhere: 426

Outlook: Woolpert LLP expects to increase sales nearly 9 percent to $79.2 million from $72.8 million a year ago. International efforts include continued focus on opportunities in South America and Asia. Recruitment is key, with 30-plus staff additions projected. A new career path program is underway, including employee training and career development.

Dayton Freight Lines, Inc.

Street: 6450 Poe Ave., Suite 311

City & Zip: Dayton 45414

Year started: 1981

Phone: (937) 264-4060

Fax: (937) 264-4079

Principal business: Service

Thumbnail sketch: Common carrier operating in the central states region. The company's specialty is overnight delivery of less-than-truckload shipments.

Sales for 1998: $61 million

Miami Valley employees: 152

Employees elsewhere: 594

No. of shareholders: 3

Outlook: For 1999, Dayton Freight Lines, Inc., expects strong economic activity and anticipates revenue grow of nearly 20 percent. `To achieve this growth and continue to provide exceptional customer service, we plan to spend $14 million on capital investment, hire additional employees and expand our geographic coverage,' said Tom Cronin, president. The biggest challenge is attracting and retaining qualified employees, Cronin added.

Henny Penny Corp.

Street: 1219 U.S. Route 35 West, P.O. Box 60

City & Zip: Eaton 45320

Year started: 1957

Phone: (937) 456-8400

Fax: (937) 456-8928

Principal business: Manufacturing

Thumbnail sketch: Makes food service equipment for restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores.

Sales for 1998: $72 million

Miami Valley employees: 453

Employees elsewhere: 18

Outlook: The Henny Penny Corp. anticipates 4 to 5 percent revenue growth this year as well as a slight increase in job offerings, according to President Steven D. Cobb. Institutional sales will provide new opportunities for the sales force. The company is presently evaluating a startup assembly process in China.

Lion Apparel, Inc.

Street: 6450 Poe Ave., P.O. Box 14576

City & Zip: Dayton 45413

Year started: 1898

Phone: (937) 898-1949

Fax: (937) 898-2848

Principal business: Manufacturing

Thumbnail sketch: Manufacturer and marketer of uniform and protective apparel. The company offers program management services for companies and government units.

Sales for 1998: $69.1 million

Miami Valley employees: 160

Employees elsewhere: 575

Outlook: The company expects sales to increase to $74 million this fiscal year with large new clients. The company plans to offer logistical services such as storing, repairing and managing materials.

Schear Financial Services Inc.

Street: 36 W. Third St.

City & Zip: Dayton 45402

Year started: 1981

Phone: (937) 228-5600

Fax: (937) 898-2848

Principal business: Distribution

Thumbnail sketch: Wholesale grocer and operator of 32 financial service centers.

Sales for 1998: $68 million

Miami Valley employees: 140

Employees elsewhere: 10

Outlook: The company expects to increase wholesale grocery operations and Cashland centers by 50 percent. The company has proprietary databases that will be used to increase grocery operations.

Becker Electric Supply

Street: 1341 E. Fourth St.

City & Zip: Dayton 45402

Year started: 1920

Phone: (937) 226-1341

Fax: (937) 226-1790

Principal business: Distribution

Thumbnail sketch: Distributes electrical supplies, automation and motor controls, commercial, industrial and residential lighting.

Sales for 1997: $67.2 million

Miami Valley employees: 120

Employees elsewhere: 100

Outlook: In January, Becker acquired Electric Heat & Supply Co. of Brookville and Piqua. Electric Heat & Supply serves the homebuilding industry and industrial companies. `That should give us about a 10 percent increase in sales this year,' said Chairman Thomas Becker Sr. The acquisition will offset a 10 percent early year sales slump caused by poor weather in January and February. Fortunately, spring's mild temperatures produced a upsurge in construction.

DAYTON TOP 100 1999
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