FB Top Family Businesses

The world's 50 fastest growing family businesses

At the time of writing, traders’ screens around the world are turning a nasty shade of red. Stock markets are plummeting everywhere and there is much talk of developed economies slipping back into recession. But away from the trading floors, there is another story about the world economy - one that moves more slowly and involves fewer people panicking, and so gets less attention.

CampdenFB’s list, supported by Ernst & Young, of the fastest growing 50 family businesses, shows a sector flourishing. The top spot is occupied by Argentina’s IMPSA, a manufacturer of renewable energy technology, whose revenues increased 115% between 2008 and 2010. It’s a global story and in a troubled world, families are doing it for themselves. And it’s working pretty well. To rank the companies, CampdenFB looked at revenue growth in local currency during the three-year period from 2008 until the end of 2010.

Top 100 family businesses in North America

Family businesses are alive and well in the US, with the top 100 generating approximately $1.6 trillion to America’s $14.6 trillion GDP in 2010. Just under half of the top 100 are owned outright by the family, a higher proportion than in Europe, where Campden’s top 100 family business for the region found that less than a third were fully controlled by the family.

This may be because many North American family businesses are very regional – often with operations only in a few states – and consequently unlikely to use public markets to grow the business outside of their region.

Top 100 family businesses in Europe

Welcome to the first definitive list of the top 100 family businesses in Europe, compiled by CampdenFB. The role of family businesses in the European economy is paramount to the success of the countries that comprise the biggest economic region in the world. Just how important they are to the wellbeing of Europe is underlined by the combined revenues of the top 100 that amounted to €1.1 trillion in 2009 – nearly equivalent to the GDP of Spain.

At the apex of this list in terms of total revenue is the carmaker Volkswagen, the second-largest automaker in the world of which the Piëch clan control 32.2%, with revenues of more than €105 billion last year.