Medical distribution firm plans 47 hires

MANATEE COUNTY — Mercedes Medical, a $25 million medical distribution firm, plans to hire 47 people and move into an additional facility near the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

The firm, with clients nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico, currently has 64 employees. It distributes products to more than 7,000 customers through its clinical lab and histology lab divisions, according to a Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. statement.

“Our sales have been growing 10% annually, and this expansion will allow us to double our sales force to 50 team members, in addition to adding other support positions,” Mercedes CEO Alex Miller says in the release. “Our goal for 2013 is $30 million in revenue, and $50 million by the end of 2015.”

Manatee County Commissioners approved up to $111,000 in performance-based incentives for the company's potential hires. The firm must add the jobs, at or above 115% of the local area annual wage of $35,633, by 2018 to qualify for the incentives. The company also qualified for expedited permitting through the county's rapid response program, according to the release.

Mercedes Medical has been in the Bradenton area since 1993. The additional facility it will move into, after a renovation, will be the former Merita Bakery, which is next to its current headquarters. The additional space, 4,800 square feet, will be a call center.

Mercedes Medical CFO Troy Barnett recently spoke to the Business Observer about how the firm will address any potential impact from the federal health care bill, including the medical device tax. Read more here.