Gators chomp on some growth

Nine Gulf Coast-based businesses made the inaugural Gator100 — a list of the fastest-growing companies a University of Florida alum either runs or owns.

Two companies, Tampa-based restaurant chain PDQ and Tampa-based Kitchen Resource Direct, made the top five of the list, at three and four, respectively. The UF Warrington Center for Entrepreneurship and & Innovation compiled the list. “CEI is excited to honor top Gator alumni entrepreneurs from schools and colleges across the UF campus,” Gator StartUps Director Nola Miyasaki says in a release. “The Gator100 exemplifies one of CEI's core values of contributing to a vibrant culture of entrepreneurship across our campus and the Gator Nation.”

The rankings are based on a compounded annual growth rate. Companies must be in business for at least five years through Sept. 1, 2014 and have had verifiable annual revenues of $100,000 or more every year since 2011 to qualify for the list. Also, a UF alum must either own at least 50% of the business, be CEO or president, or be a founder and an active senior leader. The financial data provided weren't published.

Companies on the list were honored at a luncheon Feb. 6. Here's a glance at the Gulf Coast companies: