Despite the racial segregation and the economic subjugation of African Americans and the black community—still like a Phoenix from the ashes, several Black companies have survived all the economic battles thrown at them by white supremacy and have made a mark in the economy of America.
Here are the 10 biggest black owned companies in America.
1. WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY INC.
World Wide Technology Inc., one of the 10 biggest black owned companies in America, is a private organisation; which specializes in providing technology services in the USA.
World Wide Technology was founded by David L Stewart and Jim Kavanaugh in the year 1990.
The company was formerly a reseller of technology equipment.
In 1994, they went into serial partnership with Cisco, Dell HP, Intel, F5, Microsoft and NetApp for reselling of hardware and software equipment. With the help of the partnership, the company expanded and opened a warehouse and in 1999, the global solution provider, founded another company, Telcobuy.com; which recessed in the year 2000, reduced its worker, while still in operations. After 2 years, it recouped and became a holding company.
World Wide Technology established in different continents and became one of the biggest black owned businesses in the world.
WWT has an advanced technology centre and large scale integration lab.
WWT received the webby awards, made it to the 100 best companies to work for and Times list of the 100 most influential companies.
2. ACT ONE GROUP
Act One Group is an enterprise that provides employment, workforce management and procurement services for Fortune 500 organisations.
Act One group operates in 19 countries and is considered the second largest black owned business in America.
This global enterprise has over 2,600 employees and 17,000 clients all over the world.
Founded in 1978 by a black woman; Janice Bryant Howroyd, Act One Group is committed to delivering excellent services to local and global markets.
3. BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS L.L.C
Bridgewater Interiors L.L.C, was formerly a joint venture between Epsilon Technologies and Johnsons Control Inc.; but recently the joint venture is between Epsilon Technologies and Adient Plc.
They are the leading manufacturers of automotive seating systems for General Motors Corporation.
Bridgewater interiors gained relevance, through a five years contract; this contract was considered the largest contract ever awarded to a black-owned business.
The company that started with about 100 employees has expanded to 2,400 staff and four facilities in different states in the United States.
Bridgewater Interiors services are rendered to four automakers; GM, Ford Motor Company, Honda Manufacturing Company of America and Fiat Chrysler Automobile.
Bridgewater Interiors was founded in 1998 and Ronald E. Hall Sr. is the Chief Executive Officer.
4. COCA-COLA BEVERAGES FLORIDA
This family-owned independent Coca-Cola bottling company, with over 4,600 employees and different sales centers, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida was founded in 2015.
Headquartered in Tampa, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, is the 3rd Largest privately owned bottler in the United States.
Troy Taylor and his family established this business in 2015 and has since managed its operation.
According to cocacolaflorida.com, “Coca-Cola Florida, has covered over 20million consumers across Florida counties, and this includes the major metropolitan markets of Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa.”
Coke Florida was certified as a Minority Business Enterprise in 2019.
In 2020, Coke Florida was awarded as the Minority Business Enterprise Supplier of the year class IV.
Coca-Cola Florida is one of the biggest black-owned businesses in America.
5. MODULAR ASSEMBLY INNOVATIONS L.L.C
“According to modularai.com, Modular Assembly Innovations team of professionals specialize in designing and implementing sub-assembly modules for all areas of your automotive manufacturing operation.”
Modular Assembly Innovations is an automotive manufacturing solution; they provide supply chain management solutions.
Modular Assembly Innovations is considered the largest central Ohio Minority owned business.
Established by Billy R Vickers in 2011, “MAI is the majority owner of three JVs with MEI, a Honda owned company”.
6. BRIDGEMAN FOODS
Bridgeman Foods was founded in 1988 and was incorporated in 1989. The founder of Bridgeman Foods is Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman, an American businessman and former professional basketball player, while Ryan Bridgeman is the current CEO. Bridgeman Foods is registered under Consumer Discretionary Services industry in the Consumer Discretionary sector in the United States of America.
With about 20,000 employees, Bridgeman Foods affiliates currently operate 139 Wendy’s restaurants, 27 Golden Corral Buffet and Grill restaurants, 83 Fazoli’s restaurants, 6 Mark’s Feed Store restaurants, 7 Blaze Pizza restaurants, Napa River Grill, Jimmy John’s, and The Layover Bar.
7. THOMPSON HOSPITALITY
Thompson Hospitality was founded in 1992 by Warren Thompson, Thompson Hospitality expanded into the contract food service arena in 1993 and, in 1997, rebranded into Thompson Hospitality Services, LLC by forging a strategic partnership with Compass Group, the world’s largest food service company.
Thompson Hospitality Corporation is a food and facilities management company providing hospitality services in the United States. It is the largest minority-owned Food Service and one of the largest Retail Food and Facilities Management companies in the United States.
Thompson Hospitality Corporation was originally founded as a restaurant and has now branched out to offer all services of the hospitality industry.
In 2010, the company was awarded the Black Enterprise Award of Company of the Year. In 2017, Washington Business Journal ranked it #1 Minority Owned Company. In 2019 they were again recognized by Washington Business Journal as the Largest Independent Employer Company. With about 6,000 employers, Thompson Hospitality generates annual revenue of 760 million USD.
8. ANDERSON-DUBOSE COMPANY
The Anderson-Dubose company was founded in November 1991 by Warren Anderson and Stephen Dubose for the purpose of purchasing majority ownership in a McDonald’s distributorship from Martin-Brower Company.
The Andersons-Dubose Company is a distribution company providing logistics services to McDonalds and Chipotle fast food restaurants in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia in the United States.
The company purchases about 575 products from approved vendors for distribution to McDonald’s franchise owners in its territory. Products include hamburger, chicken, and fish patties, French fries, dairy products, condiments, paper and plastic products, cleaning supplies, “Happy Meal” toys for kids, and promotional items.
The Anderson Dubose Company operates from two locations, one is a 210,497 square foot facility in Lordstown, Ohio and the other is in Rochester, New York. The company operates a beer distributorship in Oklahoma City as well.
With a revenue of 703 million USD and 543 employees directly employed by the company, Anderson-DuBose is among the largest businesses to be owned by African-Americans in the United States.
9. URBAN ONE INC.
Urban One, Inc. (formerly Radio One) is an American media conglomerate. Urban One was founded in 1980 by Cathy Hughes with the purchase of the Washington, D.C. radio station WOL-AM for $995,000.
The company primarily operates media properties targeting African Americans. It is the largest African-American-owned broadcasting company in the United States, operating 55 radio stations and majority-owning the syndicator Reach Media, as well as its digital arm Interactive One, and the cable network TV One.
After joining the company in 1985 and managing its day-to-day operations since 1993, Hughes’s son, Alfred C. Liggins III, took over as CEO in 1997, with Hughes becoming the board’s chairperson. Under the guidance of Liggins as CEO, Radio One went public on May 6, 1999, while continuing to be controlled by the family.
In 2001, Radio One expanded into 22 markets, with 18 million listeners, making it the nation’s largest urban-market radio broadcasting company. Radio One reached a peak of owning 70 stations in 22 markets in 2007. It is the largest African-American-owned-and-operated broadcast company in the US. Urban One has about 1,058 employees and generates an annual revenue of about 440 million USD.
10. HIGHTOWERS PETROLEUM COMPANY
Hightowers Petroleum Company is an American petroleum products distribution company founded by Stephen “Steve” Hightower in 1982. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Hightower built the company from humble beginnings to a well-established business through persistence, drive, and determination.
It is a family business providing services in bulk fuel delivery, HPC fleet cards, inventory management, emergency fuel, and supply chain management. They offer a vast and virtually limitless array of branded and unbranded conventional fuels, as well as renewable fuels, natural gas, propane, lubricants and greases.
Hightowers Petroleum Company also has huge presences in Canada and Mexico. In the US, Hightowers generate about 435 million USD annually.
