As usual, there were several large companies not on the list as management declined to participate in the questionnaires circulated by Arthur Andersen. Leading that group is Simpson Timber, a pulp, paper and timber company with large land holdings throughout the Northwest and elsewhere. It is perhaps the most private of the private companies based here, having refused to participate in the survey or even provide ballpark revenue numbers. Stevedoring Services of America also slipped off the list this year. Companies are asked by Arthur Andersen about their revenues, number of employees, president and kind of business.
Some business decline to participate from year to year.
Top companies are heavily concentrated in the Seattle area, with eight of the top 10 based here. Bensussen actually topped the list of fastest growing companies, with an 85.7 percent increase in revenues from last year. Car Toys and Columbia Ventures were other big gainers. On the downside, Optiva, maker of the Sonicare dental system, slid more than 30 places, from 52nd last year to 81st this year, as sales plateaued and it faced additional competition. The list reflects trends in various industries.