Gabrielle Chevalier of Solutions 2 Go tops 12th annual PROFIT W100
ranking of Canadians who found success despite tough times
TORONTO, Oct. 13 /CNW/ – The women of the PROFIT W100 have been through
it all—including a nasty recession—and have honed their business skills
in the process to come out the other side as formidable business
leaders. Take Gabrielle Chevalier of Mississauga, Ont.–based Solutions
2 Go Inc., a video game distribution firm that has grown to become the
biggest in North America. The grandmother of four has had her share of
challenges in this competitive arena, but still has ambitions to grow
sales from $750 million to $1 billion company—and is beginning to look
beyond the games market.
Top-ranked Chavalier is the subject of just one of several stories of
successful women entrepreneurs recounted in the pages of the November
2010 issue of PROFIT magazine. All told, the W100 firms generated an
impressive $2.2 billion in revenue and provided the equivalent of
10,792 full-time jobs. Over the past three years, their businesses have
grown by an average of 115%. A full 95% turned an operating profit last
year—impressive numbers that illustrate the determination, skill and
business savvy of the 2010 W100.
The W100 ranks entrepreneurs on the size, growth rate and profitability
of their companies.
This year’s top 5 winners, ranked by combination of revenue, growth rate
and profitability:
| Rank | Name | Company | Type of business | Revenue ($) |
| 1. | Gabrielle Chevalier |
Solutions 2 Go Inc. (Mississauga, Ont.) |
Video-game distributor | $751,520,601 |
| 2. | Susan Niczowski | Summerfresh Salads Inc. (Vaughan, Ont.) | Produces salads, dips and appetizers | $50-$75 million |
| 3. | Betty Anne Latrace-Henderson | Airline Hotels and Resorts (Saskatoon) | Hotel owner and operator | $45,993,586 |
| 4. | Gloria Rajkumar |
Simac Canada Inc. (Richmond Hill, Ont.) |
Medical assessments for insurers and employers | $10-$15 million |
| 5. | Lisette (Lee) McDonald | Southmedic Inc. (Barrie, Ont.) | Medical products distributor | $32,926,045 |
For more about the PROFIT W100, visit
www.PROFITguide.com /W100 or pick up a copy at newsstands across the country.
TOP SECTORS 2010
Sector by sector, here’s what the W100 do:
|
Business services Manufacturing Consumer services Wholesale/distribution Retail Construction Software development Agricultural production Natural resources Media Other |
43 16 12 10 8 6 5 1 1 1 3 |
How we ranked them:
The W100 are ranked by a composite of the size, growth rate and
profitability of their businesses. All growth rates were based on
base-year revenue of at least $200,000, and figures were verified
through financial statements. To qualify, women must be owners or
significant stakeholders who at least share chief decision-making
responsibilities. This is a ranking of entrepreneurs, not companies, so
some participants are ranked on the combined performance of several
qualifying firms.
About PROFIT Magazine:
PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success is Canada’s preeminent
publication dedicated to the management issues and opportunities facing
small and mid-sized businesses. For 28 years, Canadian entrepreneurs
and senior managers across a vast array of economic sectors have
remained loyal to PROFIT because it’s a timely and reliable source of
actionable information that helps them achieve business success and get
the recognition they deserve for generating positive economic and
social change. Visit PROFIT online at www.profitguide.com.