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Which Canadian companies are the fastest-growing despite tough economic times?

CANADA'S FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES UNVEILED:
    THE 21st ANNUAL PROFIT 100 RANKING

    According to the 21st annual PROFIT 100 Ranking, firms' average annual
    revenue growth was an astonishing 2,262%. How did they do it?

    For cross-Canada and regional (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Man-Sask,
    Alberta, B.C.) highlights, see belowTORONTO, June 1 /CNW/ - Even when times are good, growing a strong
company is fraught with many challenges, from attracting good employees to
outrunning cash-flow crunches. Add a deep recession into the mix, and for
most, the task would be near impossible. What's remarkable this year is that
despite the economy, the PROFIT 100: Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies have
increased their annual revenue by an average of 2,262% over the past five
years. Plus, no company on the list grew by less than 899%, and an impressive
76 ended 2008 in the black.

    What's their secret?

    Clearly, it takes something exceptional to rank among the entrepreneurial
elite of the PROFIT 100-especially in 2009. One quality that is in abundance
and has obviously served these entrepreneurs well is unabashed optimism.
    "We asked these leaders to look into the future and most said that the
general business environment will continue to struggle, but their own
companies will flourish," says PROFIT editor-in-chief Ian Portsmouth. "They
are blazing the path to prosperity, not only with their products and
processes, but also with their optimism, which is wonderful to see in this
economic climate." While the average PROFIT 100 entrepreneur scored Canada's
economic performance over the next year at 4.9 out of 10, they gave their own
companies a score of 8.0 out of 10.

    Who's at the top?

    Topping the ranking this year is Allegro Mobile Solutions, based in
Mississauga, Ont. With a five-year growth of 8,741%, Allegro software powers
handheld devices used by everyone from cops to copier technicians.
    The special PROFIT 100 issue, on newsstands June 4, profiles Allegro and
other dynamic businesses, and reveals the tactics and strategies they've
employed to such dramatic effect.PROFIT 100 top 5 performers:

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    Rank     Company/Industry                 Location        Revenue growth
    Overall                                                       2003-08 (%)
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    1.       Allegro Mobile Solutions         Mississauga, Ont.    8,741
             (Allegro Wireless Canada Inc.)
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    2.       Carmen Creek Gourmet Meats       Calgary              8,418
             (Wild Rose Meats Inc.)
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    3.       Infinium Group Inc.              Toronto              7,911
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    4.       Masterpiece Inc.                 Calgary              7,710
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    5.       PNI Digital Media                Vancouver            6,571
             (PhotoChannel Networks Inc.)
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    For the full ranking and breakdown of the PROFIT 100, visit
    www.profit100.com.

    REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

    TOP FIVE COMPANIES IN B.C. (12 IN PROFIT 100)

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    Rank     Company/Industry                 Location        Revenue growth
    Overall                                                       2003-08 (%)
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    5.       PNI Digital Media                Vancouver             6,571
             (PhotoChannel Networks Inc.)
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    25.      Elastic Path Software Inc.       Vancouver             2,783
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    37.      Belevedere Place Development     Kelowna, B.C.         2,076
             Ltd.
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    42.      Tenzing Managed IT Services      Kelowna, B.C.         1,785
             (Rellant Web Hosting Inc.)
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    44.      Sequel Naturals Ltd.             Port Coquitlam, B.C.  1,691
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    TOP FIVE COMPANIES IN ALBERTA (13 IN PROFIT 100)

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    Rank     Company/Industry                 Location        Revenue growth
    Overall                                                       2003-08 (%)
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    2.       Carmen Creek Gourmet Meats       Calgary               8,418
             (Wild Rose Meats Inc.)
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    4.       Masterpiece Inc.                 Calgary               7,710
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    11.      Classic Communities              Medicine Hat, Alta.   4,699
             (Classic Construction Ltd.)
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    19.      FilterBoxx Water &               Calgary               3,150
             Environmental Corp.
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    21.      Afexa Life Sciences              Edmonton              3,100
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    TOP FIVE COMPANIES IN MAN.-SASK. (2 IN PROFIT 100, 3 IN NEXT 100)

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    Rank     Company/Industry                 Location        Revenue growth
    Overall                                                       2003-08 (%)
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    49.      Oreck Canada (Axe Houghton       Winnipeg              1,577
             Group Inc.)
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    70.      KTec Earthmovers Inc.            Rosenort, Man.        1,197
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    133.     Wellington West Holdings Inc.    Winnipeg                585
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    160.     Broadview Networks Inc.          Winnipeg                466
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    168.     24-7 INtouch Inc.                Regina                  426
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    TOP FIVE COMPANIES IN ONTARIO (49 IN PROFIT 100)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Rank     Company/Industry                 Location        Revenue growth
    Overall                                                       2003-08 (%)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1.       Allegro Mobile Solutions         Mississauga, Ont.     8,741
             (Allegro Wireless Canada Inc.)
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    3.       Infinium Group Inc.              Toronto               7,911
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    6.       Kaboose Inc.                     Toronto               6,508
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    7.       Ople Marketing Group Inc.        Oakville, Ont.        6,112
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    8.       PEOPLEsource Staffing Solutions  Toronto               5,605
             Inc.
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    TOP FIVE COMPANIES IN QUEBEC (20 IN PROFIT 100)

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    Rank     Company/Industry                 Location        Revenue growth
    Overall                                                       2003-08 (%)
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    10.      Frima Studio Inc.                Quebec City           4,870
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    15.      Authentik Canada Adventures Inc. Montreal              3,557
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    22.      FinTaxi LP                       Anjou, Que.           2,915
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    54.      Revision Eyewear Inc.            Montreal              1,464
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    55.      Labopharm Inc.                   Laval, Que.           1,458
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    TOP FOUR COMPANIES IN ATLANTIC CANADA

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    Rank     Company/Industry                 Location        Revenue growth
    Overall                                                       2003-08 (%)
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    34.      Professional Quality Assurance   Fredricton, N.B.      2,192
             Ltd.
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    66.      Mad Rock Marine Solutions Inc.   St. John's, Nfld.     1,250
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    68.      Ad-Dispatch Ltd.                 Dartmouth, N.S.       1,199
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    91.      Armament Technology Inc.         Halifax                 956
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------About PROFIT

    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 more than 25 years, Canadian entrepreneurs 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 increase
their revenues, boost their profitability and get the recognition they deserve
for generating positive economic and social change. Published six times a year
by Rogers Publishing Ltd., PROFIT is distributed almost exclusively to the
chief executives of companies with 5 to 250 employees and annual revenue of $1
million to $25 million, reaching more than 300,000 readers across Canada.
Visit PROFIT online at http://www.profitmagazine.ca.