BioZone Scientific International is proud to be selected as one of fifty leading second-stage companies selected from more than 500 nominations statewide, as this year’s Florida Companies to WatchSM winners.
Florida Companies to Watch is an awards program that celebrates privately held second-stage companies headquartered in the state. To be eligible, applicants must employ between 6 and 99 full-time equivalent employees and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue or working capital in place. Awardees are selected for demonstrating the intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, sustainable competitive advantage, outstanding corporate culture, inspired community giving and other notable strengths.
“Florida Companies to Watch is honored to recognize another outstanding group of stage-two companies,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute and associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization. This is our fourth year of celebrating second-stage business leaders throughout the state of Florida. The companies selected for the Florida Companies to Watch awards program stand out among their peers as companies that should be celebrated. In Florida, they account for 5 percent of the companies and nearly 30 percent of the jobs. These companies make a difference and we’re happy to offer the recognition they deserve.
Ari Ahola, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BioZone Scientific International says, “We are very humbled and proud to be chosen as one of the 2014 Florida Companies to Watch. This is validation that the hard work and success of our team is being recognized and that we are creating significant and sustainable value for our customers. A perfect example is IceZone® being recently approved for use in all 41,000+ locations by SUBWAY®, the world’s largest restaurant franchiser. IceZone® solves the threat of contamination and burden of cleaning associated with ice machines by automating the process through a revolutionary patented chemical-free technology. Another example occurred in May when IceZone® was chosen as a Kitchen Innovations Award winner by the National Restaurant Association.”
BioZone Scientific International manufactures UV light disinfection and oxidation systems that are chemical free, natural cleaning solutions for food service, hotels, hospitality, hospital, and educational facilities.
Florida Companies to Watch is unique because of its focus on second-stage companies and the wide-ranging industries they represent. The impact of these companies on Florida’s economy is immense, and this year’s honorees are examples of such companies in the state. Overall, the 2014 winners had $370 million in total annual revenue in 2013, which was a 36 percent increase in total annual revenue compared to 2012. They employed 1,757 full-time equivalent employees, with 462 net new jobs projected for 2014.
2014 Florida Companies to Watch Sponsors include Wells Fargo, TWSquared, University of Central Florida, Florida High Tech Corridor, atLarge, Inc., Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, Filmscape, OUC, AMTIS Inc., Enterprise Florida, Fifth Third Bank, Florida Power & Light, Insperity, LSQ Funding, Sorensen Moving & Storage, SunTrust, USF Connect.
