Times are tough, but some businesses are thriving despite the bad economy.
The Thurston County Economic Development Council honored two such businesses – The Rants Group and Harbor Wholesale Grocery – with its 2011 Business Recognition Awards on March 30.
“The awards showcase the importance of private sector businesses and the contributions they make to our local economy,” said Renée Sunde, the council’s marketing and business development director.
Based in Olympia, The Rants Group, an AWB member since 1978, is a family-owned commercial real estate company. Started by Ron Rants in 1973, with his son Patrick now at the helm, the company has been able to retain most of its staff during the current downturn in the real estate market.
Sunde also gives The Rants Group high marks for its contribution to the community.
“The Rants Group donates 25 percent of its net income to charitable efforts,” said Sunde. “Not only does it give back to the community, but it also works with a lot of local non-profits, giving them its expertise when they need help, and this is done just to be of service to the community.”
“The main thing is we’ve become part of the community,” said Ron Rants. “We know the community. We love the community. We invest in the community. It’s our norm.”
Tumwater-based Harbor Wholesale Grocery, an AWB member since 2007, is a fourth generation family business started in 1923 that now distributes food products to drug stores, convenience stores and restaurants in six states. In two months, it will move into a new 200,000 square foot headquarters and distribution center in Lacey.
“One of the things that is especially impressive about Harbor Wholesale Grocery is that in the market we’ve been experiencing, it is one of the few companies in Thurston County that’s going through a major expansion and re-investment,” said Sunde.
“We’re strongly invested in our community,” said Mike Erickson, the company’s chairman. “We have a strong customer base, and we’re happy to be in Thurston County.”