Eleven companies are appearing on the Greater Cincinnati 100 for the first time, taking the place of companies that, for the most part, were acquired or went out of business.

        Making the splashiest debut, at No. 5, is Cornerstone Brands, a mail-order catalog holding company that moved its headquarters from Boston to West Chester in Butler County. Two other companies cracked the top 50: Ampac, a packaging maker, at No. 49; and Dittman-Adams Co., a merchandiser and grocery distributor, at No. 50.

        Six companies on last year's list leapfrogged their way to much higher rankings in 2001. Four of those posted revenue gains of more than 50 percent:

        • H. Dennert Distributing Corp. of Cincinnati enjoyed a 142 percent increase in sales, thanks to its acquisition of another beer distributor, Bennett Beverage in Sharonville. It rose from 80th place to 36th.

        • Sibcy Cline Inc. went from 92nd to 61st on the strength of lower interest rates and a 61 percent increase in real estate revenue.

        • Hawkstone Associates, a motor fuel retailer and wholesaler, reported a 60 percent revenue increase, pushing the Harrison company from 48th to 35th.

        • Another fuel retailer and wholesaler, Lykins Cos. of Milford, rose from 31st to 21st on the strength of a 55 percent increase in sales.

        Ten companies just missed the $41 million cutoff point. They were Cast-Fab Technologies at No. 101, followed by Loth+Mbi Inc., Frank J. Catanzaro Sons & Daughters, Hilltop Basic Resources, Holland Roofing Group, Perfection Group, Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging Co., Rough Brothers Inc., Century Construction and CDC Distributors.

Private companies post powerful numbers
Bush tax bill divides executives
11 companies break into top 100
List of Greater Cincinnati 100
Catalog empire thinks big
Champion keeps seeing windows of opportunity
Joseph Auto pulls into lead spot
Urge to build wanes since solid year in 2000