Doral, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/17/2018 -- The Florida Companies to Watch program consists of two rounds of selections. Finalists now advance to the second round, where they will be further evaluated based on their performance in the marketplace, innovative products, services or processes, philanthropy and empowered employees.

"We applaud these first round finalists who have shown how they stand out in their regions as innovative business leaders, going to the next level to grow their companies. They are true rock stars," says Dr. Tom O'Neal, GrowFL Executive Director.

The Finalists represent a unique group of scalable, high-growth enterprises that are already located within Florida. These high growth enterprises are an important segment of our economy and their numbers have been steadily increasing, which contributed to Florida's ranking of 24 on the 2018 Kauffman Index of Growth Entrepreneurship. According to this report, "entrepreneurship is not a monolithic phenomenon, and it includes many moving parts. Creating new businesses is a different economic activity from running small businesses, which in turn is different from growing businesses." Florida Companies to Watch recognizes the different approach needed to successfully grow and scale a business and celebrates those that are working to achieve this goal.

Developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, Florida Companies To Watch is a distinguished awards program specifically designed to seek out second-stage businesses from a wide range of industries representing all areas of the state, not just those in major metropolitan areas. In addition to evaluating past growth and projected success, applicant companies are judged according to their special strengths and impact in their markets, communities and within the state – thus deeming them "worth watching."

The winners will be announced in mid-September. The 2018 honorees will be celebrated at the awards ceremony February 9th at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL.

For more information visit https://www.growfl.com/flctw18/.

The Easy Foods finalist news arrives just days before the company prepares to hold the ribbon cutting ceremony on August 27th celebrating the opening of its new location in Kissimmee. The location's address is 1965 Avenue A. Kissimmee, FL 34758.

About GrowFL
GrowFL was created in 2009 as an economic development program focused on assisting second-stage growth companies prosper in the state of Florida. By providing strategies, resources and support to second-stage companies for next level growth through Strategic Research, Peer Learning and Leadership Development, GrowFL helps companies overcome obstacles to growth and leads them towards prosperity. Based on the philosophy of Economic Gardening® — to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state — GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, is a critical component to the state's economic development strategy and Florida's entrepreneurial ecosystem. GrowFL is a statewide economic development organization certified by the National Center for Economic Gardening through the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Learn more at www.GrowFL.com.

About Easy Foods Inc.
Headquartered in Doral, Florida. Easy Foods is a tortilla manufacturer founded on the premise that artisan roots and values make a difference. Committed to operating under the highest of standards on its state of the art facility with the best and most advanced automated quality control equipment available, Easy Foods produces the freshest of tortillas that are consistent, pliable and most importantly, flavorful.

By focusing on the consistency and quality of the product, Easy Foods has managed a strong and consistent growth that has taken the company from supplying product in South Florida to the Caribbean, South America, Central America and throughout the eastern United States.

For more information or to learn more about their tortilla brands call 305-928-1593.