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From purveyors of rare sea salts, to the company behind a revolutionary wine bottle opener to entrepreneurs making all-natural and gluten-free snacks, the Inc 5000 list is as varied as the gourmet industry itself.

In its September issue, Inc. Magazine released its fifth annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list, according to the magazine, represents the most comprehensive look at America’s independent entrepreneurs.

Numerous companies in the gourmet and specialty foods industry made the cut. The Fresh Market, the specialty foods retailer based in Greensboro, N.C., ranked No. 3942. Lakeland, Fla.-based supermarket Publix also made this year’s list, at No. 4796. Ridgefield, Conn.-based specialty food distributor Chef’s Warehouse came in at No. 4155.

Metrokane, makers of the Rabbit corkscrew, is No. 4284 on this year’s list.

In a stagnant economic environment, median growth rate of 2011 Inc. 500|5000 companies remains at 94 percent, according to the magazine. The companies on this year’s list report having created 350,000 jobs in the past three years, and aggregate revenue among the honorees reached $366 billion, up 14 percent from last year.

"Now, more than ever, we depend on Inc. 500/5000 companies to spur innovation, provide jobs, and drive the economy forward. Growth companies, not large corporations, are where the action is,” says Inc. Magazine Editor Jane Berentson.

Other specialty food and gourmet companies on the list include:

• 488  Peeled Snacks, N.Y.
• 584  Food Should Taste Good, Mass.
• 797  Bare Fruit, Calif.
• 1260  Snikiddy, Colo.
• 1265  Rustic Crust, N.H.
• 1336  Honest Tea, Md.
• 2692  Look’s Gourmet Food, Maine
• 2703  Candywarehouse.com, Calif.
• 2835  Enjoy Life, Ill.
• 2895  Nutiva, Calif
• 2971  Chex Finer Foods, Mass.
• 3029  Saltworks, Wash.
• 3139  Blount Fine Foods, Mass.
• 3421  Annie’s, Calif.
• 3676  King Arthur Flour, Vt.
• 3739  Late July Organic Snacks, Mass.
• 4284  Metrokane, N.Y.
• 4308  Snack Factory, Ill.
• 4531  Monin, Fla.
• 4695  R.W. Garcia, Calif.
• 4783  Rising Sun Farms, Ore.
• 4786  Kim & Scotts Gourmet Pretzels, Ill.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/5000.