Alabama is home to a thriving business community, with numerous companies making their mark in various industries.
From manufacturing giants to telecommunications powerhouses, the state boasts a diverse range of businesses that contribute significantly to the local and national economy.
In this article, we will explore the 40 largest companies in Alabama, shedding light on their impact and influence in the state.
These companies represent a wide spectrum of sectors, including automobile manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, and more.
Their presence plays a pivotal role in providing employment opportunities, driving innovation, and fostering economic growth within the state.
1. Regions Financial Corporation
Background: Founded in 1971 in Birmingham, Alabama, through the merger of three local banks.
Core Industries: Banking, financial services, wealth management.
Key Achievements: One of the largest regional banks in the U.S., known for its diverse range of banking and financial products.
2. Vulcan Materials Company
Background: Established in 1909 as Birmingham Slag Company, grew to become the leading producer of construction aggregates.
Core Industries: Construction materials, aggregates production.
Key Achievements: Supplies materials for various construction projects nationwide, including roads, bridges, and buildings.
3. Protective Life Corporation
Background: Founded in 1907 in Birmingham, Alabama, as Protective Life Insurance Company.
Core Industries: Life insurance, annuities, financial services.
Key Achievements: Offers a wide range of insurance and investment products, serving millions of customers nationwide.
4. HealthSouth Corporation (now Encompass Health Corporation)
Background: Established in 1984 in Birmingham, Alabama, providing rehabilitative healthcare services.
Core Industries: Inpatient rehabilitation, home health, outpatient rehabilitation.
Key Achievements: Leading provider of post-acute healthcare services, with a focus on rehabilitation and specialized care.
5. Southern Company
Background: Originated in 1945 as Southern Power Company, expanded to become one of the largest electric utility holding companies.
Core Industries: Electric utility, power generation, transmission, distribution.
Key Achievements: Supplies electricity to millions of customers across the Southeastern United States, with a focus on reliability and innovation.
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6. Drummond Company, Inc.
Background: Founded in 1935 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a coal mining company.
Core Industries: Coal mining, energy production, transportation logistics.
Key Achievements: Operates coal mines in Alabama and Colombia, South America, supplying coal for industrial and energy applications.
7. Alabama Power Company
Background: Established in 1906 as a subsidiary of Southern Company, providing electric power in Alabama.
Core Industries: Electric utility, power generation, transmission, distribution.
Key Achievements: Supplies electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Alabama, focusing on reliability and customer service.
8. Energen Corporation (now part of Diamondback Energy, Inc.)
Background: Founded in 1979 in Birmingham, Alabama, as an oil and gas exploration company.
Core Industries: Oil and gas exploration, production, development.
Key Achievements: Operated in the Permian Basin and other regions, contributing to domestic energy production.
9. BBVA USA (formerly BBVA Compass)
Background: Traces its roots to the founding of Central Bank and Trust Company in Birmingham in 1964.
Core Industries: Banking, financial services, wealth management.
Key Achievements: Offers retail and commercial banking services in multiple states, known for its innovative products and customer service.
10. Altec, Inc.
Background: Established in 1929 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a manufacturer of truck-mounted cranes.
Core Industries: Manufacturing, industrial equipment, utility services.
Key Achievements: Produces aerial devices and utility equipment used in various industries worldwide, known for quality and reliability.
11. Russell Brands, LLC
Background: Founded in 1902 in Alexander City, Alabama, as Russell Manufacturing Company.
Core Industries: Athletic apparel, sporting goods manufacturing.
Key Achievements: Leading manufacturer and marketer of athletic apparel and equipment, known for brands like Russell Athletic and Spalding.
12. Books-A-Million
Background: Established in 1917 in Florence, Alabama, as “The Bookloft” magazine stand.
Core Industries: Retail, bookselling, entertainment products.
Key Achievements: One of the largest book retailers in the U.S., offering a wide selection of books, magazines, and entertainment products.
13. Raycom Media
Background: Founded in 1996 through the merger of Aflac Broadcast Group and Ellis Communications.
Core Industries: Media, television broadcasting.
Key Achievements: Owns and operates numerous television stations across the U.S., providing local news, sports, and entertainment programming.
14. Golden Flake
Background: Established in 1923 in Birmingham, Alabama, as Magic City Foods.
Core Industries: Snack food manufacturing, distribution.
Key Achievements: Produces a variety of snack products sold throughout the Southeastern United States.
15. EBSCO Industries
Background: Founded in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a subscription agency for magazines and periodicals.
Core Industries: Publishing, information services, manufacturing.
Key Achievements: Leading global provider of research databases, e-journals, and information resources for libraries and institutions.
16. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
Background: Established in 1936 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a non-profit health insurance company.
Core Industries: Health insurance, healthcare services.
Key Achievements: Largest health insurance provider in Alabama, offering a range of health insurance products and services.
17. Encompass Health Corporation (formerly HealthSouth Corporation)
Background: Founded in 1984 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a provider of rehabilitative healthcare services.
Core Industries: Post-acute healthcare, rehabilitation services.
Key Achievements: Leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation, home health, and outpatient rehabilitation services.
18. McWane, Inc.
Background: Established in 1921 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a cast iron pipe manufacturer.
Core Industries: Manufacturing, waterworks, plumbing products.
Key Achievements: Supplies iron and steel products for waterworks, plumbing, and fire protection industries.
19. O’Neal Industries
Background: Founded in 1921 in Birmingham, Alabama, as O’Neal Steel.
Core Industries: Metals distribution, processing.
Key Achievements: Leading distributor and processor of metals, serving industrial customers nationwide.
20. Balch & Bingham LLP
Background: Established in 1922 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a law firm.
Core Industries: Legal services, corporate law.
Key Achievements: One of the largest law firms in the Southeastern United States, providing legal counsel to businesses and individuals.
21. Royal Cup, Inc.
Background: Founded in 1896 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a small, family-owned coffee roaster.
Core Industries: Beverage manufacturing and distribution, specializing in coffee and tea solutions.
Key Achievements: Pioneered sustainable sourcing practices for coffee beans, expanded product line to include specialty coffees and teas, established partnerships with leading foodservice providers.
22. Saks, Inc. (now part of Hudson’s Bay Company)
Background: Founded in 1924 in New York City as Saks Fifth Avenue, expanded operations and acquired Birmingham-based Parisian department stores.
Core Industries: Luxury retail, fashion.
Key Achievements: Established Saks Fifth Avenue as a premier luxury fashion destination, expanded retail footprint through acquisitions, introduced innovative retail concepts.
23. Brasfield & Gorrie
Background: Founded in 1964 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a general contracting and construction management firm.
Core Industries: Construction and engineering.
Key Achievements: Completed landmark projects across various sectors, embraced sustainable building practices, recognized as one of the top contractors in the United States.
24. SouthTrust Corporation (now part of Regions Financial Corporation)
Background: Founded in 1972 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a regional bank.
Core Industries: Financial services, banking.
Key Achievements: Expanded branch network through acquisitions, implemented innovative banking technologies, maintained strong community engagement.
25. Thompson Tractor Company, Inc.
Background: Founded in 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a Caterpillar equipment dealer.
Core Industries: Heavy equipment distribution and rental.
Key Achievements: Established reputation for excellence in customer service, expanded product line to include comprehensive range of equipment, invested in state-of-the-art facilities.
26. Buffalo Rock Company
Background: Established in 1901 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a beverage bottling company.
Core Industries: Beverage manufacturing, distribution.
Key Achievements: Produces and distributes a wide range of beverages, including soft drinks, energy drinks, and water, serving customers across the Southeastern United States.
27. BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama
Background: Founded in 1936 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a non-profit health insurance company.
Core Industries: Health insurance, healthcare services.
Key Achievements: Provides health insurance coverage to individuals and groups, offering a variety of plans and services to meet diverse healthcare needs.
28. EBSCO Industries
Background: Founded in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a subscription agency for magazines and periodicals.
Core Industries: Publishing, information services, manufacturing.
Key Achievements: Operates diverse portfolio of businesses, including publishing, manufacturing, and information services, serving customers worldwide.
29. Harbert Management Corporation
Background: Established in 1993 in Birmingham, Alabama, as an investment management firm.
Core Industries: Investment management, financial services.
Key Achievements: Manages alternative investment funds and provides investment advisory services to institutional and individual clients.
30. Alfa Insurance Companies
Background: Founded in 1946 in Montgomery, Alabama, as the Alabama Farmers Federation.
Core Industries: Insurance, financial services.
Key Achievements: Offers insurance products and services, including auto, home, life, and farm insurance, to individuals and businesses across the Southeastern United States.
31. Shipt
Background: Founded in 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a grocery delivery service.
Core Industries: E-commerce, grocery delivery.
Key Achievements: Offers same-day delivery of groceries and household essentials from local stores to customers through a convenient mobile app platform.
32. Hibbett Sports, Inc.
Background: Established in 1945 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a small sporting goods store.
Core Industries: Retail, sporting goods.
Key Achievements: Operates sporting goods retail stores in small to mid-sized markets, offering a wide selection of athletic apparel, footwear, and equipment.
33. Motion Industries, Inc. (a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company)
Background: Founded in 1946 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a distributor of industrial maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) products.
Core Industries: Industrial distribution, MRO products.
Key Achievements: Supplies bearings, power transmission components, fluid power products, and other industrial supplies to customers in various industries.
34. Cobbs Allen
Background: Established in 1887 in Birmingham, Alabama, as a family-owned insurance agency.
Core Industries: Insurance, risk management, employee benefits.
Key Achievements: Provides insurance brokerage, risk management, and employee benefits consulting services to businesses and individuals.
35. Books-A-Million
Background: Founded in 1917 in Florence, Alabama, as “The Bookloft” magazine stand.
Core Industries: Retail, bookselling, entertainment products.
Key Achievements: One of the largest book retailers in the U.S., offering a wide selection of books, magazines, and entertainment products.
36. Healthcare Realty Trust
Background: Founded in 1992, Healthcare Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in healthcare-related properties.
Core Industries: Real estate investment, healthcare properties.
Key Achievements: Owns and manages a diverse portfolio of medical office buildings and healthcare facilities across the United States.
37. Red Diamond, Inc.
Background: Established in 1906 in Birmingham, Alabama, Red Diamond is a family-owned beverage company.
Core Industries: Beverage manufacturing, distribution.
Key Achievements: Produces a wide range of beverages, including coffee, tea, and fruit-flavored drinks, known for quality and taste.
38. Serra Automotive, Inc.
Background: Founded in 1988 in Grand Blanc, Michigan, Serra Automotive is a privately-held automotive dealership group.
Core Industries: Automotive retail, dealership operations.
Key Achievements: Operates multiple automotive dealerships across the United States, offering a variety of new and used vehicles, as well as automotive services.
39. Tractor & Equipment Company, Inc.
Background: Established in 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama, Tractor & Equipment Company is a construction equipment dealership.
Core Industries: Construction equipment sales, rental, and service.
Key Achievements: Provides a wide range of construction equipment and machinery to customers in the construction, mining, and forestry industries.
40. Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood (GMC)
Background: Founded in 1947 in Montgomery, Alabama, GMC is a multidisciplinary architecture and engineering firm.
Core Industries: Architecture, engineering, planning.
Key Achievements: Offers comprehensive design and consulting services for various projects, including healthcare facilities, education campuses, and municipal infrastructure.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the diverse array of companies showcased among Alabama’s largest enterprises highlights the state’s robust economy and entrepreneurial spirit.
From banking and financial services to manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality, these companies play pivotal roles in driving innovation, creating employment opportunities, and contributing to the overall growth and prosperity of the region.
With a rich history rooted in ingenuity and resilience, these companies continue to thrive in a competitive marketplace, embodying the ethos of success and excellence that defines Alabama’s business landscape.
As they navigate challenges and seize new opportunities, these 40 largest companies exemplify the strength and vitality of Alabama’s business community, positioning the state as a dynamic hub for economic development and innovation.
