A Twin Cities bicycle manufacturer was named to Forbes magazine’s first-ever Best Small Companies in America list, which features 25 “small giants” in business.
 
Forbes named Bloomington-based Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) for its great service and work environment, community contributions and other “nonfinancial priorities.”
 
Founded in 1981 by Steve Flagg and Mary Henrickson, QBP began as a small office in St. Paul with $100,00 of sales in its first year. It has grown to become the nation’s largest wholesale distributer of bicycle parts and accessories with $200 million in revenue.
 
The company maintains warehouses in Minnesota, Utah, Pennsylvania and Nevada to provide one-day delivery to its 5,400 bike-store customers. Last May, QBP also opened a warehouse in Taiwan where it manufactures products for its own bike brands, such as Civia, Salsa, Foundry, Surly, and All-City.
 
QBP currently employs 700 workers, although Flagg stepped down as CEO in September to retire. He was named listed as one of TCB’s 100 People to Know in 2015.