The Big Idea

REVIEW SUMMARY
Business. Richard's Foodporium, Sarasota
Industry. Grocery, vitamins, retail
Key. Company is on a growth spurt, both organically and through acquisitions.

Richard's Foodporium executives tend to gulp with jitters when they hear the following fateful words from their boss, John Rorer: “I'm going on a trip.”

While the top managers for the Sarasota-based natural foods and specialty goods chain like Rorer plenty, their nerves aren't because they will miss him. Instead, they know an avalanche of business dreams — some doable, others, not so much — is in their future because Rorer will have time to kill.