Forbes put Winmark Corporation number 11 on its top 100 list. The Minneapolis company franchises retail store concepts. Also representing the Gopher State: NVE Corporation, Capella Education, Buffalo Wild Wings, Hickory Tech, and Hawkins.

Six companies based in the Twin Cities and one in Duluth made Inc. magazine's 2012 list of America's 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies, the Business Journal writes. A company in Plymouth was the highest ranking Minnesota company -- cracking the top 75. Last year, eight Minnesota firms were featured on the list.

Carleton College and Macalester College are among the top 100 schools in the United States, according to Forbes. Carleton came in 31st and Macalester ranked 78th. Fifteen other Minnesota colleges and universities were named on the annual list of America’s 650 Top Colleges.

UnitedHealth Group was the top-ranking company from Minnesota. The Minnetonka-based health insurer held onto its 22nd spot, but fourteen companies saw their ranking drop. Target, Best Buy, Supervalu, and CHS all remained in the top 100. Twin Cities Business has the complete list ...

Forbes magazine has once again recognized St. Paul-based Ecolab and Golden Valley-based General Mills on this year's list of the “The World’s Most Innovative Companies." Ecolab ranks No. 31 and General Mills is 50th out of 100 global companies. Both Minnesota-based firms were on the magazine's 2011 list.

The retailer's top executive says critics raise some valid points but that anyone questioning the validity of the business model is recklessly ignoring "overwhelming evidence to the contrary."