Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/for-profit-child-care-enjoys-stable-growth-year-annual-status-report-14/5013720/
The for-profit sector of the U.S. child care market had another successful year in 2000 and expects even more success in 2001. The past year was also unusually quiet in terms of the mergers and sales that have characterized this sector in recent years. Although there were many rumored acquisitions and public offerings, very little of major con-sequence actually took place, allowing the sector to concentrate on moving forward.Continuing a trend started last year, the six largest national chains grew at a somewhat faster rate than the balance of the 40 largest for-profit organizations. In 2000, the six largest chains expanded their capacity at a rate of 7%, compared with a 6% growth rate for the balance
of the Top 40. This surge of the national chains is in contrast to the scenario over the final years of the 1990s when the mid-sized chains dramatically outpaced the national chains year after year.
The resurgence of the national chains in no way echoes their explosive growth rates of the 1970s and 1980s when they enjoyed an average annual growth rate of 68%. However, the two years of steady growth do stand in marked
contrast to the zero growth history of these organizations in ...