Which companies can you think of that started right here in Jacksonville?
Winn-Dixie is probably the name that immediately comes to mind. That’s fair — the chain did indeed begin here, and it continues to be headquartered here to this day through its parent company, Southeastern Grocers.
But some others might surprise you. We’ve put together a quick list of five companies that you might not have known are actually from Jacksonville.
A lot of locals are unaware that gas and real estate conglomerate GATE Petroleum originated here.
Founder Herb Peyton opened his first gas station in 1960. The company’s website states that Peyton named it GATE because, at the time, the city’s slogan was “Gateway to Florida.”
The company expanded rapidly during the ’80s, expanding into real estate and other ventures. It now owns several of the country clubs in Jacksonville, along with several parcels of land in Duval and St. Johns counties.
The company remains an active member of the Jacksonville community, sponsoring the yearly GATE River Run as well as forming the GATE Foundation to benefit local causes.