The survey Best Growth measures whether companies hire new employees, increase their sales and if they make a profit. It also looks at whether this has changed between the last two financial statements. The survey is conducted annually by a credit reporting company.

Last year it was Torsås municipality's company that had the best growth in the entire Kalmar county.

- We have a lot of international companies that stay competitive. They invest a great deal, both in machinery parks, production premises and new technology. It is a success factor, says Anna-Kristina van Craen, business developer in Torsås municipality.

Many self-employed people

What else is the reason why little Torsås seems to have a thriving business life?

With more than 7,000 inhabitants and over 1000 private companies, Torsås is the most enterprising municipality in Kalmar County, if you count the two Öland municipalities with their special conditions in the form of tourism.

The large self-employment can be explained by the fact that Torsås largely consists of rural areas and that there is a long tradition of self-employed people in agriculture and forestry in the municipality.

But the backbone of the municipality's labor market today is the many medium-sized industrial companies: In Torsås, for example, industrial robots, springs in the automotive industry and wedding rings are manufactured.

Torsås Anda

The success factor lies in the fact that the companies cooperate, just as they do in Gnosjö, says Anna-Kristina van Craen. Directly translated, one speaks of a "Torsås sand":

- The famous Torsås sand is known in the county. I often hear that in my job.

- We see each other as colleagues in the industry, where others say that we are competitors. You even borrow personnel and machines from each other. It will be a good spirit and we will help, ”she says.

"A way to show how proud we are"

Although the municipality's business is doing well, it does not, however, attract new residents to Torsås. The population increase since 2015 is at a modest 2.2 percent, compared with the national average of 3.8.

To top the corporate rankings in this perspective is of great importance to still attract more people to move in, believes Anna-Kristina van Craen.

- It is a way of showing how proud we can be of our countryside and of our companies, that is great fun.