Bucking the trend: 7 growing companies in slowing sectors

Fortune's list of the Fastest Growing Companies features outperformers, many of them in industries that have long been witness to rapid growth: tech, health care, and education, to name a few. Here's a look at a few of the standouts going against the grain -- companies that are beating the odds by expanding in slowing industries.

Starbucks introduced consumers to individually-crafted espresso drinks, but Green Mountain brought more caffeinated options into the workplace. Though it's only a tenth the size of Starbucks ($1 billion vs. $10 billion in revenue), the company's patented individually-brewed Keurig system makes for a totally different cup of joe in more flavors than anyone could possibly want.

And as food and beverage industry revenues shrank last year by 3%, the Vermont-based specialty-coffee wholesaler boosted revenues by 55%, after acquiring rivals Timothy's and Tully's and increasing deliveries to hotels and offices.