Southwest success.

• Position: REGIONAL REPORT - Osprey Packs - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory - All Natural Dog and Cat Treats - Brief article

Top business success stories from 2014 out of Durango, the most populated city in the region with roughly 17,000 residents, came from Zuke's All Natural Dog and Cat Treats, sold to Nestle Purina PetCare in January and Mercury Payment Systems, sold for $1.65 billion in May to a Cincinnati firm.

Based out of southwestern Colorado since 1990, Osprey Packs has grown into one of the largest technical backpack companies in the world, with products sold in 62 countries. The company will shift some operations--opening a 108,000-square-foot distribution center closer to rail service in Ogden, Utah, in April--but a net 85 employees will remain in the Cortez headquarters.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in...