This year, 449 companies participated in the DiversityInc Top 50 competition...There are several companies that have made significant increases this year. Sodexo, ranked No. 1, has been steadily moving up the list because of its strong leadership commitment and metrics-based focus on diversity-management results. Kaiser Permanente moves up three spots to No. 4...KPMG moved up 14 spots as its diversity-management focus intensified, especially around talent development. And Southern Company made it onto the 25 Noteworthy list…because it now offers same-sex domestic-partner benefits. [Also refers to Northrop Grumman]