1 |
R&R Ice CreamIce cream manufacturer |
North Yorkshire |
Dec 09 |
210.22% |
43,439 |
367,601 |
1,875 |
Makes allergen-free dessert for a successful Dragons’ Den contestant |
2 |
powerPerfectorEnergy-saving device distributor |
Central London |
Dec 09 |
157.45% |
11,493 |
29,788 |
67 |
Has installed its electricity-saving technology in 1,000 Tesco stores |
3 |
Moonpig.comOnline greeting card retailer |
Central London |
Apr 10 |
149.79% |
11,570 |
31,285 |
73 |
Is reportedly up for sale |
4 |
McLaren GroupRacing team and sports car maker |
Surrey |
Dec 09 |
146.09% |
32,577 |
291,586 |
1,587 |
Its catering company runs restaurants in Chelsea Design Centre and Harvey Nichols |
5 |
SupacatAll-terrain vehicle manufacturer |
Devon |
Aug 10 |
144.66% |
8,564 |
108,468 |
117 |
Provides all-terrain vehicles used by the army’s special forces |
6 |
Liquid CapitalFinancial services provider |
Central London |
Dec 09 |
142.24% |
26,818 |
184,553 |
268 |
Has offices in Chengdu in China, Hong Kong, Sydney, Chicago and London |
7 |
ADEY Heating SolutionsHeating filter manufacturer |
Cheltenham |
Mar 10 |
137.77% |
7,908 |
20,524 |
20 |
Founder got idea for firm while servicing London Palladium’s central heating system |
8 |
RamsdensPawnbroker and jeweller |
Middlesbrough |
Dec 09 |
132.08% |
8,117 |
27,030 |
190 |
Opened its 80th pawnbroking store at the end of last year |
9 |
UPPUniversity accommodation provider |
Central London |
Aug 10 |
125.01% |
35,906 |
83,449 |
353 |
Builds and manages student housing across Britain |
10 |
FridaysFood producer |
Kent |
Dec 09 |
123.76% |
6,506 |
44,926 |
325 |
Produces and packs 7m eggs a week |
11 |
B&M RetailDiscount retailer |
Liverpool |
Dec 09 |
114.97% |
32,954 |
426,657 |
4,831 |
Has grown from 21 outlets six years ago to more than 200 this year |
12 |
AppSenseSoftware developer |
Warrington |
Jul 10 |
109.61% |
6,989 |
28,934 |
185 |
Goldman Sachs invested £43m for a minority stake in February |
13 |
bet365Online bookmaker |
Stoke-on-Trent |
Mar 10 |
107.53% |
103,042 |
419,750 |
1,313 |
Its website is available in 17 languages and 70% of sales are generated overseas |
14 |
Charles Tyrwhitt ShirtsClothing retailer |
Central London |
Jul 10 |
105.54% |
7,020 |
56,759 |
312 |
Company expects to sell 2m shirts this year |
15 |
Crisp Malting GroupMalt producer |
Norfolk |
Dec 09 |
102.10% |
14,365 |
100,682 |
232 |
Supplies malt to the maker of Glenlivet whisky |
16 |
Bristol MaidMedical equipment manufacturer |
Dorset |
Sep 09 |
101.69% |
4,325 |
20,435 |
195 |
Customers include military establishments and prisons |
17 |
Clugston GroupConstruction contractor |
Scunthorpe |
Jan 10 |
98.24% |
4,051 |
86,730 |
517 |
Its chief executive appeared in Channel 4’s Undercover Boss last year |
18 |
JD ClassicsClassic car restorer |
Essex |
Apr 10 |
97.58% |
4,317 |
24,326 |
28 |
Classic-car restoration enthusiast turned hobby into business |
19 |
Airinmar HoldingsAircraft repair manager |
Berkshire |
Mar 10 |
95.68% |
5,882 |
29,704 |
124 |
Clients include the Royal Air Force, Qantas Airways and United Airlines |
20 |
Britax ChildcareChild car seat maker |
Surrey |
Dec 09 |
95.17% |
22,865 |
202,872 |
1,010 |
Spends about £5m a year on research to ensure the safety of its products |
21 |
Euro Car PartsCar parts retailer |
Wembley |
Dec 10 |
92.28% |
16,732 |
271,562 |
2,530 |
Claims to stock more than 100,000 different car parts |
22 |
Cath KidstonLifestyle retailer |
West London |
Mar 10 |
91.16% |
12,186 |
50,369 |
383 |
Bought by US private-equity house last year in a deal valuing the firm at £100m |
23 |
Dune LondonFootwear retailer |
Central London |
Jan 10 |
90.14% |
9,260 |
136,409 |
2,608 |
Is looking to expand into America with first store planned for next year |
24 |
Cleansing Service GroupWaste manager |
Southampton |
Dec 09 |
89.60% |
3,435 |
49,463 |
374 |
Empties and repairs more than 70,000 sewage systems a year |
25 |
SkrillOnline payment provider |
Central London |
Dec 09 |
88.53% |
14,377 |
43,021 |
317 |
Postponed planned flotation last week due to adverse market conditions |
26 |
Audley TravelTour operator |
Oxfordshire |
Dec 09 |
83.07% |
7,278 |
53,670 |
156 |
Offers tailor-made holidays to more than 80 countries |
27 |
Momondo GroupTravel search |
Central London |
Dec 09 |
82.97% |
7,344 |
30,161 |
113 |
Says its website has up to 100m visitors each year |
28 |
Accrol PapersTissue products manufacturer |
Blackburn |
Apr 10 |
82.92% |
5,002 |
38,172 |
77 |
Produces more than 1m toilet rolls and 250,000 kitchen rolls a day |
29 |
G’sSalad and vegetable grower |
Cambridgeshire |
May 10 |
82.61% |
14,283 |
293,368 |
2,971 |
Sells more than 6m packs of salad and vegetables every week |
30 |
Meadow FoodsDairy product producer |
Chester |
Mar 10 |
78.54% |
7,791 |
263,089 |
306 |
Makes condensed milk and chocolate crumb used by Mars and Walls |
31 |
Severn GloconIndustrial valve manufacturer |
Gloucester |
Dec 09 |
78.48% |
8,238 |
44,640 |
320 |
Managing director bought the business from former owners with £1m loan |
32 |
Cellar TrendsAlcoholic drinks wholesaler |
Derbyshire |
May 10 |
77.98% |
6,618 |
75,564 |
95 |
Hosts a marketing event for Jägermeister at Download, a heavy-metal rock festival |
33 |
Sun MarkConsumer products wholesaler |
West London |
Aug 10 |
77.42% |
5,469 |
82,501 |
41 |
Received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the past two consecutive years |
34 |
Peacock SaltSalt distributor |
Ayr |
Apr 10 |
74.39% |
3,545 |
22,670 |
36 |
Company logo depicts the last sailing ship built by the founder in 1885 |
35 |
Aston Manor BreweryBeer and cider brewery |
Birmingham |
Dec 09 |
68.97% |
5,121 |
53,435 |
140 |
Says it is the largest independent cider maker in Britain |
36 |
RixonwayKitchen maker |
West Yorkshire |
Feb 10 |
67.99% |
4,397 |
28,811 |
430 |
August Equity backed the management team in a £27m buyout in 2006 |
37 |
PoundlandDiscount retailer |
West Midlands |
Mar 10 |
67.43% |
22,670 |
509,791 |
6,702 |
Operates more than 300 stores nationwide selling products all priced at £1 |
38 |
Apex Credit ManagementDebt purchaser |
Stratford-upon-Avon |
Dec 09 |
66.49% |
3,838 |
24,007 |
195 |
Collects debts on behalf of clients such as Lloyds Bank, HSBC and Barclays |
39 |
GO OutdoorsOutdoor equipment retailer |
Sheffield |
Jan 10 |
65.28% |
†5,479 |
†74,005 |
497 |
3i acquired a minority stake last week in a £28m deal |
40 |
LeasedriveVehicle hire and fleet manager |
Wokingham |
Dec 09 |
65.04% |
3,146 |
56,832 |
138 |
Says the acquisition of a leading competitor in December will quadruple its size |
41 |
PCMSIT services provider |
Coventry |
Sep 09 |
64.88% |
5,962 |
38,825 |
390 |
Says its call centre dealt with more than one million inquiries last year |
42 |
Wireless Infrastructure GroupWireless tower operator |
Lanarkshire |
Dec 09 |
63.62% |
9,230 |
17,120 |
29 |
Sets up income share deals with landowners to put up telecoms towers |
43 |
Pricecheck ToiletriesToiletries wholesaler |
Sheffield |
Apr 10 |
62.42% |
3,306 |
26,277 |
36 |
Generates 20% of sales in mainland Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand |
44 |
Regent GasCommercial gas supplier |
West London |
Mar 10 |
62.24% |
7,214 |
37,536 |
11 |
Founded with an investment of £30,000, now makes profits of more than £7m |
45 |
OfficeShoe retailer |
Central London |
Jan 10 |
61.90% |
†15,951 |
142,923 |
1,748 |
Founders began by selling shoes displayed on office furniture |
46 |
Healthcare Development ServicesNursing home builder |
Gloucestershire |
Mar 10 |
61.89% |
3,800 |
28,931 |
41 |
Builds care homes, two of which are shortlisted for design awards |
47 |
MicroleaseElectronic equipment provider |
Northwest London |
Feb 10 |
61.89% |
5,687 |
29,772 |
120 |
Supplies electronic testing and measuring equipment to clients such as Thales |
48 |
IpecoAircraft seat manufacturer |
Essex |
Dec 09 |
61.82% |
4,860 |
56,382 |
596 |
Grandfather of chief executive founded the company 40 years ago |
49 |
ChessTelecoms services provider |
Cheshire |
Apr 10 |
61.55% |
4,254 |
29,118 |
119 |
Founder set up company with £50,000 of his own money |
50 |
Card FactoryGreeting card retailer |
Wakefield |
Jan 10 |
59.90% |
51,520 |
215,641 |
5,298 |
Founders launched their business from the back of a van |
51 |
Aesica PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals manufacturer |
Newcastle |
Dec 09 |
59.39% |
12,900 |
84,600 |
615 |
Foreign acquisitions doubled company’s manufacturing capabilities |
52 |
Mountain WarehouseOutdoor equipment retailer |
Central London |
Feb 10 |
58.88% |
7,534 |
47,534 |
654 |
Has opened more than 50 stores in the past two years |
53 |
JP KnightTug and barge company |
Kent |
Sep 09 |
58.15% |
3,819 |
22,185 |
210 |
Company’s tugs towed captured German u-boats during second world war |
54 |
HutchinsonsAgronomy adviser |
Cambridgeshire |
Dec 09 |
57.29% |
8,152 |
132,414 |
307 |
Founded in 1938 by the chairman’s grandfather |
55 |
Priory GroupSpecialist healthcare provider |
Surrey |
Dec 09 |
57.17% |
67,070 |
256,680 |
5,521 |
Best known for treating celebrity patients for addictions to drugs and alcohol |
56 |
Wilton GroupOffshore services provider |
Middlesbrough |
Jun 10 |
57.12% |
4,769 |
38,292 |
227 |
Founders started the business with a £15,000 bank loan |
57 |
Brace’s BakeryBaker |
South Wales |
Sep 09 |
57.07% |
4,135 |
35,482 |
334 |
Supplies more than 3,000 locations with 40m loaves each year |
58 |
FM ConwayInfrastructure services provider |
Dartford |
Mar 10 |
56.75% |
11,772 |
124,967 |
698 |
Says it recycles up to 95% of construction waste from road building |
59 |
Southall TravelTravel agency and tour operator |
West London |
Mar 10 |
56.72% |
10,105 |
204,246 |
30 |
Organised trips and holidays for 300,000 people last year |
60 |
Survitec GroupSurvival equipment maker |
Central London |
Mar 10 |
56.22% |
30,667 |
161,951 |
1,270 |
Manufactures safety equipment, including submarine escape suits |
61 |
JoulesClothing retailer |
Leicestershire |
May 10 |
56.07% |
6,067 |
51,167 |
465 |
Has opened 21 new stores nationwide in the past 12 months, bringing the total to 55 |
62 |
Balhousie Care GroupCare home operator |
Forfar |
Apr 10 |
55.91% |
3,984 |
15,897 |
649 |
Provides locally produced food as part of its nutritional policy |
63 |
Access GroupSoftware consultancy and developer |
Central London |
Jun 10 |
55.75% |
5,029 |
24,580 |
290 |
Underwent a management buyout in a £50m deal backed by Lyceum Capital in March |
64 |
Raymond BrownCivil engineer |
Hampshire |
Mar 10 |
55.74% |
3,830 |
60,196 |
348 |
Has worked on projects including the redevelopment of Ascot Racecourse |
65 |
Center ParcsHoliday resort operator |
Newark |
Apr 10 |
55.15% |
41,718 |
279,975 |
5,303 |
Is planning to open a fifth site in 2013, one hour north of London |
66 |
RepublicFashion retailer |
Leeds |
Jan 10 |
54.79% |
23,167 |
173,302 |
2,459 |
Private-equity firm TPG backed a £300m tertiary buyout of the company last year |
67 |
Chain Reaction CyclesOnline bike retailer |
County Antrim |
Dec 09 |
53.58% |
8,303 |
77,409 |
291 |
Sponsors its own downhill mountain bike racing team |
68 |
White StuffFashion retailer |
South London |
May 10 |
51.73% |
15,991 |
83,722 |
1,112 |
The fitting rooms in its Edinburgh store are themed on the film character ET |
69 |
WeldexCrane hirer |
Inverness |
Nov 09 |
51.61% |
10,442 |
27,201 |
128 |
Acquired by Dunedin Capital Partners in a £100m buyout last year |
70 |
LexonPharmaceuticals distributor |
Redditch |
Apr 10 |
51.57% |
5,114 |
87,000 |
298 |
Has recently set up a website to supply animal drugs to vets and the public |
71 |
KelwayIT services provider |
Central London |
Mar 10 |
51.47% |
7,182 |
178,140 |
355 |
Clients include Microsoft, Bank of America and Oxford University Press |
72 |
Richmond GroupFinancial services provider |
Bournemouth |
Mar 10 |
51.37% |
20,820 |
46,412 |
439 |
Founder walked 300km distributing promotional material in the firm’s first month |
73 |
Thomsons Online BenefitsEmployee benefits software developer |
Central London |
Dec 09 |
51.30% |
3,400 |
16,319 |
132 |
Customers include Royal Bank of Scotland and Cisco |
74 |
BritpartCar parts supplier |
Shropshire |
Mar 10 |
51.06% |
7,097 |
43,175 |
175 |
Founder set up company after travelling through Africa and Asia in a Land Rover |
75 |
Rainham Industrial ServicesIndustrial services provider |
Essex |
Dec 09 |
50.81% |
3,778 |
28,658 |
54 |
Two acquisitions and competitors going out of business have helped this firm grow |
76 |
ColtVentilation systems provider |
Hampshire |
Dec 09 |
50.62% |
7,240 |
169,513 |
971 |
Designed light-blocking factory ventilation used during second world war blackouts |
77 |
Zenith LeasedriveVehicle lessor |
Leeds |
Mar 10 |
49.06% |
9,274 |
125,387 |
157 |
Completed its fourth buyout, worth a reported £85m, in August last year |
78 |
Airline ServicesAirline services provider |
Manchester |
Oct 09 |
48.12% |
3,346 |
32,465 |
400 |
Provides de-icing services for aircraft at 10 airports in Britain |
79 |
Jack WillsFashion retailer |
Northwest London |
Jan 10 |
47.85% |
8,574 |
64,764 |
1,286 |
Sponsors ‘brand ambassadors’ at ski resorts as part of its marketing strategy |
80 |
Argus MediaEnergy information provider |
Central London |
Jun 10 |
47.75% |
17,358 |
41,880 |
300 |
Started out as a single weekly paper tracking oil prices in European markets |
81 |
Currie & Brown GroupConstruction consultancy |
Central London |
Sep 09 |
47.12% |
4,972 |
73,544 |
903 |
Founded in 1876 as a quantity surveying partnership based in Scotland |
82 |
OPALFinancial services provider |
St. Albans |
Jun 10 |
46.64% |
3,844 |
9,370 |
92 |
Handles the administration of financial products for clients such as Direct Line |
83 |
Farrow & BallWallpaper and paint manufacturer |
Dorset |
Mar 10 |
45.61% |
5,921 |
38,091 |
288 |
Its paints were used in the restoration of St Paul’s Cathedral |
84 |
XLN Business ServicesBusiness services provider |
Central London |
Mar 10 |
44.86% |
9,751 |
54,862 |
153 |
ECI Partners backed a £78m secondary buyout in September |
85 |
CraegmoorCare home operator |
Worcester |
Dec 09 |
44.78% |
24,010 |
167,325 |
6,077 |
Was acquired by Priory Group (No 55 on the league table) this month |
86 |
Holyhead GroupWorkboat builder and operator |
North Wales |
Sep 09 |
44.74% |
7,770 |
29,801 |
207 |
Designed and built the vessel that transported Airbus A380 wings along River Dee |
87 |
Briggs & Forrester GroupBuilding services engineers |
Northampton |
Oct 09 |
44.64% |
6,025 |
129,728 |
605 |
Won six consecutive awards from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents |
88 |
Tangerine ConfectioneryConfectionery manufacturer |
Blackpool |
Dec 09 |
44.63% |
9,321 |
154,549 |
1,343 |
Produces sweets and popcorn at seven sites employing more than 1,300 staff |
89 |
Air EnergiRecruitment consultancy |
Manchester |
Dec 09 |
44.54% |
6,026 |
133,291 |
119 |
Underwent a £30m buyout backed by Zeus Private Equity in 2009 |
90 |
The RangeDiscount retailer |
Plymouth |
Jan 10 |
44.53% |
21,123 |
211,681 |
2,652 |
Cast Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson as chief elf in its 2010 Christmas ad |
91 |
Benfield Motor GroupCar dealer |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
Dec 09 |
44.52% |
9,308 |
313,167 |
1,094 |
Uses mystery video shoppers to monitor and assess staff |
92 |
Beardow AdamsAdhesive supplier |
Milton Keynes |
Dec 09 |
44.51% |
4,303 |
42,004 |
112 |
Has one of the largest production facilities of its kind in Europe |
93 |
Hobbycraft GroupCraft goods retailer |
Dorset |
Feb 10 |
44.16% |
11,535 |
84,366 |
1,538 |
Sells more than 35,000 different items used in framing, tapestry and knitting |
94 |
Marlborough CommunicationsMilitary communications provider |
Surrey |
Sep 09 |
43.83% |
3,673 |
16,798 |
29 |
Supplied equipment to British forces during the Falklands conflict |
95 |
The ConsortiumEducational, care products supplier |
Wiltshire |
Sep 09 |
43.12% |
5,362 |
43,795 |
227 |
Also runs a website selling fun products to eco-friendly families |
96 |
PraterConstruction contractor |
Surrey |
Dec 09 |
42.90% |
7,901 |
63,140 |
279 |
Installed waterproofing membrane for the roof of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium |
97 |
Morgan Law RecruitmentRecruitment consultancy |
Central London |
Sep 09 |
42.71% |
4,259 |
36,266 |
52 |
Places more than 1,200 senior managers across 500 organisations a year |
98 |
Bond Aviation GroupHelicopter operator |
Cheltenham |
Mar 10 |
42.32% |
18,357 |
91,287 |
404 |
Listed on the Profit Track 100 league table for the third consecutive year |
99 |
Joe BrownsMail-order fashion retailer |
Leeds |
Jun 10 |
42.27% |
4,470 |
18,605 |
67 |
Says it sends out 800,000 catalogues a month to its customers |
100 |
Thunderhead.comCommunications software developer |
Northeast London |
Dec 09 |
42.12% |
3,619 |
18,289 |
98 |
Has recently opened offices in Düsseldorf and Canada to boost expansion |