Profit Track 100
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Rank Company Location Year end % annual profit growth Latest profits £000 Latest sales £000 Staff Comment
1 PartnershipLife assurance specialist Central London Dec 11 176.36% 66,970 892,216 311 Is the only company to top the league table twice in the 14 years of Profit Track 100
2 SPTS TechnologiesSemiconductor equipment manufacturer Newport Dec 11 161.63% 50,196 182,206 506 Has manufacturing facilities in Newport, Wales and San Jose, California
3 Global RadioRadio broadcaster Central London Mar 12 161.09% 37,601 209,448 1,059 Owns well-known radio stations, including Heart, Classic FM and Capital
4 Côte RestaurantsRestaurant operator Central London Jul 12 145.08% 8,374 49,344 1,124 Is reportedly up for sale by its majority shareholder, Richard Caring
5 Wyevale Garden CentresGarden centre operator West London Dec 11 131.43% 17,935 263,657 3,019 Private equity firm Terra Firma bought the group in a £276m deal in April 2012
6 Ambassador Theatre GroupTheatre operator Woking Mar 12 129.62% †17,239 †106,705 2,596 Owns 39 venues, including the Savoy Theatre in London
7 Dr MartensShoe manufacturer and retailer Northamptonshire Mar 12 127.11% 21,914 126,045 374 Has 13 stores in the UK and 33 overseas, with its boots selling in 75 countries
8 Dransfield PropertiesRetail property developer Barnsley Sep 11 119.93% 6,069 22,768 16 Has raised its profits partly due to increased land sales
9 SertecAutomotive engineer Birmingham Mar 12 118.87% 7,135 85,578 564 Has benefited from the recent growth of Jaguar Land Rover, its main customer
10 Harvard EngineeringLighting controls manufacturer Wakefield Oct 11 113.44% 5,982 21,471 167 Has opened offices in Germany, France, Italy and the US in the past two years
11 The A & A GroupInsurance intermediary Southwest London Dec 11 112.38% 5,983 45,598 419 Also has a French division that provides health and commercial insurance
12 Paultons ParkTheme park operator Hampshire Nov 11 107.68% 7,355 18,632 305 The opening of Peppa Pig World has helped to double its visitor numbers to 1m a year
13 Travel CounsellorsTravel agency Bolton Oct 11 102.96% 4,809 85,748 229 Provides customised holiday and corporate travel packages to 450,000 customers a year
14 Cellar TrendsAlcoholic drinks wholesaler Derbyshire May 12 100.79% 11,452 100,213 333 Promotes Jägermeister by sending events team on tour around the country
15 Hunter BootWellington boot retailer Edinburgh Dec 11 97.41% 22,100 77,959 73 Is launching its first clothing range this year
16 Brookfield RoseTemporary workforce manager Cheshire Dec 11 96.76% 6,657 377,277 83 Procures temporary agency workers for clients including British Gas and Carlsberg
17 Forward Internet GroupMedia developer and investor Central London Dec 11 96.39% 19,877 139,293 218 Acquired price comparison site uSwitch in 2009
18 CentekOilfield equipment manufacturer Devon Oct 11 88.44% 4,521 12,598 81 Operates in 50 countires and its customers include Shell and BP
19 Oak Furniture LandFurniture retailer Swindon Sep 12 87.92% 9,169 83,338 297 Founder started the firm as a furniture shop on eBay in 2004
20 Jacobson GroupFootwear manufacturer and distributor Lancashire Sep 11 85.62% 5,359 69,771 296 Sells to retailers including Asos, Arcadia, River Island and Schuh
21 Total Security ServicesSecurity services provider East London Oct 11 84.45% 5,145 52,676 3,049 Provides security officers and related services to retailers such as Boots and John Lewis
22 Arora HoldingsHotel operator West London Mar 12 84.29% 14,609 157,940 995 Founder started the firm after running a B&B service for airline staff at Heathrow
23 APC OvernightParcel courier Wolverhampton Mar 12 84.26% 4,937 65,759 330 Is investing £15m in a national distribution centre in Staffordshire
24 LWCDrinks distributor Manchester Sep 11 84.23% 3,461 108,480 336 Sells alcoholic drinks including Moonshine vodka and Old J rum
25 QuidcoCash-back website operator Central London Jul 12 83.59% 3,777 55,216 63 Its most recent product launch offers shoppers cashback on everyday supermarket items
26 Wellness FoodsHealth food manufacturer Surrey Dec 11 82.19% 8,019 221,641 1,485 Its brands include Dorset Cereals, Rowse Honey and Fruit Bowl
27 Be Wiser InsuranceInsurance broker Andover May 12 80.55% 3,051 17,364 241 Has tripled its staff since 2010, adding 100 in the past year alone
28 Berwin GroupRubber and PVC manufacturer Manchester Jul 12 79.34% 3,685 68,244 248 Is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year
29 AutodataAutomotive data publisher Maidenhead Nov 11 77.18% 8,588 20,496 194 Publishes technical information that covers 15,000 models from 80 vehicle manufacturers
30 Marlin Financial GroupDebt purchaser West Sussex Dec 11 76.41% 7,668 31,663 102 Says it has not lost money on the loans and credit card bills it buys
31 BonhamsAuctioneer Central London Dec 11 72.00% 18,500 111,308 744 Is investing £30m to refurbish its London salerooms
32 BigHandDictation software developer Central London Mar 12 71.94% 5,101 15,648 104 Its dictation software is used by more than 145,000 people around the world
33 99p StoresDiscount retailer Northampton Jan 12 71.51% 7,962 270,222 3,444 Is expanding internationally with the opening of €uro 50 Stores in Dublin
34 Nexus Vehicle RentalVehicle rental broker Leeds Sep 11 69.63% 4,555 38,289 90 Provides rental vehicles ranging from ice cream vans to horse boxes
35 GT GroupPrecision engineer County Durham Oct 11 68.61% 5,167 26,033 245 Its customers include Scania, BP, Shell, Volvo and JCB
36 Frequency TelecomMobile accessory distributor Southwest London Mar 12 67.24% 3,206 27,279 44 Supplies products to 50 countries, mainly Britain, Scandinavia, Russia and Germany
37 Dawnus ConstructionCivil engineering contractor Swansea Dec 11 67.15% 14,197 136,619 1,524 Half of this Swansea firm’s £137m sales are generated in Africa
38 The Watches of Switzerland GroupJewellery retailer Leicester Jan 12 67.08% 19,138 301,075 1,797 Sold to US private equity firm Apollo in a reported £180m deal in March
39 JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer Staffordshire Dec 11 67.05% 276,500 2,716,100 8,359 Opened a £63m factory in Brazil last September
40 Global PersonalsOnline dating service provider Windsor Aug 12 66.10% 3,157 30,669 110 Plans to launch up to 650 sites in the US and is set to open an office in California
41 Auden Mckenzie GroupPharmaceuticals maker Northwest London Mar 12 65.95% †20,023 †41,908 80 Sells 80 licensed products in Britain, 22 in continental Europe and one in America
42 Baird & CoBullion merchant East London Dec 11 65.79% 7,995 1,356,147 54 Founder's coin-collecting hobby was the original inspiration behind the business
43 Lifeways Community CareCommunity care provider Southwest London May 12 65.72% 12,644 114,749 5,194 Provides supported living services for 3,700 people nationwide
44 Swizzels MatlowConfectioner Derbyshire Dec 11 64.20% 5,056 49,852 621 The 85-year-old company is still owned and run by the Dee and Matlow families
45 PendennisSuperyacht builder Falmouth Dec 11 64.01% 3,036 30,992 354 Has a refitting workshop in Majorca to service the large local yacht community
46 LeasedriveVehicle hire and fleet manager Wokingham Dec 11 63.65% 9,182 103,973 318 Has doubled its profits to £9m since acquiring Masterlease in 2011
47 Burnt Tree Vehicle RentalVehicle rental provider Shrewsbury Oct 11 63.47% 8,151 68,407 306 Started life 30 years ago with just seven vehicles for hire and now has 13,500
48 InfinisRenewable energy generator Northampton Mar 12 63.45% 47,011 218,201 395 Its private-equity owner, Terra Firma, is reportedly planning to sell it for approximately £1bn
49 Johnstons of ElginCashmere textiles manufacturer Elgin Dec 11 63.08% 3,331 51,195 779 Received a Royal Warrant in January
50 Imagine PublishingPrint and online publisher Bournemouth Mar 12 63.04% 5,670 19,046 148 Profits have grown through overseas expansion, in America, Australia and India
51 InfernoAdvertising agency Central London Mar 12 61.47% 4,144 21,543 93 Acquired agency Farm in January 2012 and the firm Quiet Storm last August
52 OfficeShoe retailer Central London Jan 12 61.23% 31,444 204,712 2,365 Runs more than 90 stores as well as 50 concessions
53 MintelMarket research agency Central London Sep 11 60.69% 7,996 61,129 534 Has offices in London, New York, Chicago, Shanghai, Tokyo and Sydney
54 Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy Oxford Dec 11 60.60% 8,015 1,063,500 8,533 Manages the supply chains of customers such as Jaguar, BSkyB and Homebase
55 HuntswoodCustomer services provider Reading Sep 11 60.54% 12,130 76,200 863 Handles customer complaints for banks, pension firms and insurance companies
56 Amber TavernsPub operator Preston Jan 12 60.51% 4,673 25,424 24 Operates 82 pubs across north England and the Midlands
57 Bristol LaboratoriesPharmaceutical products manufacturer Berkhamsted Jun 12 60.20% 7,330 71,499 193 Investment in automation has improved productivity and efficiency
58 Logson GroupCorrugated packaging manufacturer Leicestershire Dec 11 59.26% 11,969 173,833 885 Investment in new technologies has given it greater flexibility in lead times
59 O’Brien GroupDemolition and waste recycling Tyne & Wear Apr 12 58.91% 3,351 33,863 132 Acts for clients including football clubs Newcastle United and Sunderland
60 AvalonEntertainment producer and manager West London Jun 11 58.70% 4,202 55,501 81 Produces television shows such as Russell Howard’s Good News
61 CedoHousehold products maker Telford Dec 11 58.62% 15,330 235,474 2,354 Two-thirds of its sales are exports
62 ATG AccessSecurity & construction products maker Merseyside Apr 12 57.69% 3,009 17,071 64 Sells barriers in 40 countries and recently provided them to the London Olympics
63 Goldschmidt & HowlandEstate agency North London Mar 12 57.55% 4,597 10,846 77 Celebrates its 125th anniversary this year
64 Focusrite Audio EngineeringRecording equipment developer High Wycombe Aug 12 56.52% 3,166 25,270 85 Its biggest overseas markets are the US and Germany
65 PTS ConsultingIT consultancy Central London Mar 12 55.95% 3,258 38,291 267 Acquired Tokyo-based Media Access Group in February for an undisclosed sum
66 Cooneen TextilesTextile manufacturer County Tyrone Dec 11 55.91% 17,207 82,593 134 Makes branded children’s pyjamas for retailers such as Mothercare and Sainsbury’s
67 Tunnock’sBiscuit and cake maker Glasgow Feb 12 55.73% 4,220 37,865 517 Was founded in 1890 and is run by Boyd Tunnock, 80, the founder’s grandson
68 Bibendum PLB GroupWine importer and distributor North London Mar 12 53.68% 4,424 184,950 256 Was wine and champagne supplier to the London Olympics
69 Pharmalink ConsultingRegulatory affairs consultancy Maidenhead Apr 12 53.58% 4,906 17,013 59 Operates a network of 2,300 consultants and most of its sales are overseas
70 RamsdensPawnbroker and jeweller Middlesbrough Dec 11 53.31% 9,635 51,270 324 Plans to double its number of branches - currently 125 - in the next three years
71 Accrol PapersTissue products manufacturer Blackburn Apr 12 53.12% 8,166 63,489 149 Opened a £6m manufacturing facility last year and plans to invest £30m more by 2014
72 Charles Tyrwhitt ShirtsClothing retailer Central London Jul 12 52.73% 14,807 98,361 480 Opened its Leeds store in March
73 Cromwell GroupIndustrial equipment supplier Leicester Aug 12 51.39% 25,122 259,109 1,828 Products are sold to customers in 50 countries on five continents
74 InterfishFish wholesaler Plymouth Jan 12 51.13% 16,658 48,760 225 Founder is the son of a Manchester fish importer, exporter and wholesaler
75 Sun MarkConsumer products wholesaler West London Aug 12 51.11% 9,784 142,330 47 Distributes household foods to emerging markets, mainly in the Middle East and Africa
76 Audio NetworkOnline music publisher Central London Jun 12 50.58% 4,191 9,288 54 Its customers include Disney and the BBC
77 DiGiCoAudio equipment maker Southwest London Dec 11 49.90% 7,392 21,314 69 85% of its £21m sales were exports in 2011
78 Great Rail JourneysTour operator York Sep 12 49.87% 4,900 66,475 119 ECI Partners bought a majority stake in April, valuing the firm at more than £50m
79 Advanced InsulationInsulation products manufacturer Gloucester Sep 12 49.25% 3,692 19,159 113 Has grown profits by expanding internationally, in America, Africa and Asia
80 Peak ScientificNitrogen generator manufacturer Renfrewshire Sep 11 49.18% 3,267 17,070 128 Has won the Queen’s Award for exports three times
81 PhlexglobalPharmaceutical trial administrator Buckinghamshire Dec 12 49.01% 3,267 13,435 236 Opened an office in Philadelphia in the US in 2011
82 State OilFuel wholesaler Weybridge Feb 12 48.86% 6,000 540,560 87 Customers include Royal Mail, Stagecoach and National Express
83 Wireless LogicWireless data services provider Buckinghamshire Apr 12 48.47% 4,169 15,115 21 Was part of Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones’s Phones International until 2009
84 KelwayIT services provider Central London Mar 12 48.12% 10,637 350,710 742 Has offices in the Middle East, Africa, Singapore and Ireland
85 Pret A MangerSandwich shop operator Central London Dec 11 47.63% 18,699 377,334 6,151 Has 50 shops in America, 13 in Hong Kong and 4 in Paris
86 Baylis & HardingToiletries manufacturer Redditch May 12 47.21% 5,600 29,010 43 Raised its profile last year by sponsoring the ITV series Surprise Surprise
87 Writtle HoldingsMedia investment company Central London Dec 11 47.10% 4,548 62,892 617 Serves businesses including Tesco and Adidas
88 Blue IncClothing retailer East London Dec 12 46.60% *3,782 *92,165 2,236 Sir Stuart Rose, former boss of Marks & Spencer, was appointed chairman last summer
89 XLN Business ServicesBusiness services provider Central London Mar 12 46.34% 9,918 65,464 312 Provides 130,000 small firms with broadband, telephone and utilities
90 Move with UsResidential property broker Cambridgeshire Mar 12 45.61% 7,187 84,698 315 Has developed an index that enables property investors to track rental prices by region
91 Fusion GroupEngineering equipment supplier Chesterfield Mar 12 45.45% 6,463 116,243 586 Has manufacturing sites in Britain, China and Egypt
92 Poundworld RetailValue retailer West Yorkshire Mar 12 44.98% 4,802 206,482 3,428 Has more than 200 stores nationwide, selling 5,000 lines at £1 each
93 QABusiness training provider Central London May 12 44.71% 15,497 111,211 747 Offers 1,500 courses in 25 locations around Britain
94 Sauflon PharmaceuticalsContact lens maker Southwest London Oct 11 44.27% 9,720 68,245 713 Opening a factory in Hungary has helped the firm to cut costs and increase profits
95 TotalstayTravel services provider North London Jan 12 44.09% 3,320 21,011 70 Is focusing on growing its business in North and South Americas this year
96 Wetherby Building SystemsInsulation systems manufacturer Greater Manchester Oct 11 43.81% 3,005 18,493 60 Government legislation to increase insulation standards has helped it grow sales
97 Westland HorticultureGardening products manufacturer County Tyrone Dec 11 43.80% 5,412 68,084 300 Acquired Cranswick Pet Products for £18m last year
98 Phoenix SoftwareIT services provider York Oct 12 43.65% 5,300 84,195 123 Says it supplies 2m software licences a year
99 UKFastInternet hosting provider Manchester Dec 11 43.34% 3,774 16,019 118 Clients include Kellogg’s, Barclays and UKTV
100 FDM GroupIT services provider Brighton Dec 11 43.11% 18,194 97,266 1,008 Provides IT services worldwide to more than 200 clients across industries

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