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 |