10 Profit Track Ones to Watch
The 10 Profit Track Ones to Watch represents the best of the rest of the companies whose profit growth falls just short of the main league table, but who have shown good profit growth in the past and are set to grow rapidly in the future. All shortlisted companies are visited by the Fast Track research team and assessed for inclusion based on factors such as:
- Resilience in the face of the pandemic
- Strong current or forecast profit growth
- The business model and sales growth
- Experience of the management team
- Investor credibility and funds raised
This year’s 10 Profit Track Ones to Watch was judged by BDO, Fast Track, and David Buttress, UK co-founder & former CEO of Just Eat and partner at 83North VC (see bio below). The 10 finalists were due to be featured in the 21st annual Profit Track 100 supplement on 5 April. Given the pandemic we delayed publication in order to liaise with the featured companies. Three companies asked to withdraw, with the remaining seven published in a special Profit Track Covid-19 supplement in The Sunday Times on 26 April.
An overall winner was presented with an award at the Profit Track awards event on 15 October.
| Company | HQ Location | Year end | Profits £000 | Sales £000 | Staff | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COOKFrozen food manufacturer | Kent | Mar 16 | 2,540 | 45,056 | 746 | 1997 |
| Doves Farm FoodsSpecialist flour miller | Berkshire | Jun 16 | *2,867 | *17,278 | 71 | 1978 |
| GrippleEngineering device manufacturer | Sheffield | Dec 15 | 4,632 | 48,646 | 443 | 1989 |
| GuestlineHospitality software developer | Shrewsbury | Nov 15 | 3,348 | 11,221 | 121 | 1991 |
| Hague Print MediaPrint solutions provider | West Yorkshire | Dec 15 | 3,588 | 16,168 | 47 | 1980 |
| Molecular Products GroupAir purification technology | Essex | Mar 16 | 2,035 | 22,672 | 129 | 1973 |
| Quiz ClothingFashion retailer | Glasgow | Mar 16 | *5,683 | *87,375 | 1,239 | 1994 |
| Racing PostRacing publisher | Central London | Dec 15 | 12,795 | 56,114 | 275 | 1986 |
| SydenhamsBuilders' merchant | Bournemouth | Mar 16 | 5,930 | 60,929 | 402 | 1874 |
| Team17Computer games developer | West Yorkshire | Dec 16 | *5,200 | *13,400 | 100 | 1990 |
* supplied by company
Profit Track 100 is the ultimate benchmark for success in business and we're proud to be recognised as one of the companies to watch in 2019 Chris Maybin, business development director, Speciality Drinks
We are delighted with our win as it recognises the sustained and continuous growth of the ACE Winches organization in a tough economic climate Alfie Cheyne, founder & CEO, ACE Winches
Being selected as one of the 10 to watch was pretty awesome, but to be actually winning the top award is beyond words Robin Totterman, founder & chief executive, INSPECS
Chairman of the judges
David Buttress, UK co-founder & former CEO, Just Eat; partner at 83North VC
David is an entrepreneur and angel investor who launched online takeaway ordering service Just Eat in the UK in 2006. It featured on our Tech Track 100 in 2011 with sales of just £18.8m; and David led the business from 2013 to 2017, overseeing several major UK and international acquisitions, such as Hungryhouse in the UK, and its £1.5bn IPO in 2014.
He stepped down from the board in 2018. Just East merged with Takeaway.com in 2020, and the combined group is valued at £14bn.
David is a partner at VC firm 83North, which invested in merchant services firm iZettle, sold to PayPal in 2018 for $2.2bn. He is also an angel investor in start-ups, including homecare services firm Cera, which was a 10 Tech Track Ones to Watch in 2020.
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