Top Track 100
| Rank | Company | Location | Year end | Sales £m | % annual growth | Profit £m | Staff | Main shareholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Lewis PartnershipFood and general retailer | Central London | Jan 03 | *4,246 | *180 | 60,000 | Employees (100%) | |
| 2 | Palmer and HarveyWholesale distributor | East Sussex | Apr 02 | 3,328 | 12 | 3,177 | Management and employees (75%), previous shareholders (25%) | |
| 3 | Hogg RobinsonBusiness services provider | Hampshire | Mar 02 | 2,061 | 23 | 5,757 | Permira (65%) | |
| 4 | ArcadiaFashion retailer | Central London | Aug 02 | †1,981 | †122 | 22,826 | Philip Green and family (92%) | |
| 5 | SwireConglomerate | Central London | Dec 02 | *1,923 | *305 | 135,028 | Swire family (66%) | |
| 6 | Shop DirectInternet and catalogue retailer | Liverpool | Apr 02 | 1,907 | 43 | 16,608 | Barclay brothers (95%), Bank of Scotland (5%) | |
| 7 | RHMFood producer | Marlow | Apr 02 | 1,735 | 103 | 20,983 | Doughty Hanson, management | |
| 8 | MG RoverCar maker | Birmingham | Dec 01 | *1,697 | *-187 | 6,695 | Management 50%, staff 25%, dealers 25% | |
| 9 | Focus DIYDIY retailer | Crewe | Oct 02 | *1,585 | *56 | 15,864 | Duke Street Capital, Apax Partners, management | |
| 10 | TI AutomotiveCar parts maker | Oxford/USA | Dec 02 | 1,543 | 70 | 21,800 | Smiths Group (19.99%), management (25%) | |
| 11 | Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy | Oxford | Jun 02 | †1,459 | †13 | 8,468 | Employees and management (55%), institutions (45%) | |
| 12 | INEOSChemicals manufacturer | UK/Switzerland | Dec 02 | *1,457 | *98 | 2,495 | Staff and management (100%) | |
| 13 | Virgin AtlanticAirline and tour operator | Crawley | Apr 02 | 1,416 | -81 | 7,969 | Virgin Investments (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%) | |
| 14 | Caudwell HoldingsMobile phone retailer | Stoke-on-Trent | Dec 01 | 1,404 | 24 | 4,370 | John and Brian Caudwell (95%) | |
| 15 | Brakes GroupFood distributor | Kent | Dec 01 | 1,389 | 38 | 8,752 | Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (100%) | |
| 16 | United BiscuitsBranded snack manufacturer | West London | Dec 02 | *1,308 | *58 | 11,500 | Cinven (30%), Paribas (30%), Nabisco (25%) | |
| 17 | Coral EurobetBetting shop operator | Essex | Sep 01 | †1,279 | †17 | 5,191 | Charterhouse Development Capital (85%), management (15%) | |
| 18 | Grampian Country Food GroupFood producer | Livingston | May 02 | 1,206 | 25 | 14,911 | Alfred Duncan, HBOS and management | |
| 19 | Arnold Clark AutomobilesCar dealer | Glasgow | Dec 02 | 1,186 | 37 | 5,368 | Arnold Clark and family (100%) | |
| 20 | StemcorSteel trader | Central London | Dec 02 | 1,150 | 15 | 296 | Ralph Oppenheimer and family (82%) | |
| 21 | LINPACPackaging maker | West Yorkshire | Dec 01 | 1,149 | 57 | 11,340 | Cornish family | |
| 22 | First Quench RetailingOff-licence operator | Hertfordshire | Mar 02 | 1,055 | 33 | 15,133 | Terra Firma (100%) | |
| 23 | Memec GroupElectronics distributor | Oxfordshire | Dec 02 | *994 | *30 | 2,700 | Permira and other investors (80%), management (20%) | |
| 24 | ClarksShoe retailer and wholesaler | Somerset | Jan 03 | 933 | 48 | 14,578 | Clark family (81%) | |
| 25 | WilkoValue retailer | Nottinghamshire | Jan 03 | *922 | *45 | 17,916 | Wilkinson family (99.8%) | |
| 26 | Premier FoodsFood producer | St Albans | Dec 02 | *883 | *61 | 4,337 | Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst (93.6%) | |
| 27 | BhsDepartment store operator | Central London | Mar 02 | 876 | 128 | 13,950 | Philip Green (94%), Tom Hunter (5%) | |
| 28 | Specialist Computer HoldingsIT systems integrator | Birmingham | Mar 02 | 873 | 13 | 2,903 | Sir Peter Rigby and family (100%) | |
| 29 | Yell GroupBusiness directory operator | Reading | Mar 02 | *865 | *152 | 7,600 | Apax Partners (44.35%), HMTF (44.35%) | |
| 30 | JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer | Staffordshire | Dec 02 | *807 | *20 | 4,585 | Bamford family (100%) | |
| 31 | Sir Robert McAlpineConstruction contractor | Hertfordshire | Oct 02 | 794 | -4 | 2,573 | McAlpine family (100%) | |
| 32 | Camden Motor GroupCar dealer | Northampton | Dec 01 | 768 | 9 | 1,383 | Candover (64%) and management (36%) | |
| 33 | Bristol Street GroupCar dealer | Worcestershire | Dec 01 | 765 | 7 | 2,366 | Past and current senior mgt (80%), other mgt (20%) | |
| 34 | bmiAirline operator | Derby | Dec 01 | 757 | -30 | 5,840 | Bishop (50%), Wolfe (25%), Balmforth (25%) | |
| 35 | Bestway HoldingsCash & carry wholesaler | West London | Jun 02 | 724 | 26 | 1,668 | Pervez family (61%), management (39%) | |
| 36 | EnergisTelecoms and internet provider | Central London | Mar 02 | 694 | -438 | 3,387 | Consortium of 16 financial institutions | |
| 37 | Martin McCollConvenience store operator | Essex | Nov 02 | *692 | *18 | 10,536 | Institutions including Electra, HSBC, L&G Ventures | |
| 38 | Specialist Computers InternationalIT systems integrator | Birmingham | Mar 02 | 673 | 16 | 1,578 | Sir Peter Rigby and family (100%) | |
| 39 | Baxi GroupHeating systems manufacturer | Derby | Dec 02 | 657 | 54 | 5,754 | Kidde (25%), Candover (19%), Electra (19%) | |
| 40 | L BatleyFood wholesaler | Huddersfield | Apr 02 | 649 | 9 | 2,311 | Batley family (100%) | |
| 41 | General Healthcare GroupPrivate healthcare provider | Central London | Dec 02 | *620 | *104 | 10,474 | BC Partners (90%), management (10%) | |
| 42 | CPL IndustriesSolid fuels supplier | Chesterfield | Mar 02 | 605 | 12 | 2,008 | Legal & General Ventures | |
| 43 | The Miller GroupHousebuilder & construction services | Edinburgh | Dec 02 | *602 | *33 | 1,354 | Miller family (94%), employees (6%) | |
| 44 | European Metal RecyclingMetal recycler | Warrington | Dec 02 | *599 | *34 | 1,328 | Sheppard family (96%) | |
| 45 | Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group | Dartford | Mar 02 | 597 | 44 | 6,197 | Raymond O'Rourke (55%), Hugh O'Rourke (29%) | |
| 46 | Bourne LeisureCaravan park operator | Hertfordshire | Dec 01 | 596 | 67 | 11,404 | Harris, Legal & General and Candover | |
| 47 | Lucite InternationalPlastics maker | Southampton | Dec 02 | 582 | 27 | 1,993 | Charterhouse Development Capital (78%) | |
| 48 | Laurel PubsManaged pub operator | Luton | Mar 02 | †576 | †123 | 3,440 | Morgan Grenfell (82%) | |
| 48 | AveciaChemical products maker | Manchester | Dec 02 | 576 | -17 | 7,978 | Cinven and Investcorp | |
| 50 | Shepherd GroupBuilder, manufacturer and developer | York | Jun 02 | 557 | 2 | 4,046 | Shepherd family (100%) | |
| 51 | Bartle Bogle HegartyAdvertising agent | Central London | Dec 02 | *553 | *13 | 510 | Publicis (49%), employees (51%) | |
| 52 | Food Brokers | |||||||
| 52 | Welcome BreakMotorway services operator | Milton Keynes | Sep 02 | 548 | 3 | 4,802 | Investcorp (100%) | |
| 52 | EWS RailwayRail freight operator | Central London | Mar 02 | 548 | 59 | 6,174 | Canadian National (42%), Goldman Sachs | |
| 55 | ASCOOil and gas services provider | Aberdeen | Dec 01 | 532 | 16 | 2,000 | 3i (62%), Wood Group (31%) and management (7%) | |
| 56 | Harrods GroupDepartment store operator | Central London | Feb 02 | †531 | †22 | 4,795 | Mohamed al-Fayed (100%) | |
| 57 | HalfordsCar parts retailer | Worcestershire | Mar 02 | 529 | 51 | 2,682 | CVC Capital Partners and management (100%) | |
| 57 | MansellConstruction and property developer | Croydon | Dec 02 | 529 | 7 | 9,795 | Mansell family (38%), 3i (14%) | |
| 59 | Virgin Rail GroupTrain operator | Central London | Mar 02 | 520 | 34 | 3,869 | Virgin Investments (51%) and Stagecoach (49%) | |
| 60 | WatesConstruction contractor | Surrey | Dec 02 | *505 | *9 | 4,457 | Wates family (100%) | |
| 60 | AF Blakemore & SonFood distributor | West Midlands | Apr 02 | 505 | 7 | 1,494 | Peter Blakemore and family (70%) | |
| 62 | Bowmer & KirklandConstruction contractor | Derbyshire | Aug 02 | 498 | 16 | 1,367 | Kirkland family and family trusts (100%) | |
| 63 | LondisConvenience store franchisor | Middlesex | Jan 02 | 491 | 3 | 675 | Each member has a single share | |
| 64 | Marshall GroupConglomerate | Cambridge | Dec 02 | *490 | *0 | 1,026 | Michael Marshall and family trusts (51%) | |
| 64 | TrailfindersTravel organiser | West London | Feb 03 | *490 | *9 | 3,352 | Mike Gooley and family (100%) | |
| 66 | PolestarContract printer | Dunstable | Sep 02 | 484 | 27 | 5,771 | Investcorp (95%), institutions (5%) | |
| 67 | Dalgety GroupAgricultural product supplier | Gloucestershire | Jun 02 | †476 | †-2 | 658 | Current or former senior managers (76%), Dalgety trust (14%) | |
| 68 | TravelexForeign exchange operator | Central London | Dec 02 | 463 | 36 | 4,986 | Lloyd Dorfmann (63%), 3i (32.6%) | |
| 69 | Dunlop Standard Aerospace GroupAerospace equipment maker | Coventry | Dec 02 | 452 | 65 | 3,964 | Doughty Hanson (90%) | |
| 70 | NG BaileyMechanical, electrical contractor | West Yorkshire | Mar 02 | 449 | 3 | 4,558 | Bailey family (100%) | |
| 71 | Pentland GroupBrand manager and retailer | Central London | Dec 01 | 436 | 4 | 2,097 | Stephen Rubin and family (100%) | |
| 72 | Fairview New HomesHousebuilder | North London | Dec 02 | 435 | 90 | 917 | Management (100%) | |
| 73 | Gala GroupBingo and casino operator | Nottingham | Sep 02 | 433 | 98 | 9,626 | Candover (41%), Cinven (41%), management (15%) | |
| 74 | Southern WaterWater services provider | West Sussex | Mar 02 | 430 | 203 | 2,033 | Royal Bank of Scotland and other institutions | |
| 75 | OCS GroupFacilities services provider | Gatwick | Mar 02 | 428 | 11 | 43,804 | Goodliffe family (100%) | |
| 76 | River IslandFashion retailer | West London | Dec 01 | 425 | 19 | 4,350 | Bernard Lewis and family | |
| 77 | Formula OneMotor racing administrator | Central London | Dec 01 | 412 | 185 | 448 | Ecclestone family trust (25%), institutions (75%) | |
| 78 | Bloor InvestmentsBuilder and motorcycle maker | Derbyshire | Jun 02 | 409 | 33 | 1,455 | John Bloor (100%) | |
| 79 | City Electrical FactorsElectrical parts wholesaler | Warwickshire | Apr 02 | 407 | 19 | 3,792 | Mackie family trusts | |
| 80 | BOCM PAULS (Agricola Group)Animal feed manufacturer | Ipswich | Dec 02 | *405 | *8 | 1,143 | Management and staff (89%), Electra (8%) | |
| 81 | Seton House GroupSpecialist engineer | Surrey | Dec 02 | *403 | *-2 | 3,978 | Royal Bank Equity Finance (85%), management (15%) | |
| 81 | ArupDesign and engineering consultancy | Central London | Mar 02 | 403 | 12 | 6,132 | Employee trusts | |
| 83 | Mott MacDonaldManagement and engineering consultancy | Croydon | Dec 02 | 401 | 11 | 7,000 | Trust (50%), employees (45%), Mott Connell (5%) | |
| 84 | Bernard Matthews FarmsFood producer | Norwich | Dec 01 | †400 | †48 | 6,385 | Bernard Matthews and family (100%) | |
| 85 | Christie-TylerFurniture maker | Wales | Dec 02 | *399 | *21 | 6,578 | Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst (100%) | |
| 86 | DoncastersEngineering components maker | Burton upon Trent | Dec 02 | *391 | *-5 | 4,294 | Royal Bank Private Equity | |
| 87 | DewhirstClothing manufacturer | East Yorkshire | Jan 02 | 377 | 29 | 16,815 | Dewhirst family and management | |
| 88 | Perkins FoodsFood producer | Dartford | Dec 02 | 375 | 14 | 3,553 | Investors led by ABN Amro (77.5%) | |
| 89 | Greenhous GroupCar dealer | Shrewsbury | Dec 02 | 371 | 6 | 575 | Management | |
| 90 | TravelodgeBudget hotel operator | Oxfordshire | Sep 02 | *368 | *105 | 7,823 | Permira | |
| 91 | Flagship FoodsFood producer | Cornwall | Dec 01 | 366 | 12 | 3,095 | Graham Roach (75%) | |
| 92 | CostcutterConvenience store operator | York | Apr 02 | 360 | 3 | 1,023 | Colin Graves and family (100%) | |
| 93 | PA Consulting GroupManagement, IT consultancy | Central London | Dec 02 | 358 | 12 | 3,195 | Employees (100%) | |
| 94 | WeetabixBreakfast cereal maker | Northamptonshire | Aug 02 | †355 | †39 | 2,813 | George family | |
| 95 | BrightHouseHousehold goods retailer | Watford | Mar 02 | 352 | -10 | 2,901 | Terra Firma | |
| 96 | Kwik-Fit GBGarage services provider | Edinburgh | Dec 01 | 350 | 2 | 4,427 | CVC Capital Partners (81%), Ford (19%) | |
| 97 | Northern & Shell Media GroupPublisher & broadcaster | Central London | Dec 02 | *348 | *7 | 1,050 | Richard Desmond (100%) | |
| 98 | AcromasConsumer services provider | Kent | Jan 02 | 344 | 38 | 2,545 | De Haan family (100%) | |
| 99 | Pertemps Network GroupRecruitment consultancy | Warwickshire | Dec 02 | *341 | *3 | 1,423 | Tim Watts and family (76%), management (24%) | |
| 100 | JCT600Car dealer | Bradford | Dec 02 | 340 | 9 | 1,093 | Tordoff family and family trusts (100%) |
* supplied by company † annualised figure **estimated
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