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 04 | *4,500 | *202 | 59,600 | Employees (100%) | |
| 2 | Coral EurobetBetting shop operator | Essex | Sep 03 | 3,794 | 104 | 5,841 | Charterhouse Development Capital (84%), management (16%) | |
| 3 | Palmer and HarveyWholesale distributor | East Sussex | Apr 03 | 3,547 | 18 | 3,849 | Management and employees (75%), previous shareholders (25%) | |
| 4 | Hogg RobinsonBusiness services provider | Hampshire | Mar 03 | 2,121 | 28 | 5,740 | Permira (61%) | |
| 5 | Caudwell HoldingsMobile phone retailer | Stoke-on-Trent | Dec 02 | 2,036 | 31 | 6,018 | John and Brian Caudwell (95%) | |
| 6 | SwireConglomerate | Central London | Dec 02 | *1,948 | *353 | 131,000 | Swire family (66%) | |
| 7 | Shop DirectInternet and catalogue retailer | Liverpool | Apr 03 | 1,845 | 60 | 15,055 | Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay (95%), Bank of Scotland (5%) | |
| 8 | ArcadiaFashion retailer | Central London | Aug 03 | 1,823 | 228 | 18,134 | Philip Green and family (89%) | |
| 9 | DebenhamsDepartment store operator | Central London | Aug 03 | 1,810 | 176 | 23,560 | CVC Capital, Texas Pacific and Merrill Lynch PE (100%) | |
| 10 | INEOSChemicals manufacturer | UK/Switzerland | Dec 03 | *1,782 | *156 | 2,459 | Staff and management (100%) | |
| 11 | MG RoverCar maker | Birmingham | Dec 02 | 1,741 | -95 | 6,600 | Management (50%), staff (25%), dealers (25%) | |
| 12 | Rigby GroupIT infrastructure integrator | Stratford-upon-Avon | Mar 03 | *1,740 | *31 | 4,461 | Sir Peter Rigby and family (100%) | |
| 13 | RHMFood producer | Marlow | May 03 | *1,723 | *62 | 20,216 | Doughty Hanson, management | |
| 14 | Focus DIYDIY retailer | Crewe | Oct 03 | *1,664 | *116 | 16,024 | Duke Street Capital, Apax Partners, management | |
| 15 | TI AutomotiveCar parts maker | Oxford/USA | Dec 03 | *1,572 | *74 | 21,875 | Smiths Group (19.99%), management (25%) | |
| 16 | Brakes GroupFood distributor | Kent | Dec 03 | *1,546 | *14 | 8,961 | Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (100%) | |
| 17 | StemcorSteel trader | Central London | Dec 03 | *1,535 | *15 | 322 | Ralph Oppenheimer and family (81%) | |
| 18 | Virgin AtlanticAirline and tour operator | Crawley | Feb 04 | †1,503 | n/a | 7,519 | Virgin Investments (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%) | |
| 19 | Grampian Country Food GroupFood producer | Livingston | May 03 | 1,470 | 34 | 19,032 | Alfred Duncan (71%), HBOS (15%), management (14%) | |
| 20 | Arnold Clark AutomobilesCar dealer | Glasgow | Dec 03 | *1,450 | *56 | 6,410 | Arnold Clark and family (100%) | |
| 21 | United BiscuitsBranded snack manufacturer | West London | Jan 04 | * †1,307 | * †13 | 10,000 | Cinven (30%), PAI Partners (30%), Nabisco (25%), MidOcean Partners (15%) | |
| 22 | Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group | Dartford | Mar 03 | 1,258 | 44 | 8,778 | Raymond O'Rourke (55%), Hugh O'Rourke (29%) | |
| 23 | LINPACPackaging maker | West Yorkshire | Dec 02 | 1,213 | 66 | 12,203 | Montagu Private Equity, Cornish family | |
| 24 | Camden Motor GroupCar dealer | Northampton | Dec 03 | *1,102 | *11 | 1,446 | Management (100%) | |
| 25 | Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy | Oxford | Jun 03 | 1,058 | 10 | 7,626 | Employees and management (55%), institutions including 3i (45%) | |
| 26 | Memec GroupElectronics distributor | Oxfordshire | Dec 03 | *1,050 | *-5 | 2,400 | Permira and other investors (80%), management (20%) | |
| 27 | WilkoValue retailer | Nottinghamshire | Jan 04 | *1,045 | *57 | 16,699 | Wilkinson family (99.7%) | |
| 28 | CoatsThread manufacturer | West London | Dec 03 | 1,004 | 29 | 32,234 | Guinness Peat Group (100%) | |
| 29 | ClarksShoe retailer and wholesaler | Somerset | Jan 04 | *943 | *63 | 13,966 | Clark family (81%) | |
| 30 | First Quench RetailingOff-licence operator | Hertfordshire | Mar 03 | 926 | 4 | 14,167 | Terra Firma (100%) | |
| 31 | Vetco InternationalOilfield services provider | Central London | Dec 03 | *919 | *84 | 7,900 | Candover, 3i, JP Morgan Partners, NIB Capital, management | |
| 32 | European Metal RecyclingMetal recycler | Warrington | Dec 03 | *907 | *48 | 1,364 | Sheppard family (96%) | |
| 33 | Premier FoodsFood producer | St Albans | Dec 03 | *890 | *69 | 4,650 | Hicks Muse Tate & Furst (93.6%) | |
| 34 | BhsDepartment store operator | Central London | Mar 03 | 882 | 132 | 13,756 | Philip Green (94%), Tom Hunter (5%) | |
| 35 | JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer | Staffordshire | Dec 02 | 817 | 18 | 4,146 | Bamford family (100%) | |
| 36 | Sir Robert McAlpineConstruction contractor | Hertfordshire | Oct 02 | 794 | -4 | 2,573 | McAlpine family (100%) | |
| 37 | bmiAirline operator | Derby | Dec 03 | *772 | *-10 | 4,503 | Bishop, Balmforth & Wolfe (50%), Lufthansa (30%), SAS (20%) | |
| 38 | EnergisTelecoms and internet provider | Central London | Mar 04 | *745 | *125 | 1,600 | Consortium of 16 financial institutions, management | |
| 39 | The Miller GroupHousebuilder & construction services | Edinburgh | Dec 03 | *743 | *57 | 1,400 | Miller family (94%), employees (6%) | |
| 40 | Bestway HoldingsCash & carry wholesaler | West London | Jun 03 | *719 | *26 | 1,626 | Pervez family (61%), management (39%) | |
| 41 | Baxi GroupHeating systems manufacturer | Derby | Dec 03 | *705 | *70 | 5,638 | BC Partners (82%), Electra (10%), management (8%) | |
| 42 | New LookFashion retailer | Central London | Mar 04 | *696 | *87 | 12,166 | Permira, Apax Partners, Tom Singh, management, Quillian Investments | |
| 43 | Lucite InternationalPlastics maker | Southampton | Dec 03 | *694 | *69 | 1,995 | Charterhouse Capital Partners (78%) | |
| 44 | General Healthcare GroupPrivate healthcare provider | Central London | Dec 03 | *666 | *111 | 10,501 | BC Partners (90%), management (10%) | |
| 45 | L BatleyFood wholesaler | Huddersfield | May 03 | †650 | †6 | 2,369 | Batley family (100%) | |
| 46 | Martin McCollConvenience store operator | Essex | Nov 03 | *635 | *19 | 10,401 | Institutions including Electra, HSBC, L&G Ventures | |
| 47 | Bourne LeisureCaravan park operator | Hertfordshire | Dec 02 | 624 | 74 | 10,926 | Peter Harris (17.8%) | |
| 48 | Shepherd GroupBuilder, manufacturer and developer | York | Jun 03 | 605 | 14 | 3,727 | Shepherd family (100%) | |
| 49 | Le Meridien Hotels & ResortsHotel operator | Central London | Jun 03 | *591 | *72 | 10,333 | Terra Firma | |
| 50 | Bristol Street GroupCar dealer | Worcestershire | Dec 03 | *586 | *7 | 1,834 | Directors (84%), other management (16%) | |
| 51 | WatesConstruction contractor | Surrey | Dec 03 | *581 | *13 | 1,601 | Wates family (100%) | |
| 52 | Ryland GroupCar dealer | West Midlands | Dec 02 | 568 | 7 | 1,680 | Peter Whale and family (60%), ITC (40%) | |
| 53 | Virgin Rail GroupTrain operator | Central London | Mar 03 | 556 | -12 | 4,372 | Virgin Investments (51%) and Stagecoach (49%) | |
| 54 | Welcome BreakMotorway services operator | Milton Keynes | Sep 02 | 548 | 3 | 4,802 | Investcorp (100%) | |
| 55 | AF Blakemore & SonFood distributor | West Midlands | Apr 03 | 542 | 8 | 4,415 | Peter Blakemore and family (70%) | |
| 56 | Harrods GroupDepartment store operator | Central London | Feb 03 | 541 | 14 | 4,657 | Mohamed al-Fayed (100%) | |
| 57 | EWS RailwayRail freight operator | Central London | Mar 03 | 527 | 63 | 6,191 | Canadian National (42%), Goldman Sachs, Fay Richwhite, Berkshire Group | |
| 58 | ASCOOil and gas services provider | Aberdeen | Mar 03 | 524 | 2 | 1,621 | 3i (62%), Wood Group (31%) and management (7%) | |
| 59 | CPL IndustriesSolid fuels supplier | Chesterfield | Dec 02 | 506 | 8 | 1,620 | Legal & General Ventures, management | |
| 60 | Food Brokers | |||||||
| 61 | Marshall GroupConglomerate | Cambridge | Dec 02 | 490 | 0n/a | 3,352 | Michael Marshall and family trusts (51%) | |
| 62 | Spirit GroupPub operator | Burton on Trent | Dec 02 | †489 | †104 | 16,447 | Texas Pacific, Blackstone Group, CVC, Merrill Lynch PE, management | |
| 63 | PolestarContract printer | Dunstable | Aug 03 | 489 | 23 | 5,430 | Investcorp (95%), institutions (5%) | |
| 64 | Bowmer & KirklandConstruction contractor | Derbyshire | Sep 03 | 487 | 19 | 1,379 | Kirkland family and family trusts (100%) | |
| 65 | River IslandFashion retailer | West London | Aug 03 | 477 | 58 | 9,396 | Bernard Lewis and family | |
| 66 | Mott MacDonaldManagement and engineering consultancy | Croydon | Dec 02 | 469 | 12 | 6,858 | Employees (50%), trust (45%), Connell Wagner (5%) | |
| 67 | TrailfindersTravel organiser | West London | Dec 03 | *468 | *7 | 1,025 | Mike Gooley and family (100%) | |
| 68 | TravelexForeign exchange operator | Central London | Feb 04 | 466 | 6 | 5,112 | Lloyd Dorfman (63%), 3i (32.6%) | |
| 69 | Gala GroupBingo and casino operator | Nottingham | Dec 03 | *462 | *105 | 9,748 | Candover (41%), Cinven (41%), management (15%) | |
| 70 | Virgin MobileMobile telecoms provider | West London | Sep 03 | 458 | 67 | 1,294 | Virgin Group (100%) | |
| 71 | Dunlop Standard Aerospace GroupAerospace equipment maker | Coventry | Dec 03 | *457 | *58 | 3,962 | Doughty Hanson (90%) | |
| 72 | SelfridgesDepartment store operator | Central London | Dec 03 | 445 | 41 | 2,260 | Wittington Investments (100%) | |
| 73 | Southern WaterWater services provider | West Sussex | Feb 03 | 437 | 181 | 2,015 | Royal Bank of Scotland, Veolia and others | |
| 74 | OCS GroupFacilities services provider | Gatwick | Mar 03 | 436 | 15 | 42,302 | Goodliffe family (100%) | |
| 75 | Seton House GroupSpecialist engineer | Surrey | Mar 03 | *432 | *5 | 4,043 | Royal Bank Equity Finance (85%), management (15%) | |
| 76 | Formula OneMotor racing administrator | Central London | Dec 03 | 428 | 179 | 469 | SLEC Holdings (100%) | |
| 77 | JCT600Car dealer | Bradford | Dec 02 | *415 | *13 | 1,053 | Tordoff family and family trusts (100%) | |
| 78 | DewhirstClothing manufacturer | East Yorkshire | Dec 03 | 407 | 23 | 19,603 | Management | |
| 79 | NG BaileyMechanical, electrical contractor | West Yorkshire | Jan 03 | 407 | 5 | 4,153 | Bailey family (100%) | |
| 80 | Greenhous GroupCar dealer | Shrewsbury | Feb 03 | *406 | *5 | 617 | Management | |
| 81 | BOCM PAULS (Agricola Group)Animal feed manufacturer | Ipswich | Dec 03 | 405 | 8 | 1,143 | Management and staff (89%), Electra (8%) | |
| 82 | FosecoSteel industry consultancy | Tamworth | Dec 02 | *404 | *30 | 3,109 | Cinven, management | |
| 83 | Bloor InvestmentsBuilder and motorcycle maker | Derbyshire | Dec 03 | 403 | 50 | 1,689 | John Bloor (100%) | |
| 84 | Reed ExecutiveRecruitment, HR consultancy | Central London | Jun 03 | 402 | 8 | 2,635 | Reed family (99%) | |
| 85 | Bernard Matthews FarmsFood producer | Norwich | Dec 02 | 401 | 44 | 6,800 | Bernard Matthews and family (100%) | |
| 86 | Sports World InternationalSports goods retailer | Bedfordshire | Apr 02 | 398 | 46 | 5,049 | Mike Ashley (100%) | |
| 87 | ArupDesign and engineering consultancy | Central London | Mar 03 | 395 | 8 | 6,326 | Arup employees through three employee trusts | |
| 88 | Laurel PubsManaged pub operator | Luton | Mar 03 | 394 | 73 | 9,750 | Morgan Grenfell (82%) | |
| 89 | BetfredBookmaker | Warrington | Mar 03 | 387 | 2 | 1,027 | Fred and Peter Done and family (100%) | |
| 90 | CostcutterConvenience store operator | York | Apr 03 | 383 | 4 | 733 | Colin Graves and family (100%) | |
| 91 | Perkins FoodsFood producer | Dartford | Dec 03 | *382 | *23 | 2,978 | Investors led by ABN Amro (82%) | |
| 92 | Pentland GroupBrand manager and retailer | Central London | Dec 02 | 380 | 2 | 1,931 | Stephen Rubin and family (100%) | |
| 93 | Ineos ChlorChlorine chemicals maker | Cheshire | Dec 03 | *373 | *10 | 1,765 | Management (85%), ICI (15%) | |
| 94 | Northern & Shell Media GroupPublisher & broadcaster | Central London | Dec 03 | *371 | n/a | 1,114 | Richard Desmond (100%) | |
| 95 | TravelodgeBudget hotel operator | Oxfordshire | Sep 02 | *368 | *105 | 7,823 | Permira (100%) | |
| 96 | Findus GroupFood producer | Central London | Dec 03 | 365 | 15 | 3,272 | CapVest and management | |
| 97 | Guardian Media GroupMultimedia publisher | Central London | Mar 03 | 356 | -2 | 3,170 | Scott Trust (100%) | |
| 98 | WeetabixBreakfast cereal maker | Northamptonshire | Aug 02 | †355 | †39 | 2,813 | Hicks Muse Tate & Furst (100%) | |
| 99 | ZavviEntertainment retailer | West London | Feb 03 | 353 | -8 | 3,104 | Virgin Group (100%) | |
| 100 | Kwik-Fit GBGarage services provider | Edinburgh | Dec 02 | 353 | 19 | 4,303 | CVC Capital Partners (81%), Ford (19%) |
* supplied by company † annualised figure **estimated
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