Top Track 100
| Rank | Company | Location | Year end | Sales £m | % annual growth | Profit £m | Staff | Main shareholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coral EurobetBetting shop operator | Essex | Sep 04 | 5,378 | 145 | 6,713 | Charterhouse (75%), institutions (9%), management (16%) | |
| 2 | John Lewis PartnershipFood and general retailer | Central London | Jan 05 | *4,758 | *219 | 63,000 | Employees (100%) | |
| 3 | Palmer and HarveyWholesale distributor | East Sussex | Apr 04 | 3,531 | 23 | 3,732 | Management and employees (75%), previous shareholders (25%) | |
| 4 | BookerCash and carry operator | Northants | Apr 05 | *3,389 | *43 | 10,000 | Consortium inc Baugur, Bank of Scotland Corporate, West Coast Capital | |
| 5 | StemcorSteel trader | Central London | Dec 04 | *2,778 | *44 | 383 | Ralph Oppenheimer and family (81%), management and staff (19%) | |
| 6 | INEOSChemicals manufacturer | UK/Switzerland | Dec 04 | *2,409 | *191 | 2,439 | Staff and management (100%) | |
| 7 | Caudwell HoldingsMobile phone retailer | Stoke-on-Trent | Dec 03 | 2,277 | 48 | 7,401 | John and Brian Caudwell (95%) | |
| 8 | SwireConglomerate | Central London | Dec 03 | *2,022 | *349 | 132,000 | Swire family (66%) | |
| 9 | DebenhamsDepartment store operator | Central London | Aug 04 | *1,903 | *185 | 22,228 | CVC Capital, Texas Pacific and Merrill Lynch PE | |
| 10 | Rigby GroupIT infrastructure integrator | Stratford-upon-Avon | Mar 04 | 1,884 | 26 | 4,569 | Sir Peter Rigby and family (100%) | |
| 11 | Shop DirectInternet and catalogue retailer | Liverpool | Apr 03 | 1,845 | 60 | 16,433 | Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay (100%) | |
| 12 | Grampian Country Food GroupFood producer | Livingston | May 04 | 1,714 | 29 | 19,367 | Alfred Duncan (71%), HBOS (15%), management (14%) | |
| 13 | RHMFood producer | Marlow | May 04 | 1,676 | 73 | 18,553 | Doughty Hanson, management | |
| 14 | ArcadiaFashion retailer | Central London | Aug 04 | 1,657 | 280 | 27,907 | Philip and Tina Green and family (88%), Bank of Scotland (8%) | |
| 15 | Virgin AtlanticAirline and tour operator | Crawley | Aug 04 | *1,630 | *61 | 8,118 | Virgin Investments (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%) | |
| 16 | Spirit GroupPub operator | Burton on Trent | Dec 04 | *1,616 | n/a | 45,000 | Texas Pacific, Blackstone Group, CVC, Merrill Lynch PE, management | |
| 17 | Arnold Clark AutomobilesCar dealer | Glasgow | Dec 04 | 1,591 | 64 | 6,914 | Sir Arnold Clark and family (100%) | |
| 18 | Brakes GroupFood distributor | Kent | Mar 04 | 1,555 | 32 | 8,946 | Clayton, Dubilier & Rice | |
| 19 | Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group | Dartford | Dec 04 | 1,510 | 56 | 11,903 | Raymond O’Rourke (55%), Hugh O’Rourke (29%) | |
| 20 | TI AutomotiveCar parts maker | Oxford/USA | Feb 04 | *1,507 | *48 | 21,350 | Smiths Group (19.99%), management (25%) | |
| 21 | IcelandFrozen food retailer | North Wales | Apr 04 | †1,472 | †-8 | 13,038 | Baugur Group, Talden Holdings, management | |
| 22 | LINPACPackaging maker | West Yorkshire | Dec 03 | 1,234 | 55 | 12,064 | Montagu Private Equity, Cornish family | |
| 23 | United BiscuitsBranded snack manufacturer | West London | Jan 05 | *1,224 | *44 | 11,549 | Cinven (30%), PAI Partners (30%), Nabisco (25%), MidOcean (15%) | |
| 24 | Memec GroupElectronics distributor | Oxfordshire | Dec 04 | *1,190 | n/a | 2,455 | Permira and other investors (80%), management (20%) | |
| 25 | Camden Motor GroupCar dealer | Northampton | Dec 04 | *1,161 | *11 | 1,459 | Management (100%) | |
| 26 | WilkoValue retailer | Nottinghamshire | Jan 05 | *1,116 | *51 | 21,300 | Wilkinson family (99.7%) | |
| 27 | Bestway GroupConglomerate | West London | Jun 04 | 1,115 | 33 | 2,363 | Pervez family (61%), management (39%) | |
| 28 | Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy | Oxford | Dec 04 | 1,065 | 24 | 9,300 | Employees and management (55%), institutions including 3i (45%) | |
| 29 | The Vita GroupFoam and plastics maker | Central London | Dec 04 | 959 | 43 | 7,839 | Texas Pacific Group | |
| 30 | ClarksShoe retailer and wholesaler | Somerset | Jan 05 | *955 | *94 | 12,723 | Clark family (81%), employees and institutions (19%) | |
| 31 | CoatsThread manufacturer | West London | Dec 04 | 942 | 20 | 30,000 | Guinness Peat Group (100%) | |
| 32 | Vetco InternationalOilfield services provider | Central London | Dec 03 | *919 | *84 | 7,900 | Candover, 3i, JP Morgan Partners, NIB Capital, Management | |
| 33 | JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer | Staffordshire | Dec 03 | 902 | 20 | 5,000 | Bamford family (100%) | |
| 34 | Sir Robert McAlpineConstruction contractor | Hertfordshire | Oct 03 | 900 | 7 | 2,467 | McAlpine family (100%) | |
| 35 | BhsDepartment store operator | Central London | Mar 04 | 890 | 138 | 13,642 | Philip Green (94%), Tom Hunter (5%) | |
| 36 | bmiAirline operator | Derby | Dec 04 | *830 | *2 | 4,613 | Bishop, Balmforth & Wolfe (50%), Lufthansa (30%), SAS (20%) | |
| 37 | European Metal RecyclingMetal recycler | Warrington | Dec 03 | 829 | 53 | 1,364 | Sheppard family (96%) | |
| 38 | Focus DIYDIY retailer | Crewe | Oct 04 | †812 | †34 | 8,700 | Duke Street Capital (42%), Apax Partners (29%), management | |
| 39 | First Quench RetailingOff-licence operator | Hertfordshire | Mar 04 | 802 | -11 | 12,188 | Terra Firma (100%) | |
| 40 | The AAMotor services provider | Basingstoke | Dec 03 | *797 | *93 | 11,400 | CVC Capital Partners, Permira | |
| 41 | The Miller GroupHousebuilder & construction services | Edinburgh | Dec 04 | *752 | *70 | 1,424 | Miller family (91%), employees (9%) | |
| 42 | Kwik-FitCar repair centre operator | Edinburgh | Dec 04 | *747 | *55 | 9,185 | CVC Capital Partners (81%), Ford (19%) | |
| 43 | EnergisTelecoms and internet provider | Central London | Mar 04 | 745 | 10 | 1,734 | Consortium of 16 financial institutions, management | |
| 44 | Baxi GroupHeating systems manufacturer | Derby | Dec 04 | *721 | *95 | 5,435 | BC Partners (82%), Electra (10%), management (8%) | |
| 45 | Lucite InternationalPlastics maker | Southampton | Dec 04 | *707 | *67 | 2,000 | Charterhouse Development Capital (78%), Ineos Group (11%) | |
| 46 | General Healthcare GroupPrivate healthcare provider | Central London | Dec 04 | *699 | *109 | 10,663 | BC Partners (90%), management (10%) | |
| 47 | New LookFashion retailer | Central London | Mar 04 | 696 | 87 | 12,166 | Permira, Apax Partners, Tom Singh, management, Quillian Investments | |
| 48 | Bourne LeisureCaravan park operator | Hertfordshire | Dec 03 | 677 | 84 | 10,547 | Peter Harris, John Cook, David Allen | |
| 49 | Martin McCollConvenience store operator | Essex | Dec 04 | *642 | *20 | 10,568 | Institutions including Electra, HSBC, L&G Ventures | |
| 50 | WatesConstruction contractor | Surrey | Apr 04 | *631 | *1 | 1,700 | Wates family (100%) | |
| 51 | Sports World InternationalSports goods retailer | Bedfordshire | Jun 04 | 626 | 52 | 9,860 | Mike Ashley (100%) | |
| 52 | Shepherd GroupBuilder, manufacturer and developer | York | Nov 04 | 603 | 27 | 3,530 | Shepherd family (100%) | |
| 53 | Welcome BreakMotorway services operator | Milton Keynes | Sep 04 | 591 | 3 | 4,658 | Investcorp (100%) | |
| 54 | AF Blakemore & SonFood distributor | West Midlands | Apr 04 | 582 | 8 | 4,146 | Peter Blakemore and family (70%) | |
| 55 | Virgin Rail GroupTrain operator | Central London | Mar 04 | 580 | 60 | 4,714 | Virgin Investments (51%) and Stagecoach (49%) | |
| 56 | BetfredBookmaker | Warrington | Mar 04 | 568 | 12 | 2,450 | Fred and Peter Done and family (100%) | |
| 57 | Bristol Street GroupCar dealer | Worcestershire | Dec 04 | *554 | *7 | 1,706 | Directors (84%), other management (16%) | |
| 58 | Gala GroupBingo and casino operator | Nottingham | Sep 04 | 544 | 116 | 9,708 | Candover (41%), Cinven (41%), management (15%) | |
| 59 | Marshall GroupConglomerate | Cambridge | Dec 03 | 536 | 13 | 3,527 | Michael Marshall and family trusts (51%) | |
| 60 | DFSUpholstered furniture retailer | South Yorkshire | Aug 04 | 529 | 50 | 2,357 | Lord Kirkham and family (100%) | |
| 61 | Bowmer & KirklandConstruction contractor | Derbyshire | Aug 04 | 525 | 28 | 1,453 | Kirkland family and family trusts (100%) | |
| 62 | Guardian Media GroupMultimedia publisher | Central London | Mar 04 | 518 | 41 | 5,081 | Scott Trust (100%) | |
| 63 | EWS RailwayRail freight operator | Central London | Mar 04 | 516 | 46 | 6,027 | Canadian National (42%), Goldman Sachs, Fay Richwhite, Berkshire | |
| 64 | River IslandFashion retailer | West London | Dec 03 | 515 | 75 | 9,834 | Bernard Lewis and family (100%) | |
| 65 | TrailfindersTravel organiser | West London | Feb 05 | *503 | *21 | 1,050 | Mike Gooley and family (100%) | |
| 66 | Ryland GroupCar dealer | West Midlands | Dec 04 | *501 | *10 | 1,196 | Peter Whale and family (60%), ITC (40%) | |
| 67 | CPL IndustriesSolid fuels supplier | Chesterfield | Dec 04 | *494 | *25 | 5,553 | Apax, Lloyd Dorfman (30%), management, Standard Chartered (6%) | |
| 67 | TravelexForeign exchange operator | Central London | Mar 04 | 494 | 11 | 1,391 | Legal & General Ventures, management | |
| 69 | OCS GroupFacilities services provider | Gatwick | Mar 04 | 487 | 11 | 54,301 | Goodliffe family (100%) | |
| 70 | Mott MacDonaldManagement and engineering consultancy | Croydon | Dec 04 | *485 | *11 | 7,029 | Employees (49%), trust (47%), Connell Wagner (4%) | |
| 71 | Greenhous GroupCar dealer | Shrewsbury | Dec 04 | *483 | *6 | 641 | Management | |
| 72 | Bloor InvestmentsBuilder and motorcycle maker | Derbyshire | Jun 04 | 471 | 70 | 1,699 | John Bloor (100%) | |
| 73 | ASCOOil and gas services provider | Aberdeen | Dec 03 | 467 | -20 | 1,601 | 3i (62%), Wood Group (31%) and management (7%) | |
| 74 | Findus GroupFood producer | Central London | Dec 04 | *466 | *22 | 4,500 | Capvest and management | |
| 75 | Southern WaterWater services provider | West Sussex | Mar 04 | 455 | 175 | 2,095 | Royal Bank of Scotland, Veolia and other institutions | |
| 76 | JCT600Car dealer | Bradford | Dec 04 | *453 | *13 | 1,007 | Tordoff family and family trusts (100%) | |
| 77 | Vestey GroupFood distributor, farmer | Central London | Dec 04 | 452 | 7 | 1,021 | Vestey family | |
| 78 | Bernard Matthews FarmsFood producer | Norwich | Dec 03 | 436 | 42 | 7,045 | Bernard Matthews and family | |
| 79 | City Electrical FactorsElectrical parts wholesaler | Warwickshire | Apr 03 | 435 | 24 | 3,941 | Mackie family trusts (100%) | |
| 80 | Harrods GroupDepartment store operator | Central London | Feb 04 | 434 | 34 | 4,548 | Mohamed al-Fayed (100%) | |
| 81 | Seton House GroupSpecialist engineer | Surrey | Dec 04 | *426 | *14 | 3,908 | Royal Bank Equity Finance (81%), management (15%) | |
| 82 | PolestarContract printer | Dunstable | Sep 04 | 421 | 13 | 4,790 | Investcorp (95%), institutions (5%) | |
| 83 | Northern & Shell Media GroupPublisher & broadcaster | Central London | Dec 04 | *419 | n/a | 1,214 | Richard Desmond (100%) | |
| 84 | CostcutterConvenience store operator | York | Apr 04 | 418 | 6 | 686 | Colin Graves and family (100%) | |
| 85 | ArupDesign and engineering consultancy | Central London | Mar 04 | 409 | 9 | 6,399 | Arup employees through three employee trusts | |
| 86 | Le Meridien Hotels & ResortsHotel operator | Central London | Jun 04 | 401 | 15 | 7,483 | Terra Firma | |
| 87 | DewhirstClothing manufacturer | East Yorkshire | Dec 04 | *386 | *12 | 1,691 | Management (100%) | |
| 87 | Ineos ChlorChlorine chemicals maker | Cheshire | Jan 04 | 386 | 31 | 17,574 | Management (100%) | |
| 89 | AcromasConsumer services provider | Kent | Jan 04 | 383 | 47 | 2,536 | Lion Capital (100%) | |
| 89 | WeetabixBreakfast cereal maker | Northamptonshire | Aug 03 | 383 | 68 | 2,843 | Charterhouse Development Capital, management and staff | |
| 91 | Perkins FoodsFood producer | Dartford | Feb 04 | 382 | -4 | 3,995 | Investors led by ABN Amro (82%) | |
| 91 | NG BaileyMechanical, electrical contractor | West Yorkshire | Dec 03 | 382 | 7 | 2,978 | Bailey family (100%) | |
| 93 | Samworth BrothersFood producer | Leicestershire | Dec 03 | 370 | 26 | 4,872 | Samworth family trusts (100%) | |
| 94 | Whitehouse GroupCar dealer | Kent | Mar 04 | 368 | 8 | 1,082 | Brian Whitehouse and family (100%) | |
| 95 | BOCM PAULS (Agricola Group)Animal feed manufacturer | Ipswich | Dec 03 | 364 | 2 | 979 | Management and staff (89%), Electra (8%) | |
| 96 | PerrysCar dealer | Northampton | Dec 04 | 360 | 8 | 1,366 | Denise Millard (68%), Ken Savage (20%) | |
| 96 | ListersCar dealer | Stratford-upon-Avon | Mar 04 | 360 | 8 | 990 | Terry Lister (33%), Keith Bradshaw (25%) | |
| 98 | Laurel PubsManaged pub operator | Luton | Mar 04 | 357 | 41 | 9,100 | Robert Tchenguiz | |
| 99 | ZavviEntertainment retailer | West London | Feb 03 | 353 | -3 | 3,104 | Virgin Group (100%) | |
| 100 | GladedaleHousebuilder | Dunfermline | Dec 04 | 341 | 54 | 639 | Remo Dipre and family (100%) |
* supplied by company † annualised figure **estimated
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