Rank Company Location Year end Sales £m % annual growth Profit £m Staff Main shareholders
1 Gala CoralBetting and gaming operator Central London Sep 05 *7,433 *242 17,189 Candover (27%), Cinven (27%), Permira (27%), management (18%)
2 John Lewis PartnershipFood and general retailer Central London Jan 06 *5,149 *282 63,700 Employees (100%)
3 SomerfieldSupermarket operator Bristol Apr 05 †4,589 †57 53,011 Apax Partners (31%), Robert Tchenguiz (27%), Barclays Capital (22%)
4 Palmer and HarveyWholesale distributor East Sussex Apr 05 †3,467 †24 3,565 Management and employees (75%), previous shareholders (25%)
5 INEOSChemicals manufacturer UK/Switzerland Dec 05 *3,400 *208 10,760 Management and employees (100%)
6 BookerCash and carry operator Northants Mar 06 *3,048 *22 8,500 Consortium incl. Baugur, Bank of Scotland Corporate, West Coast Capital
7 StemcorSteel trader Central London Dec 05 *2,864 *43 468 Ralph Oppenheimer and family (76%), management and staff (24%)
8 Shop DirectInternet and catalogue retailer Liverpool Apr 05 2,754 83 29,110 Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay (95%), Bank of Scotland (5%)
9 SwireConglomerate Central London Dec 05 *2,290 *410 76,034 Swire family (66%)
10 Caudwell HoldingsMobile phone retailer Stoke-on-Trent Dec 05 2,121 88 8,248 John and Brian Caudwell (95%)
11 Rigby GroupIT infrastructure integrator Stratford-upon-Avon Mar 05 2,038 18 4,854 Sir Peter Rigby and family (100%)
12 Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group Dartford Mar 05 1,890 18 19,521 Raymond O'Rourke (55%), Hugh O'Rourke (29%)
13 Grampian Country Food GroupFood producer Livingston May 05 1,852 44 20,615 Alfred Duncan (71%), HBOS (15%), management (14%)
14 ArcadiaFashion retailer Central London Aug 05 1,770 309 30,195 Sir Philip and Lady Green and family (88%), Bank of Scotland (8%)
15 Arnold Clark AutomobilesCar dealer Glasgow Dec 05 *1,670 *63 7,318 Sir Arnold Clark and family (100%)
16 Virgin AtlanticAirline and tour operator Crawley Feb 05 1,630 61 8,118 Virgin Investments (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%)
17 Brakes GroupFood distributor Kent Dec 05 *1,628 *63 8,726 Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, management
18 TI AutomotiveCar parts maker Oxford/USA Dec 05 1,533 65 20,970 Management (25%), Smiths Group (20%)
19 IcelandFrozen food retailer North Wales Mar 05 1,439 -12 12,324 Baugur Group, Talden Holdings, management
20 Vetco InternationalOilfield services provider Central London Dec 05 *1,368 *55 10,000 Candover, 3i, JP Morgan Partners, NIB Capital, management
21 Bestway GroupConglomerate West London Jun 05 1,352 43 3,478 Pervez family (61%), management (39%)
22 United BiscuitsBranded snack manufacturer West London Dec 05 *1,267 *99 10,639 Cinven (30%), PAI Partners (30%), Nabisco (25%), MidOcean Partners (15%)
23 Camden Motor GroupCar dealer Northampton Dec 05 *1,265 *12 1,434 Paul Dunkley, David Hammond
24 European Metal RecyclingMetal recycler Warrington Dec 04 1,149 93 1,416 Sheppard family (96%)
25 WilkoValue retailer Nottinghamshire Jan 06 *1,135 *24 21,500 Wilkinson family (99.7%)
26 LINPACPackaging maker West Yorkshire Dec 05 *1,132 *43 9,465 Montagu Private Equity (47%), other shareholders (53%)
27 Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy Oxford Dec 05 *1,106 *28 8,800 Management and employees (55%), institutions including 3i (45%)
28 JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer Staffordshire Dec 04 1,100 49 4,631 Bamford family (100%)
29 Sir Robert McAlpineConstruction contractor Hertfordshire Oct 05 1,092 23 2,278 McAlpine family (100%)
30 The Vita GroupFoam and plastics maker Central London Dec 04 959 43 7,839 Texas Pacific Group
31 ClarksShoe retailer and wholesaler Somerset Jan 06 *921 *82 12,021 Clark family (81%), employees and institutions (19%)
32 Sports World InternationalSports goods retailer Bedfordshire Apr 05 905 67 9,394 Mike Ashley (100%)
33 CoatsThread manufacturer West London Dec 05 *900 *55 26,000 Guinness Peat Group (100%)
34 The Miller GroupHousebuilder & construction services Edinburgh Dec 05 *893 *97 1,616 Miller family (89%), employees (11%)
35 BhsDepartment store operator Central London Apr 05 †872 †117 14,593 Sir Philip Green (94%), Sir Tom Hunter (5%)
36 bmiAirline operator Derby Dec 05 *869 *10 4,555 Sir Michael Bishop (50%), Lufthansa (30%), SAS (20%)
37 New LookFashion retailer Central London Mar 05 †822 †121 12,578 Permira, Apax Partners, Tom Singh, management, Quillian Investments
38 Kwik-FitCar repair centre operator Edinburgh Dec 05 *795 *60 9,457 PAI Partners
39 Lucite InternationalPlastics maker Southampton Dec 05 780 64 2,099 Charterhouse Development Capital (78%), INEOS Group (11%), Staff (9%)
40 First Quench RetailingOff-licence operator Hertfordshire Jul 05 †772 †-12 5,478 Terra Firma (100%)
40 Baxi GroupHeating systems manufacturer Derby Dec 05 *772 *96 11,680 BC Partners (81%), Electra (10%), management (9%)
42 The AAMotor services provider Basingstoke Dec 05 *755 *191 7,942 CVC Capital Partners (41%), Permira (41%), staff and others (18%)
43 BetfredBookmaker Warrington Mar 05 751 2 1,564 Fred and Peter Done & family (100%)
44 Pentland GroupBrand manager and retailer Central London Dec 05 *735 *30 12,018 Stephen Rubin and family (100%)
45 Bourne LeisureCaravan park operator Hertfordshire Dec 04 733 93 10,723 Peter Harris, John Cook, David Allen
46 Focus DIYDIY retailer Crewe Oct 05 *732 *2 7,999 Duke Street Capital (42%), Apax Partners (29%), others (29%)
47 Guardian Media GroupMultimedia publisher Central London Apr 05 708 91 7,250 Scott Trust (100%)
48 Martin McCollConvenience store operator Essex Nov 05 *683 *18 10,950 Management (80%), Bank of Scotland (20%)
49 WatesConstruction contractor Surrey Dec 05 670 5 1,763 Wates family (100%)
50 AcromasConsumer services provider Kent Jan 06 *657 *120 2,729 Charterhouse Development Capital, management and employees
51 Shepherd GroupBuilder, manufacturer and developer York Jun 05 644 29 3,615 Shepherd family (100%)
52 Virgin Rail GroupTrain operator Central London Mar 05 †631 †19 4,549 Virgin Investments (51%) and Stagecoach (49%)
53 Bowmer & KirklandConstruction contractor Derbyshire Aug 05 630 23 1,431 Kirkland family and family trusts (100%)
54 AF Blakemore & SonFood distributor West Midlands Apr 05 622 4 4,693 Peter Blakemore and family (70%)
55 Welcome BreakMotorway services operator Milton Keynes Sep 05 *616 *22 4,429 Investcorp (100%)
56 Marshall GroupConglomerate Cambridge Dec 04 605 10 3,628 Michael Marshall and family trusts (51%)
56 bet365Online bookmaker Stoke-on-Trent Mar 05 605 5 769 Coates family (87%), William Roseff (13%)
58 River IslandFashion retailer West London Dec 04 595 110 10,179 Bernard Lewis and family
59 DFSUpholstered furniture retailer South Yorkshire Jul 05 *576 *59 2,557 Lord Kirkham and family (100%)
60 Bristol Street GroupCar dealer Worcestershire Dec 05 *574 *5 1,708 Directors (84%), other management (16%)
61 Peacock GroupFashion retailer Cardiff Mar 05 548 44 10,187 Richard Kirk (26%), Och Ziff (21%), Perry Capital (20%), Keith Bryant (15%), Echelon (12%)
62 Bloor InvestmentsBuilder and motorcycle maker Derbyshire Jun 05 546 62 1,724 John Bloor (100%)
63 InfinisRenewable energy generator Northampton Dec 05 543 34 1,170 Terra Firma (100%)
64 OCS GroupFacilities services provider Gatwick Mar 05 538 16 57,405 Goodliffe family (100%)
65 Mott MacDonaldManagement and engineering consultancy Croydon Dec 05 *515 *8 8,141 Trust (50%), Employees (46%), Connell Wagner (4%)
66 Ryland GroupCar dealer West Midlands Mar 05 511 6 1,218 Peter Whale and family (60%), ITC (40%)
67 CPL IndustriesSolid fuels supplier Chesterfield Dec 05 510 11 1,211 Royal Bank of Scotland, Vision Capital
68 GladedaleHousebuilder Dunfermline Dec 05 *505 *87 924 Remo Dipre and family (100%)
69 TrailfindersTravel organiser West London Feb 06 *502 *16 1,057 Mike Gooley and family (100%)
70 JCT600Car dealer Bradford Dec 05 498 20 5,475 Tordoff family and family trusts (100%)
70 EWS RailwayRail freight operator Central London Mar 05 498 31 1,046 Canadian National (32%), Berkshire Group, Goldman Sachs, Fay Richwhite
72 Findus GroupFood producer Central London Oct 05 *496 *22 4,704 CapVest (66%), management (34%)
73 TravelexForeign exchange operator Central London Dec 04 494 25 5,553 Apax (48%), Lloyd Dorfman (30%), management (9%), 3i (7%), Standard Chartered (6%)
74 Greenhous GroupCar dealer Shrewsbury Dec 05 *491 *2 628 Derek Passant (50%), Kerry Finnon (50%)
75 Hanover AcceptancesConglomerate Central London Dec 04 486 39 1,804 Gorvy family through Quadriga Holdings SA (100%)
76 Vestey GroupFood distributor, farmer Central London Dec 05 *482 *5 1,101 Vestey family
77 WestcoastElectronic products distributor Reading Dec 05 *481 *8 284 Joe Hemani (100%)
78 Odeon & UCI Cinemas GroupCinema operator Central London Dec 05 478 24 7,034 Terra Firma (>50%)
79 Southern WaterWater services provider West Sussex Mar 05 475 181 2,062 Royal Bank of Scotland and other institutions
80 DysonAppliance manufacturer Wiltshire Dec 05 *470 *97 1,450 James Dyson and family (100%)
81 Caparo GroupMetal engineer Central London Dec 04 463 54 2,523 Lord Paul and family (100%)
82 Seton House GroupSpecialist engineer Surrey Apr 04 459 28 4,083 Royal Bank Equity Finance (81%), management (15%)
82 City Electrical FactorsElectrical parts wholesaler Warwickshire Dec 05 459 31 3,844 Mackie family trusts (100%)
84 Ineos ChlorChlorine chemicals maker Cheshire Dec 05 *457 *32 1,602 Management (100%)
85 CostcutterConvenience store operator York Apr 05 455 7 723 Colin Graves, Nick Ivel, Angela Barber, David Thompson, Kaupthing Bank
86 Bernard Matthews FarmsFood producer Norwich Jan 05 †450 †39 7,083 Bernard Matthews and family
87 DoncastersEngineering components maker Burton upon Trent Jan 05 *448 *46 4,099 Dubai International Capital (75%)
87 Harrods GroupDepartment store operator Central London Dec 05 448 42 4,598 Mohamed al-Fayed (100%)
89 ArupDesign and engineering consultancy Central London Mar 05 430 11 6,449 Employees through three employee trusts
90 ListersCar dealer Stratford-upon-Avon Mar 05 429 5 1,248 Terry Lister (27%), Keith Bradshaw (26%), Geoffrey Lister (15%)
91 Samworth BrothersFood producer Leicestershire Dec 04 419 29 5,172 Samworth family trusts (100%)
92 ASCOOil and gas services provider Aberdeen Dec 05 *416 *20 1,072 Bank of Scotland Corporate (27%), RBS (27%), Intermediate Capital Group (27%)
93 Willmott Dixon GroupConstruction contractor Hertfordshire Dec 05 *413 *15 1,239 Willmott family (64%), Dixon family (21%), senior management (15%)
93 Northern & Shell Media GroupPublisher & broadcaster Central London Dec 05 *413 n/a 863 Richard Desmond (100%)
95 FarmfoodsFrozen food retailer Birmingham Dec 04 407 10 3,001 Eric Herd (97%), William McReadie (3%)
95 NG BaileyMechanical, electrical contractor West Yorkshire Feb 05 407 12 3,990 Bailey family (100%)
97 ZavviEntertainment retailer West London Mar 04 †391 †-56 3,977 Virgin Group (100%)
98 Four Seasons Health CareHealthcare provider Cheshire Dec 05 *390 *70 20,000 Allianz Capital Partners (92%), management (8%)
99 BOCM PAULS (Agricola Group)Animal feed manufacturer Ipswich Dec 04 386 3 1,013 Management and employees (89%), Electra (8%)
100 PerrysCar dealer Northampton Dec 05 378 8 1,381 Denise Millard (60%), Ken Savage (20%)

* supplied by company   † annualised figure