Rank Company Location Year end Sales £m % annual growth Profit £m Staff Main shareholders
1 INEOSChemicals manufacturer UK/Switzerland Dec 06 *18,134 *630 14,500 Jim Ratcliffe, management and staff (100%)
2 John Lewis PartnershipFood and general retailer Central London Jan 07 5,698 358 67,100 Employees (100%)
3 SomerfieldSupermarket operator Bristol Apr 06 5,249 59 31,665 Apax Partners (31%), Robert Tchenguiz (27%), Barclays Capital (22%)
4 Palmer and HarveyWholesale distributor East Sussex Apr 06 3,575 24 3,688 Management and employees (75%), previous shareholders (25%)
5 StemcorSteel trader Central London Dec 06 *3,308 *88 881 Ralph Oppenheimer and family (73%), management and staff (27%)
6 SwireConglomerate Central London Dec 06 *2,310 *420 61,966 Swire family (66%)
7 Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group Dartford Mar 06 2,236 37 22,453 Raymond O’Rourke (55%), Hugh O’Rourke (29%)
8 Rigby GroupIT infrastructure integrator Stratford-upon-Avon Mar 06 2,151 25 5,369 Sir Peter Rigby and family (100%)
9 Shop DirectInternet and catalogue retailer Liverpool Apr 06 1,982 -41 21,935 Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay (95%), Bank of Scotland (5%)
10 Virgin AtlanticAirline and tour operator Crawley Feb 06 1,912 34 8,939 Virgin Investments (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%)
11 Arnold Clark AutomobilesCar dealer Glasgow Dec 06 *1,873 *80 7,596 Sir Arnold Clark and family (100%)
12 Grampian Country Food GroupFood producer Livingston May 06 1,807 22 19,545 Alfred Duncan (71%), HBOS (15%), management (14%)
13 ArcadiaFashion retailer Central London Sep 06 1,801 273 28,901 Sir Philip and Lady Green and family (88%), Bank of Scotland (8%)
14 Bestway HoldingsCash & carry wholesaler West London Jun 06 *1,673 *66 4,687 Pervez family (61%), management (39%)
15 IcelandFrozen food retailer North Wales Mar 07 *1,662 *62 17,434 Baugur Group, Talden Holdings, management
16 Brakes GroupFood distributor Kent Dec 06 *1,638 *82 8,638 Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, management
17 TI AutomotiveCar parts maker Oxford/USA Dec 06 *1,566 *73 20,840 Management (25%), Smiths Group (20%)
18 Anglian Water GroupWater services provider Cambridgeshire Mar 06 1,552 380 11,054 CPPIB (32.3%), CFSGAM (32.3%), IFM (19.3%), 3i Group (16.1%)
19 Thames WaterWater services provider Reading Mar 06 1,393 469 5,000 Consortium led by Macquarie Bank
20 JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer Staffordshire Dec 05 1,348 91 5,178 Bamford family (100%)
21 Sir Robert McAlpineConstruction contractor Hertfordshire Oct 06 1,254 59 2,543 McAlpine family (100%)
22 Gala CoralBetting and gaming operator Central London Sep 06 *1,227 *299 18,380 Candover, Cinven, Permira
23 The Miller GroupHousebuilder & construction services Edinburgh Dec 06 *1,208 *129 1,973 Miller family (89%), employees (11%)
24 Camden Motor GroupCar dealer Northampton Dec 06 *1,153 *12 1,395 Paul Dunkley (78.85%), David Hammond (15.61%), Sir Geoffrey Whalen (5.54%)
25 WilkoValue retailer Nottinghamshire Jan 06 1,135 26 21,277 Wilkinson family (99.7%)
26 LINPACPackaging maker West Yorkshire Dec 05 1,132 45 9,468 Montagu Private Equity (47%), other shareholders (53%)
27 Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy Oxford Dec 06 *1,083 *6 8,712 Investors (33%), management and staff (52%), UGC Pension Shareholding (15%)
28 United BiscuitsBranded snack manufacturer West London Dec 06 *1,063 *140 10,030 PAI Partners (50%), Blackstone (50%)
29 MatalanValue retailer Liverpool Feb 07 *1,043 *51 13,921 John Hargreaves and family (54%), Abacus Trust (22%), Maxine Adams (8%)
30 European Metal RecyclingMetal recycler Warrington Dec 05 1,033 56 1,412 Sheppard family (96%)
31 The Vita GroupFoam and plastics maker Central London Dec 06 *1,000 n/a 6,400 Texas Pacific Group (100%)
32 bet365Online bookmaker Stoke-on-Trent Mar 07 *986 *16 600 Coates family (87%), William Roseff (13%)
33 ViridianElectricity utility Belfast Mar 06 977 151 1,505 Arcapita (100%)
34 ClarksShoe retailer and wholesaler Somerset Jan 07 973 85 12,713 Clark family (81%), employees and institutions (19%)
35 Baxi GroupHeating systems manufacturer Derby Dec 06 919 79 5,414 BC Partners (81%), Electra Private Equity (10%), management (9%)
36 bmiAirline operator Derby Dec 06 *905 *10 4,378 Sir Michael Bishop (50%), Lufthansa (30%), SAS (20%)
37 SpecsaversOptical and hearing aid retailer Guernsey Feb 07 *891 n/a 15,300 Perkins family
38 BetfredBookmaker Warrington Mar 06 874 10 1,680 Fred and Peter Done & family (100%)
39 New LookFashion retailer Central London Mar 06 866 136 13,775 Permira, Apax Partners, Tom Singh, management, Quillian Investments
40 WatesConstruction contractor Surrey Dec 06 863 28 2,050 Wates family (100%)
41 BhsDepartment store operator Central London Mar 06 861 53 14,470 Sir Philip Green (94%), Sir Tom Hunter (5%)
42 Kwik-FitCar repair centre operator Edinburgh Dec 05 798 64 9,457 PAI Partners
43 The AAMotor services provider Basingstoke Dec 06 *794 *250 7,185 CVC Capital Partners (41%), Permira (41%), staff and others (18%)
44 First Quench RetailingOff-licence operator Hertfordshire Jul 06 781 -8 11,380 Consortium led by Edmund Truell
45 Lucite InternationalPlastics maker Southampton Dec 05 780 65 2,211 Charterhouse Capital (78%), Ineos (11%), staff (9%)
46 River IslandFashion retailer West London Dec 05 763 166 12,383 Bernard Lewis and family 100%
47 Pentland GroupBrand manager and retailer Central London Dec 05 735 36 12,018 Stephen Rubin and family (100%)
48 MotoMotorway services operator Bedfordshire Sep 06 *724 *37 4,289 Consortium led by Macquarie Bank (100%)
49 Virgin Rail GroupTrain operator Central London Mar 06 717 -8 4,456 Virgin Investments (51%) and Stagecoach (49%)
50 House of FraserDepartment store operator Central London Jan 06 709 38 8,074 Baugur Group, FL Group, West Coast Capital, Bank of Scotland Corporate and others
51 Bowmer & KirklandConstruction contractor Derbyshire Aug 06 705 31 1,460 Kirkland family and family trusts (100%)
52 Shepherd GroupBuilder, manufacturer and developer York Jun 06 704 35 3,574 Shepherd family (100%)
53 Guardian Media GroupMultimedia publisher Central London Apr 06 700 120 7,107 Scott Trust (100%)
54 Findus GroupFood producer Central London Oct 06 *695 *48 6,323 Capvest (66%), management (34%)
55 Bourne LeisureCaravan park operator Hertfordshire Dec 05 694 97 10,105 Peter Harris, John Cook, David Allen
56 Martin McCollConvenience store operator Essex Nov 06 *680 *23 11,042 Management (80%), Bank of Scotland (20%)
57 MFI RetailFurniture retailer Central London Jun 06 * †676 * †-31 4,400 Merchant Equity Partners, management
58 AcromasConsumer services provider Kent Jan 06 661 136 2,729 Charterhouse (80%), management (14%), staff (6%)
59 Welcome BreakMotorway services operator Milton Keynes Sep 06 631 29 4,356 Investcorp (100%)
60 Iglo GroupFrozen food producer West London Dec 05 627 59 1,995 Permira, management
61 Mott MacDonaldManagement and engineering consultancy Croydon Dec 06 *615 *18 9,205 Trust (50%), Employees (46%), Connell Wagner (4%)
62 Peacock GroupFashion retailer Cardiff Mar 06 608 25 11,184 Richard Kirk (26%), Och-Ziff (20%), Perry Capital (20%), others
63 AF Blakemore & SonFood distributor West Midlands Apr 06 603 8 4,745 Peter Blakemore and family (70%)
64 OCS GroupFacilities services provider Gatwick Mar 06 600 21 60,980 Goodliffe family (100%)
65 Balli HoldingsSteel trader Central London Dec 05 587 15 799 Alaghband family (100%)
66 Caparo GroupMetal engineer Central London Dec 05 587 31 3,710 Lord Paul and family (100%)
67 WestcoastElectronic products distributor Reading Dec 06 *583 *10 489 Joe Hemani (100%)
68 ListersCar dealer Stratford-upon-Avon Mar 07 *575 *20 1,323 Terry Lister (27%), Keith Bradshaw (25%), Geoff Lister (15%), Tim Bradshaw (8%)
69 DFSUpholstered furniture retailer South Yorkshire Jul 06 *575 *61 2,611 Lord Kirkham and family (100%)
70 Marshall GroupConglomerate Cambridge Dec 05 574 0 3,569 Michael Marshall and family trusts (51%)
71 Bloor InvestmentsBuilder and motorcycle maker Derbyshire Jun 06 567 49 1,755 John Bloor (100%)
72 CPL IndustriesSolid fuels supplier Chesterfield Mar 06 566 17 1,166 Vision Capital, Royal Bank of Scotland, management
73 Greenhous GroupCar dealer Shrewsbury Dec 06 555 6 657 Derek Passant (50%), Kerry Finnon (50%)
74 TrailfindersTravel organiser West London Feb 07 *550 *10 1,129 Mike Gooley and family (100%)
75 Southern WaterWater services provider West Sussex Mar 06 542 230 1,901 Royal Bank of Scotland (49%), Perry Capital, DE Shaw
76 Murray InternationalConglomerate Edinburgh Jan 06 538 38 3,898 Murray family (81%), Bank of Scotland Corporate (11%), others
77 JCT600Car dealer Bradford Dec 06 538 17 1,216 Tordoff family and family trusts (100%)
78 Hanover AcceptancesConglomerate Central London Dec 05 535 36 1,949 Gorvy family through Quadriga Holdings (100%)
79 TravelexForeign exchange operator Central London Dec 06 *528 *84 5,602 Apax (57%), Lloyd Dorfman (28%), Standard Chartered (7%), management
80 DoncastersEngineering components maker Burton upon Trent Dec 06 *510 *49 4,828 Dubai International Capital, (77.6%), management (22.4%)
81 EWS RailwayRail freight operator Central London Mar 06 510 8 5,155 Canadian National (32%), Berkshire Group, Goldman Sachs, Fay Richwhite
82 City Electrical FactorsElectrical parts wholesaler Warwickshire Apr 06 496 23 4,028 Mackie family trusts (100%)
83 NG BaileyMechanical, electrical contractor West Yorkshire Feb 06 492 17 3,802 Bailey family (100%)
84 Bernard Matthews FarmsFood producer Norwich Dec 05 480 36 7,082 Bernard Matthews and family (100%)
85 Odeon & UCI Cinemas GroupCinema operator Central London Dec 06 479 20 8,674 Terra Firma (more than 50%)
86 GladedaleHousebuilder Dunfermline Dec 05 475 78 924 Remo Dipre and family (100%)
87 ArupDesign and engineering consultancy Central London Mar 06 475 36 6,732 Employees through three trusts
88 DysonAppliance manufacturer Wiltshire Dec 05 470 128 1,679 Sir James Dyson and family (100%)
89 KeepmoatHousing regeneration specialist South Yorkshire Mar 06 469 41 2,550 Terry Bramall (76%), Richard Watson (18%), David Blunt (6%)
90 Fitness FirstFitness club operator Poole Oct 06 *463 *40 11,762 BC Partners, management
91 Samworth BrothersFood producer Leicestershire Dec 05 462 39 5,385 Samworth family trusts (100%)
92 CostcutterConvenience store operator York Apr 06 460 7 623 C Graves (35%), N Ivel (15%), A Barber (15%), D Thompson (15%), Kaupthing (20%)
93 Seton House GroupSpecialist engineer Surrey Dec 05 459 31 3,844 Royal Bank Equity Finance (50%), Capital Riesgo Global (35%), management (15%)
94 Vestey GroupFood distributor, farmer Central London Dec 05 455 2 1,113 Vestey family
95 Firth RixsonAerospace manufacturer Sheffield Sep 06 *445 *55 1,981 Carlyle Group, Lehman Bros, management
96 Associated British PortsPort operator Central London Dec 06 *437 *191 2,700 Borealis (34%), GIC (33%), Goldman Sachs (23%), Infracapital (10%)
97 Harrods GroupDepartment store operator Central London Feb 07 *436 *67 3,698 Mohamed Al-Fayed (100%)
98 Formula OneMotor racing administrator Central London Dec 05 433 257 204 CVC Capital Partners, Ecclestone Family, others
99 Four Seasons Health CareHealthcare provider Cheshire Dec 06 *427 *64 16,100 Three Delta, management
100 Northern & Shell Media GroupPublisher & broadcaster Central London Dec 06 *419 *51 1,247 Richard Desmond

* supplied by company   † annualised figure