Rank Company Location Year end Sales £m % annual growth Profit £m Staff Main shareholders
1 INEOSChemicals manufacturer UK/Switzerland Dec 07 *18,824 *1,506 13,682 Jim Ratcliffe (75%), management and staff (25%)
2 Alliance BootsRetailer and pharmaceutical wholesaler UK/Switzerland Mar 08 *15,304 *1,027 62,032 Stefano Pessina, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
3 John Lewis PartnershipFood and general retailer Central London Jan 08 6,052 598 68,430 Employees (100%)
4 StemcorSteel trader Central London Dec 07 4,254 109 1,089 Ralph Oppenheimer and family (71%), management and staff (29%)
5 SomerfieldSupermarket operator Bristol Apr 08 *4,221 *226 23,741 Apax (31%), Robert Tchenguiz (27%), Barclays Capital (22%), management (16%)
6 Palmer and HarveyWholesale distributor East Sussex Apr 07 3,983 44 3,821 Management and employees (75%), others (25%)
7 Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group Dartford Mar 07 3,037 111 24,837 Ray O’Rourke, Hugh O’Rourke and family via Suffolk Partners Corporation
8 SwireConglomerate Central London Dec 07 *2,512 *572 61,823 Swire family (66%)
9 JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer Staffordshire Dec 07 *2,250 n/a n/a Bamford family (100%)
10 Virgin AtlanticAirline and tour operator Crawley Feb 07 2,225 65 9,877 Virgin Investments (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%)
11 Arnold Clark AutomobilesCar dealer Glasgow Dec 07 *2,084 *177 7,953 Sir Arnold Clark (40%), Clark family and trusts (60%)
12 Rigby GroupIT infrastructure integrator Stratford-upon-Avon Mar 07 2,042 34 5,481 Sir Peter Rigby and family (100%)
13 ArcadiaFashion retailer Central London Sep 07 1,859 342 29,748 Sir Philip, Lady Green and family (88%), Bank of Scotland (8%)
14 IcelandFrozen food retailer North Wales Mar 08 *1,834 *130 18,020 Baugur Group, Fons Eignarhaldsfelag, Landsbanki Islands, management
15 Sir Robert McAlpineConstruction contractor Hertfordshire Oct 07 1,817 77 2,834 McAlpine family (100%)
16 bet365Online bookmaker Stoke-on-Trent Mar 08 * †1,815 * †36 812 Coates family (93.3%), William Roseff (6.7%)
17 Bestway GroupConglomerate West London Jun 07 *1,811 *86 5,723 Pervez family (61%), management (39%)
18 Grampian Country Food GroupFood producer Livingston May 06 1,807 57 19,545 Acquired in June by the Dutch firm Vion
19 Shop DirectInternet and catalogue retailer Liverpool Apr 07 1,766 -8 18,000 Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay (95%), Bank of Scotland (5%)
20 GreenergyFuel supplier Central London Mar 08 *1,754 *17 76 Andrew Owens and Alex Lewis (33%), Caradog (24%), Tesco (21%), Barclays (15%)
21 EMIMusic publisher and producer Central London Mar 07 1,752 172 5,458 Terra Firma, management
22 European Metal RecyclingMetal recycler Warrington Dec 06 1,691 136 1,959 Sheppard family (96%)
23 Brakes GroupFood distributor Kent Dec 06 1,638 109 8,638 Bain Capital (80%), management (20%)
24 Thames WaterWater services provider Reading Mar 08 *1,494 *917 5,072 Consortium led by Macquarie European Infrastructure Funds
25 TI AutomotiveCar parts maker Oxford/USA Dec 07 1,395 127 17,950 Oaktree Capital Management, Duquesne Capital Management
26 Gala CoralBetting and gaming operator Central London Sep 07 1,310 402 19,392 Candover (27%), Cinven (27%), Permira (27%), management (19%)
27 The Miller GroupHousebuilder & construction services Edinburgh Dec 07 *1,309 *131 2,090 Miller family, Bank of Scotland Corporate
28 MalthurstPetrol station operator Essex Jul 07 *1,255 *31 340 Management (62%), Barclays Private Equity (38%)
29 WilkoValue retailer Nottinghamshire Jan 07 1,246 85 21,836 Wilkinson family (100%)
30 SSPTravel foodservice provider Weybridge Sep 07 1,236 135 26,167 EQT, management
31 LINPACPackaging maker West Yorkshire Dec 06 1,151 115 9,285 Montagu Private Equity (47%), other shareholders (53%)
32 New LookFashion retailer Central London Mar 08 * †1,147 * †179 18,605 Permira, Apax Partners, Tom Singh, management, Quillian Investments
33 United BiscuitsBranded snack manufacturer West London Dec 07 *1,096 *188 9,000 PAI Partners (45%), Blackstone (45%), management (10%)
34 Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy Oxford Dec 07 1,067 16 8,446 Management and staff (52%); 3i, Electra, Standard Life (33%); UGC Pension (15%)
35 ClarksShoe retailer and wholesaler Somerset Jan 08 1,053 111 12,814 Clark family (81%), employees and institutions (19%)
36 MatalanValue retailer Liverpool Feb 07 *1,043 *48 13,921 John Hargreaves and family (54%), Abacus Trust (22%), Maxine Adams (8%)
37 House of FraserDepartment store operator Central London Jan 07 *1,042 *62 7,156 Baugur, Don McCarthy, FL Group, West Coast Capital, Bank of Scotland Corporate
38 bmiAirline operator Derby Dec 07 *1,023 *27 5,076 Sir Michael Bishop (50%), Lufthansa (30%), SAS (20%)
39 ViridianElectricity utility Belfast Mar 07 1,022 228 1,554 Arcapita Bank (100%)
40 SpecsaversOptical and hearing aid retailer Guernsey Feb 08 *1,020 n/a 17,000 Perkins family
41 The Vita GroupFoam and plastics maker Central London Dec 07 *985 *80 6,109 TPG Capital (100%)
42 Pentland GroupBrand manager and retailer Central London Dec 07 *973 *70 12,768 Stephen Rubin and family (100%)
43 BetfredBookmaker Warrington Apr 07 967 24 1,989 Fred and Peter Done and family (100%)
44 WatesConstruction contractor Surrey Dec 07 949 27 2,212 Wates family (100%)
45 Anglian Water GroupWater services provider Cambridgeshire Mar 07 919 594 3,611 CPPIB (32.3%), CFSGAM (32.3%), IFM (19.3%), 3i (16.1%)
46 Findus GroupFood producer Central London Sep 07 894 89 6,426 Capvest (62%), management (38%)
47 Kelda GroupWater services provider Bradford Mar 07 879 526 3,843 Saltaire Water, comprising Citigroup, GIC, Infracapital and HSBC
48 BhsDepartment store operator Central London Mar 07 873 80 14,638 Sir Philip Green (95%), Sir Tom Hunter (5%)
49 Iglo GroupFrozen food producer West London Dec 07 *869 *134 2,461 Permira, management
50 Kwik-FitCar repair centre operator Edinburgh Dec 07 858 94 10,192 PAI Partners, management
51 Lucite InternationalPlastics maker Southampton Dec 07 *849 *114 2,070 Charterhouse Capital (82%), Ineos (11%), management and staff (5%), others (2%)
52 Baxi GroupHeating systems manufacturer Derby Dec 07 *847 *89 4,973 BC Partners (81%), Electra Private Equity (11%), management (8%)
53 Virgin Rail GroupTrain operator Central London Mar 07 823 10 4,385 Virgin Holdings (51%) and Stagecoach (49%)
54 Bowmer & KirklandConstruction contractor Derbyshire Aug 07 819 34 1,578 Kirkland family and family trusts (100%)
55 River IslandFashion retailer West London Dec 06 813 198 13,431 Bernard Lewis and family (100%)
56 Camden Group ServicesFleet services provider Leighton Buzzard Dec 06 809 4 351 Barclays Private Equity, shareholders of Camden Ventures, management
57 MotoMotorway services operator Bedfordshire Dec 07 786 52 4,465 Consortium led by Macquarie Bank (100%)
58 Phones 4uMobile phone retailer Staffordshire Dec 06 782 104 5,243 Providence Equity Partners (72%), Caudwell Trust and others (25%), management (3%)
59 First Quench RetailingOff-licence operator Hertfordshire Jun 07 774 -5 12,042 Vision Capital (75%), consortium led by Edmund Truell (25%)
60 KCA DEUTAG GroupDrilling contractor Aberdeen Dec 07 771 125 6,554 First Reserve Corporation, Pamplona Capital
61 EnterpriseMaintenance services provider Lancashire Dec 07 †766 †60 9,000 3i, management
62 Mott MacDonaldManagement and engineering consultancy Croydon Dec 07 748 26 11,029 Trust (50%), Employees (46%), Connell Wagner (4%)
63 Bourne LeisureCaravan park operator Hertfordshire Dec 07 *745 *151 11,000 Peter Harris, John Cook, David Allen, management
64 BiffaIntegrated waste manager High Wycombe Mar 07 743 152 5,147 Montagu Private Equity (41.7%), Global Infrastructure (41.7%), Bank of Scotland (13%)
65 Guardian Media GroupMultimedia publisher Central London Apr 07 716 144 6,996 Scott Trust
66 Marshall GroupConglomerate Cambridge Dec 07 *708 *35 3,876 Michael Marshall and family trusts (57%), others (43%)
67 Greenhous GroupCar dealer Shrewsbury Dec 07 703 6 698 Derek Passant (50%), Kerry Finnon (50%)
68 Martin McCollConvenience store operator Essex Nov 07 700 38 11,213 Management (80%), Bank of Scotland (20%)
69 DoncastersEngineering components maker Burton upon Trent Dec 07 691 103 6,295 Dubai International Capital (78%), Eric Lewis (6.5%), other management (15.5%)
70 AcromasConsumer services provider Kent Jan 07 688 127 2,919 Charterhouse, CVC, Permira, management, staff
71 Caparo GroupMetal engineer Central London Dec 07 *686 *30 5,671 Lord Paul and family (100%)
72 Shepherd GroupBuilder, manufacturer and developer York Jun 07 683 53 3,580 Shepherd family (100%)
73 WestcoastElectronic products distributor Reading Dec 07 683 8 588 Joe Hemani (100%)
74 Crest NicholsonHousebuilder Surrey Oct 07 677 103 771 Bank of Scotland Corporate (45.5%), West Coast Capital (45.5%), other investors (9%)
75 MFI RetailFurniture retailer Central London Jun 06 * †676 * †-31 4,400 Merchant Equity Partners, management
76 Peacock GroupFashion retailer Cardiff Mar 07 653 76 11,237 Och Ziff (20.5% ), Perry Capital (20.5%), Echelon (7%), management (47%)
77 AF Blakemore & SonFood distributor West Midlands Apr 07 643 14 4,773 Peter Blakemore and family (70%), management
78 John LaingInfrastructure investor and manager Central London Dec 07 *639 *1 1,457 Funds managed by Henderson Equity Partners
79 OCS GroupFacilities services provider Gatwick Mar 07 633 35 60,158 Goodliffe family (100%)
80 CountrywideEstate agents Milton Keynes Dec 07 633 100 10,809 Apollo Investment Corporation, management
81 Welcome BreakMotorway services operator Milton Keynes Sep 06 631 37 4,356 Appia Group, management
82 Bloor InvestmentsBuilder and motorcycle maker Derbyshire Jun 07 630 76 2,015 John Bloor (100%)
83 Southern WaterWater services provider West Sussex Mar 08 *622 *426 1,732 JP Morgan (28%), Challenger Infrastructure Fund (23%), others (49%)
84 TrailfindersTravel organiser West London Feb 08 620 12 1,208 Mike Gooley and family (100%)
85 Bibby Line GroupConglomerate Liverpool Dec 07 *619 *48 4,160 Michael Bibby and family (88%), management (12%)
86 DFSUpholstered furniture retailer South Yorkshire Jul 07 611 71 2,714 Lord Kirkham and family (100%)
87 GladedaleHousebuilder Dunfermline Dec 07 *610 *109 1,587 Remo Dipre and family (100%)
88 City Electrical FactorsElectrical parts wholesaler Warwickshire Apr 07 592 28 4,642 Mackie family trusts (100%)
89 Hanover AcceptancesConglomerate Central London Dec 06 591 49 1,976 Gorvy family through Quadriga Holdings (100%)
90 JCT600Car dealer Bradford Dec 07 *574 *15 1,329 Tordoff family and family trusts (100%)
91 ArupDesign and engineering consultancy Central London Mar 07 572 48 8,139 Employees, through three trusts
92 ListersCar dealer Stratford-upon-Avon Mar 07 570 17 1,323 Terry Lister (27%), Keith Bradshaw (25%), Geoff Lister (15%), others (33%)
93 Merlin EntertainmentsVisitor attraction operator Poole Dec 07 *558 *188 8,531 Blackstone Capital Partners, Kirkbi Invest, Dubai International Capital, management
94 Vestey GroupFood distributor, farmer Central London Dec 06 537 9 1,230 Vestey family
95 KeepmoatHousing regeneration specialist South Yorkshire Mar 07 533 50 2,895 Management (80%), Bank of Scotland Corporate (20%)
96 MonsoonClothing and accessories retailer West London May 07 531 74 4,588 Peter Simon and family
97 Fitness FirstFitness club operator Poole Oct 07 526 119 12,495 BC Partners (81%), management (19%)
98 EVO Business SuppliesBusiness supplies distributor Sheffield Dec 07 *523 *31 1,767 Electra Partners, management
99 Balli HoldingsSteel trader Central London Dec 06 523 4 478 Alaghband family (100%)
100 TravelexForeign exchange operator Central London Dec 07 *519 *107 5,608 Apax (57%), Lloyd Dorfman (28%), Standard Chartered (7%), management

* supplied by company   † annualised figure