Top Track 100
| Rank | Company | Location | Year end | Sales £m | % annual growth | Profit £m | Staff | Main shareholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alliance BootsRetailer and pharmaceutical wholesaler | UK/Switzerland | Mar 13 | *22,406 | -2.6 | *1,505 | 74,645 | Walgreens (45%), KKR, Stefano Pessina |
| 2 | INEOSChemicals manufacturer | UK/Switzerland | Dec 12 | *18,398 | 9.3 | *1,393 | 11,879 | Jim Ratcliffe (75%), management and staff (25%) |
| 3 | GreenergyFuel supplier | Central London | Apr 13 | *14,578 | 22.1 | *31 | 303 | Tesco (35%), Owens family (32%), Caradog (24%) |
| 4 | John Lewis PartnershipFood and general retailer | Central London | Jan 13 | *8,466 | 9.1 | *749 | 81,900 | Employees (100%) |
| 5 | SwireConglomerate | Central London | Dec 12 | *5,552 | 15.2 | *1,378 | 73,941 | Swire family (67%), others (33%) |
| 6 | StemcorSteel trader | Central London | Dec 12 | *5,112 | 18.3 | *15 | 2,009 | Ralph Oppenheimer and family (71%), management and staff (29%) |
| 7 | Palmer and HarveyWholesale distributor | East Sussex | Apr 12 | 4,228 | 4.9 | 40 | 3,192 | Management and employees (74%), former employees (26%) |
| 8 | WorldpayPayment processor | Central London | Dec 12 | 3,089 | 4.1 | 210 | 4,167 | Advent International (36%), Bain Capital (36%), RBS (18%), Staff (10%) |
| 9 | European Metal RecyclingMetal recycler | Warrington | Dec 11 | 3,032 | 24.7 | 201 | 2,448 | Sheppard family (99%) |
| 10 | Laing O’RourkeEngineering and construction group | Dartford | Mar 12 | 2,905 | -3.3 | 108 | 14,747 | Ray O’Rourke and Des O’Rourke through Suffolk Partners Corporation |
| 11 | Brakes GroupFood distributor | Kent | Dec 12 | *2,898 | 3.9 | *129 | 10,080 | Bain Capital, management |
| 12 | Virgin AtlanticAirline and tour operator | Crawley | Feb 13 | 2,874 | 4.7 | -35 | 9,666 | Virgin Group (51%), Delta Air Lines (49%) |
| 13 | Rigby GroupIT infrastructure integrator | Stratford-upon-Avon | Mar 12 | 2,762 | 11 | 48 | 5,094 | Sir Peter Rigby and family (100%) |
| 14 | JCBConstruction equipment manufacturer | Staffordshire | Dec 12 | *2,712 | -0.2 | *365 | 10,000 | Bamford family (100%) |
| 15 | ArcadiaFashion retailer | Central London | Aug 12 | 2,679 | -0.1 | 330 | 43,368 | Lady Tina Green and family, Lloyds Banking Group |
| 16 | IcelandFrozen food retailer | North Wales | Mar 13 | *2,640 | 2.9 | *226 | 14,435 | Landmark Group and others (57%), Malcolm Walker, management (43%) |
| 17 | Bestway GroupConglomerate | West London | Jun 12 | *2,496 | 6.8 | *222 | 5,585 | Sir Anwar Pervez and family (67%), management (33%) |
| 18 | Arnold Clark AutomobilesCar dealer | Glasgow | Dec 12 | *2,484 | 10.3 | *199 | 8,315 | Clark family and trusts (100%) |
| 19 | 2 Sisters Food GroupFood producer | Birmingham | Jul 12 | 2,339 | 70 | 194 | 14,968 | Baljinder and Ranjit Boparan (100%) |
| 20 | AcromasConsumer services provider | Kent | Jan 12 | 2,113 | 15.1 | 590 | 24,930 | Charterhouse, CVC, Permira, management & staff |
| 21 | Shop DirectInternet and catalogue retailer | Liverpool | Jun 12 | 2,097 | -1.6 | -25 | 14,338 | Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay (100%) |
| 22 | TI AutomotiveCar parts maker | Oxford/USA | Dec 12 | 1,970 | 5.1 | 230 | 18,425 | More than 20 investors, including Oaktree and Pointstate Capital |
| 23 | Thames WaterWater services provider | Reading | Mar 13 | *1,804 | 6.1 | *1,028 | 4,699 | Consortium led by Macquarie European Infrastructure Funds |
| 24 | SpecsaversOptical and hearing aid retailer | Guernsey | Feb 12 | *1,779 | 18.6 | n/a | 30,000 | Perkins family |
| 25 | Pentland GroupBrand manager and retailer | Central London | Dec 12 | *1,740 | 14.2 | *135 | 18,301 | Rubin family (100%) |
| 26 | SSPTravel foodservice provider | Weybridge | Sep 12 | 1,738 | 1 | 139 | 29,796 | EQT and management (85%), mezzanine lenders (15%) |
| 27 | BakkavorPrepared food producer | Central London | Dec 12 | 1,694 | 1 | 115 | 19,385 | Gudmundsson brothers (39%), Arion Bank (26%), Icelandic institutions (34%) |
| 28 | WilkoValue retailer | Nottinghamshire | Jan 12 | 1,565 | 0.4 | 65 | 23,229 | Wilkinson family (100%) |
| 29 | Anglian Water GroupWater services provider | Cambridgeshire | Mar 12 | 1,474 | 4.4 | 691 | 7,467 | CPPIB (33%), CFSGAM (32%), IFM (20%), 3i Infrastructure (15%) |
| 30 | New LookFashion retailer | Central London | Mar 13 | * †1,456 | 0.6 | * †185 | 21,148 | Permira (28%), Apax (28%), Tom Singh (23%), management (16%) |
| 31 | ClarksShoe retailer and wholesaler | Somerset | Jan 13 | †1,433 | 2.5 | †150 | 15,059 | Clark family (84%), employees and institutions (16%) |
| 32 | Bibby Line GroupConglomerate | Liverpool | Dec 12 | *1,408 | 8.7 | *80 | 6,232 | Sir Michael Bibby and family (88%), management and others (12%) |
| 33 | United BiscuitsBranded snack manufacturer | West London | Dec 11 | 1,334 | 5.2 | 229 | 8,156 | PAI Partners (45%), Blackstone (45%), management (10%) |
| 34 | Iglo GroupFrozen food producer | West London | Dec 12 | *1,276 | -6.1 | *284 | 2,861 | Permira, management |
| 35 | MRH (GB)Fuel retailer and distributor | Essex | Sep 12 | 1,270 | 18.8 | 31 | 185 | Management (62%), Equistone Partners Europe (38%) |
| 36 | Gala CoralBetting and gaming operator | Central London | Sep 12 | †1,167 | 4.5 | †275 | 19,174 | Apollo (26%), Cerberus (18%), Goldman Sachs (8%), others (48%) |
| 37 | AF Blakemore & SonFood distributor | West Midlands | Apr 12 | 1,148 | 28.3 | 25 | 7,879 | Blakemore family (100%) |
| 38 | Phones 4uMobile phone retailer | Staffordshire | Dec 12 | *1,141 | 16.9 | *132 | 5,811 | BC Partners (93%), management (7%) |
| 39 | Findus GroupFood producer | Central London | Dec 11 | 1,133 | 1.1 | 90 | 4,937 | Lion Capital, Highbridge Capital, JPMorgan Chase, others |
| 40 | Just RetirementLife assurance specialist | Surrey | Jun 12 | 1,132 | 26.7 | 154 | 653 | Permira, management |
| 41 | Marshall GroupConglomerate | Cambridge | Dec 12 | *1,126 | 12.3 | *44 | 4,188 | Sir Michael Marshall, Robert Marshall & family trusts (71%), others (29%) |
| 42 | MatalanValue retailer | Liverpool | Feb 13 | *1,125 | 0.7 | *100 | 16,373 | Hargreaves family (100%) |
| 43 | Healthcare at HomeHome healthcare provider | Burton upon Trent | Oct 12 | 1,109 | 13.1 | 17 | 1,295 | Vitruvian Partners (majority), Hutton Collins, Management |
| 44 | Mott MacDonaldManagement and engineering consultancy | Croydon | Dec 12 | 1,104 | 2.8 | 67 | 13,249 | Trust (40%), employees (60%) |
| 45 | WatesConstruction contractor | Surrey | Dec 12 | 1,097 | 6.1 | 21 | 2,367 | Wates family (100%) |
| 46 | MaceConstruction project manager | Central London | Dec 12 | *1,092 | 17.7 | *32 | 3,327 | Management (100%) |
| 47 | KCA DEUTAG GroupDrilling contractor | Aberdeen | Dec 12 | 1,075 | 16 | 163 | 6,975 | Pamplona Capital, other investment funds |
| 48 | Merlin EntertainmentsVisitor attraction operator | Poole | Dec 12 | *1,074 | 15.1 | *346 | 14,836 | Kirkbi, Blackstone, CVC, management |
| 49 | River IslandFashion retailer | West London | Dec 11 | 1,069 | 5.5 | 146 | 15,335 | Bernard Lewis and family (100%) |
| 50 | William Grant & SonsSpirits distiller | Banffshire | Dec 12 | *1,064 | 1.4 | *149 | 1,696 | Grant and Gordon families |
| 51 | DysonAppliance manufacturer | Wiltshire | Dec 11 | *1,056 | 19.1 | *306 | 4,000 | Sir James Dyson and family (100%) |
| 52 | WestcoastElectronic products distributor | Reading | Dec 12 | 1,047 | 11.1 | 11 | 793 | Joe Hemani (100%) |
| 53 | Watson PetroleumFuel distributor | Wiltshire | Apr 12 | 1,041 | 24.8 | 9 | 690 | Watson family (100%) |
| 54 | Willmott Dixon GroupConstruction contractor | Hertfordshire | Dec 12 | 1,034 | -1.7 | 21 | 3,138 | Willmott family (60%), Dixon family (20%), management (20%) |
| 55 | ArupDesign and engineering consultancy | Central London | Mar 12 | 992 | 2.6 | 71 | 10,135 | Employees, through three trusts |
| 56 | Kelda GroupWater services provider | Bradford | Mar 12 | 962 | 1.2 | 552 | 3,325 | Consortium comprising Citigroup, GIC, RREEF Infrastructure and Infracapital |
| 57 | 20:20 Mobile GroupMobile phone distributor | Crewe | Mar 13 | *959 | 16.6 | *19 | 1,045 | Doughty Hanson (45%), consortium incl. RBS and Mizuho (45%), management (10%) |
| 58 | B&M RetailDiscount retailer | Liverpool | Dec 12 | *935 | 31.2 | *95 | 11,374 | Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and Arora family |
| 59 | TJ MorrisDiscount retailer | Liverpool | Jun 12 | 915 | 26.8 | 100 | 7,911 | Tom Morris and family (100%) |
| 60 | Unipart GroupManufacturing, logistics and consultancy | Oxford | Dec 12 | *906 | 14.8 | *29 | 7,521 | 3i, Electra (27%), management & staff (52%), UGC Pension schemes and others (21%) |
| 61 | JCT600Car dealer | Bradford | Dec 12 | *900 | 44.5 | *19 | 1,802 | Tordoff family (100%) |
| 62 | Formula OneMotor racing administrator | Central London | Dec 12 | *897 | 11.8 | *280 | 293 | CVC, Waddell & Reed, Ecclestone family trusts, others |
| 63 | KeepmoatHousing regeneration specialist | South Yorkshire | Mar 13 | *884 | 30.8 | *52 | 3,000 | Lloyds (50%), management (50%) |
| 64 | The Vita GroupFoam and plastics maker | Central London | Dec 12 | *883 | 11.4 | *33 | 4,227 | TPG Capital, others |
| 65 | Rontec / Snax24Fuel forecourt operator | Watford | Sep 12 | †882 | n.a. | †11 | 1,375 | Investec (46%), Snax 24 (34%), Ronpartners LLP (7%), others (13%) |
| 66 | Virgin Rail GroupTrain operator | Central London | Mar 12 | †871 | 9.2 | †34 | 2,886 | Virgin Group Holdings (51%), Stagecoach (49%) |
| 67 | Northgate Information SolutionsSoftware and services provider | Hertfordshire | Apr 12 | 851 | 4.3 | 154 | 10,064 | KKR (80%), management (10%), other institutional investors (10%) |
| 68 | MotoMotorway services operator | Bedfordshire | Dec 12 | 849 | -1.7 | 77 | 4,789 | Macquarie, Equity Partners Infrastructure, Australian funds, management |
| 69 | Martin McCollConvenience store operator | Essex | Nov 12 | *845 | 5 | *36 | 11,070 | Management (80%), Caird Capital (20%) |
| 70 | BiffaIntegrated waste manager | High Wycombe | Mar 12 | 843 | 9.4 | 129 | 6,376 | Angelo Gordon, Avenue Capital Group, Sankaty Advisors |
| 71 | Bourne LeisureCaravan park operator | Hertfordshire | Dec 12 | *839 | 3.1 | *190 | 12,197 | Peter Harris, family of the late John Cook, David Allen, management |
| 72 | ArqivaCommunications services provider | Winchester | Jun 12 | 832 | 0.6 | 402 | 1,898 | Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (48%), other investors (52%) |
| 73 | Monarch HoldingsAirline and tour operator | Luton Airport | Oct 12 | 825 | 8.9 | 27 | 2,847 | Amerald Investments (88%), Atlantic Financial (7%), Abaco Holdings (4%) |
| 74 | John LaingInfrastructure investor and manager | Central London | Dec 12 | *815 | 13.5 | *69 | 1,286 | Henderson Equity Partners |
| 75 | AMC GroupMetal processor and trader | Central London | Dec 12 | 773 | 38.4 | 13 | 710 | Harold Sher (26%), Giles Robbins (11%), Charles Rowan (11%), others (52%) |
| 76 | PoundlandDiscount retailer | West Midlands | Apr 12 | †765 | 19.3 | †39 | 10,038 | Warburg Pincus (76%), management (24%) |
| 77 | Radius Payment SolutionsFuel card manager | Crewe | Mar 13 | *761 | 0.9 | *4 | 242 | Bill Holmes (55%), Roy Sciortino (11%), John Atkinson (8%), management (26%) |
| 78 | Expro InternationalOilfield services provider | Reading | Mar 13 | *758 | 19.6 | *184 | 4,939 | Goldman Sachs (37%), Arle Capital Partners (32%), Alpinvest (12%), others (19%) |
| 79 | Samworth BrothersFood producer | Leicestershire | Dec 11 | 745 | 4 | 73 | 7,323 | Samworth family trusts (100%) |
| 80 | LINPACPackaging maker | West Yorkshire | Dec 12 | *744 | 30.6 | n/a | 4,262 | Various, including Deutsche Bank and Strategic Value Partners |
| 81 | DoncastersEngineering components maker | Burton upon Trent | Dec 12 | 741 | -0.5 | 118 | 4,736 | Dubai International Capital (51%), management (49%) |
| 82 | Spire HealthcarePrivate hospital operator | Central London | Dec 12 | *739 | 9.6 | *202 | 6,732 | Cinven, management |
| 83 | Sir Robert McAlpineConstruction contractor | Hertfordshire | Oct 12 | 732 | -7.1 | 26 | 1,963 | McAlpine family (100%) |
| 84 | Bloor InvestmentsBuilder and motorcycle maker | Derbyshire | Jun 12 | 727 | 11 | 69 | 2,420 | John Bloor (100%) |
| 85 | FircroftTechnical Recruitment Specialist | Warrington | Aug 12 | 725 | 29.1 | 20 | 404 | Johnson family and management (63%), Equistone Partners (37%) |
| 86 | Odeon & UCI Cinemas GroupCinema operator | Central London | Dec 12 | 724 | -0.2 | 91 | 9,407 | Terra Firma (>99%), Management (<1%) |
| 87 | bet365Online bookmaker | Stoke-on-Trent | Mar 12 | 722 | 44 | 154 | 2,151 | Coates family (93%), Will Roseff (7%) |
| 88 | DunbiaRed meat processor | County Tyrone | Mar 13 | *719 | 2.3 | n/a | 3,156 | Jack and James Dobson (100%) |
| 89 | Langley HoldingsEngineering equipment maker | Nottinghamshire | Dec 12 | *718 | 71.7 | *152 | 4,004 | Tony Langley (100%) |
| 90 | Southern WaterWater services provider | West Sussex | Mar 12 | 716 | 10.7 | 478 | 1,742 | UBS Global (39%) and JP Morgan (28%), others (33%) |
| 91 | OCS GroupFacilities services provider | Gatwick | Mar 12 | 711 | 3.2 | 33 | 55,585 | Goodliffe family (100%) |
| 92 | ListersCar dealer | Stratford-upon-Avon | Mar 13 | *707 | 9.5 | *18 | 1,729 | Terry Lister (27%), Keith Bradshaw (25%), Geoff Lister (15%), others (33%) |
| 93 | Hanover AcceptancesConglomerate | Central London | Dec 12 | 706 | 2.8 | 56 | 1,766 | Gorvy family |
| 94 | Harrods GroupDepartment store operator | Central London | Jan 12 | 696 | 11.7 | 144 | 3,607 | Qatar Holding (100%) |
| 95 | House of FraserDepartment store operator | Central London | Jan 13 | 695 | 1.4 | 61 | 5,065 | Landsbanki, Don McCarthy, Glitnir, West Coast Capital, Caird Capital |
| 96 | Northern & Shell Media GroupPublisher & broadcaster | Central London | Dec 11 | 689 | 38.8 | 77 | 1,347 | Richard Desmond (100%) |
| 97 | Telereal TrilliumProperty investor and manager | Central London | Mar 12 | 687 | -1.2 | 165 | 662 | Pears family and management (100%) |
| 98 | Lamex Food GroupFood importer and exporter | Hertfordshire | Mar 12 | 676 | 26.5 | 15 | 236 | Steve Anderson (21%), Phillip Wallace (12%), Colin Dicker (12%), others (55%) |
| 99 | ASCOOil and gas services provider | Aberdeen | Dec 12 | 675 | 8.2 | 37 | 2,032 | Doughty Hanson (80%), management (20%) |
| 100 | Bowmer & KirklandConstruction contractor | Derbyshire | Aug 12 | 675 | -4.6 | 30 | 1,405 | Kirkland family and family trusts |
* supplied by company † annualised figure **estimated
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