2009 fast track 100 rep

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In association with

Fast Track100 Researc Report 2009Britain's astest-growing

private companies

Sponsored by

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CONTENTS

SUMMARY 1

Introduction 1Top 10 Fast Track 100 companies 1

KEY FINDINGS 2

Growth in sales 2

Impact o the credit crunch 3

Sales breakdown 4

Regional breakdown 4

Number o employees 4

The average Fast Track 100 company 4

Funding and ownership 5

Sector and industry breakdown 5

LEAGUE TABLE HIGHLIGHTS AND EXAMPLES 6

Top company proile 7

Companies that have beneited rom downturn 8

Companies with public sector clients 9

Companies with emale ounders 10

Companies with green credentials 11

Companies using new media to reach customers 12Companies with staying power 13

METHODOLOGY 14

2009 FAST TRACK 100 LEAGUE TABLE 15

ABOUT THE SPONSORS 19

BACKGROUND 21

About the authors 21

About Fast Track 22

CONTACT DETAILS 22

2009 Fast Track 100 www.asttrack.co.uk

Fast Track 100 Research Report 2009 i

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SUMMARY

Introduction

This is the thirteenth year o Te Sunday Times Fast Track 100, which

has become the deinitive annual league table o Britainsastest-growing private companies. It is published in partnership with

Te Sunday Times, and with title sponsor Virgin Group.

The 2009 Fast Track 100 ranks companies based on their sales growth

over three years, either 2005 to 2008 or 2006 to 2009, depending on

their latest available accounts.

The Fast Track 100 league table is similar to the American Inc 500,

which identiied emerging private company stars such as Microsot

25 years ago. A number o companies rom previous Fast Track 100

league tables, including mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse and

microchip designer ARM, loated on the London Stock Exchange aterappearing on the league table.

The league table identiies the astest-growing private companies in a

cross-section o sectors, excluding technology companies, which are

covered in our sister league table, The Sunday Times Tech Track 100.

The 64 new entrants on this year's league table include online greeting

card retailer Moonpig.com (No 22), ashion retailer Cath Kidston (No 86)

and gol travel agency Your Gol Travel (No 15).

Top 10 Fast Track 100 companies


compound annual growth rate between 2005/06 and 2008/09 * annualised igure accounts not iled at Companies House

Fast Track 100 Research Report 2009 1

Rank

2009

Company

Activity

Staff2

008/09

Founded

Sales

growth

%pa Sa

les2008/09

000

Rank

2008

HQlocation

PBT

Comment

Finan

cialy

eare

nd

1 Cyclesceme

Bike scheme administrator

Bath Feb 09 347.91 22,748 *253 27 2005 New client Rolls-Royce bought 1.2m o bikes

or employees in one month

2 Gio-Goi

Fashion wholesaler

Central London Mar 09 219.92 18,811 575 34 1988 Brand eatured in an MTV show with Pete

Doherty modelling its clothes

3 Empiric Solutions

Recruitment consultancy

Central London Aug 09 202.15 8,962 325 14 2005 Has around 50 core investment and asset

management clients including ING and Fortis

4 OygenInsurance broker

Central London Dec 08 189.80 17,021 699 177 2004 Has arranged cancellation insurance or

Madonna and U2 concerts

5 Eazyone

Mobile phone recycler

Cheshire Aug 09 176.69 36,246 *1,711 124 2001 Says it recycles up to 200,000 phones a month

through its Enviroone website

6 Mattressman

Mattress retailer

Norwich Mar 08 173.60 8,680 *424 44 2004 Stocks 5,000 bed rames and 3,000 mattresses

at any given time

7 I-Paye

Payroll services provider

Merseyside Mar 09 170.65 67,401 3,400 42 2005 Has 2,000 clients, many o whom are

contractors working abroad

8 7 Paladin Group

Property services provider

Bath Mar 09 170.25 20,450 *1,036 345 2000 Is moving into student letting, with a contract

signed to manage 1,000 student units

9 Ellas KitcenBaby ood producer

Henley Jun 09 156.16 *8,260 *491 10 2005 Its 30 products include avours such as

butternut squash, apple and prune

10 Catering Academy

Contract catering provider

Staordshire Dec 08 155.76 14,305 *855 593 2004 Its clients include the Health Protection Agency,

the University o Bolton and the YMCA

Paul Lindley, ounder o Ella's Kitchen (No 9), the baby

ood producer, with his daugther, Ella.

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KEY FINDINGS

Growt in sales

Fast Track 100 companies, on average, almost doubled their saleseach year between 2005/06 and 2008/09. Average compound

annual growth rate (CAGR) in sales over three years was 95%,

compared with 89% last year.

The combined sales o the 100 companies increased rom 500m to

2.6 billion over the last three years.

Almost two-thirds o companies (60%) had sales o more than 10m

in their latest year (2008/09).

The top-ranked company, which helps to administer the

government's Cycle to Work scheme, Cyclescheme, had average

sales growth o 348% a year, rom an annualised 253,000 in 2006to 22.7m in 2009. Last years top ranked company, Hotel Chocolat

Stores, had sales growth o 226% a year to 18.4m in 2008.

The 100th ranked company, retailer David Phillips Furniture, had

average sales growth o 53%, rom 3.5m in 2005 to 12.3m in

2008.

Sales o the 100 companies range rom the biggest, 309m (Acteon,

No 70), to the smallest, 5m (PJ Care, No 81) in their latest accounts.



Oshore services provider, Acteon (No 70), has the biggestsales on the league table with 309m.

28

8

3>200%

151 - 200%

101 - 150%

76 - 100%

53 - 75%

0 10 20 30 40 50

Growt in sales

Number o companies in each growth range

20

41

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Impact of te credit crunc

The Fast Track 100 requires all entrants to have reported a pre-tax proit

in their latest accounts and to be orecasting continued sales growth.

It thereore tends to include companies which are aring well despite

the current tough economic climate. In addition, more than hal (52)

the companies on the league table have their latest inancial year ends

in 2008, and thereore their growth has been measured over a period

which does not relect the ull impact o the recession:

On average, each company is orecasting sales growth o 33% or

the next year, which would take their combined sales rom 2.6bn to

3.5bn.

Over the last three years, companies as a whole have created 12,783

jobs, and now emply 17,421 people.

This years companies as a whole are more proitable than last

years Fast Track 100, reporting combined pre-tax proits o 198m,

compared to 165m last year.

29 companies rom last years league table have continued to grow

quickly enough to qualiy or a second year. Nine companies are

making a third consecutive appearance. Online ashion retailer

NET-A-PORTER.com (No 92) is eatured or the third time, but it would

have achieved our consecutive rankings had it not been classiied as a

Tech Track 100 company in 2007.

Some companies appear to have directly beneited rom the economic

downturn. For example, bargain-hunting consumers have brought six

new discount sector retailers and wholesalers onto this years table,including discount chain B&M Retail (no 97).

However, the companies are by no means immune rom the challenges

o the downturn, and there are still some signs o the recession on the

table:

Hal o the companies have seen their operating proit margins

reduced, as increased costs and downward pressure on prices have

taken eect.

Only a small minority managed to improve margins by more than 5%.

Between July 2008 and July 2009, only two o the companieseatured on the league table rasied VC unding, compared to 12

in the year leading up to July 2008. The two were digital design

consultancy Fjord (No 47), which raised 2.7m rom Beringea and

European und GP Bullhound in March 2009, and ashion label

Gio-Goi (No 2), which sold a 20% stake to brand manager Pentland

or an undisclosed amount in December 2008.

Net-A-Porter.com (No 92) ounder Natalie Masseneteatured or a third consecutive year.

B&M Retail (No 97) has 124 discount storesthroughout Britain and has taken over a numbero Kwik Save and Woolworths shops.

Gio-Goi (No 2) sold a 20% stake to Pentland inDecember 2008.

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32Greater London

North

Southeast

Southwest

Midlands

East

Scotland

Wales

0 10 20 30 40

Regional reakdown

Number o companies in each region

18

22

12

7

3

Sales reakdown

Number o companies in each range

40

28

20

12>50m

20 - 49.9m

10 - 19.9m

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Funding and ownersip

76 o the companies are majority-owned by an entrepreneur and/or

ounder, such as organic baby ood producer Ellas Kitchen (No 9),

which was ounded by new ather and ormer Nickelodeon director

Paul Lindley in 2005. The company is still majority owned by Lindley

and his wie and now sells its products in Scandinavia and America.

Ten companies are majority-owned by venture capital, private equity

or business angels. Another our companies are backed by venture

capital, private equity or business angels who own more than 10%

o the business. These include oshore services provider Integrated

Subsea Services (No 73), which completed an MBO in April 2008 that

saw Bank o Scotland Corporate invest 80m or a 12% stake.

13 companies have made acquisitions in the last year, including Low

Cost Travel Group (No 20), which acquired airport transer services

provider ResortHoppa.com, and Miroma Group (No 23), which isexpanding the group to include a media members club and a number

o bars and nightclubs.

Sector and industry reakdown

Fast Track 100 companies represent a wide range o business sectors.

61 o the 100 companies and 6 o the top 10 companies are service

businesses such as bicycle scheme administrator Cyclescheme (No 1).

This compares with 68 last year.

20 o the companies provide recruitment services, compared with 24

last year, while 15 operate in the ood and drinks sector such as French

bakery Paul (No 95) and energy drinks maker Boost Drinks (No 44),

compared with 10 last year.


Majority-ownersip reakdown inlatest year (2008/09)

Entrepreneur and/or

ounder 76

Management 13

Business Angels 5

Private equity and/or venture capital 5

Family 1

Ella's Kitchen (No 9) makes organic baby ood products

Industry reakdown in latest year (2008/09)

Number o companies in each sector

Recruitment 20

ConsumerGoods 16

Food and drink 15

Business services 12

Healthcare 7

Engineering 6

Leisure 6

Building related 5

Transport 5Telecoms 3

Finance 2

Media 2

Other 1

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LEAGUE TAbLE hIGhLIGhTS AND ExAMPLES

On the ollowing six pages we highlight some o the stories to emerge

rom this years league table:

businesses wit pulic-sector clients

15 companies on the league table, including No 1 company

Cyclescheme, generate business with government agencies, the NHS,

or other public-sector bodies such as local authorities. The league table

eatures three public-sector or medical recruitment agencies, three

care homes and two medical/dental practice groups, including Alliance

Surgical (No 18) and Denticare (No 93).

Companies wit female founders or co-founders

17 companies on the league table have emale ounders or co-ounders,including Net-A-Porter.com (No 92), Cath Kidston (No 86) and Higgidy

Pies (No 46).

Green usinesses

6 companies on the league table, including 3 out o the top 10

companies, operate green businesses. These include mobile phone

recycler Eazyone (No 5), energy-saving device distributor PowerPerector

(No 33), and renewable energy consultancy PMSS (No 71).

Opportunities provided y te credit crunc

There are 6 discount sector retailers and wholesalers on the table or

whom the downturn has provided increased opportunity. These include

ried chicken wholesaler SFC (Wholesale) (No 49), and sports nutrition

supplier Myprotein.co.uk (No 21). Both companies posted greater

increases in sales in their latest years than in previous years.

Companies taking advantage of new media

6 companies on the league table have an active online presence through

which they generate customer eedback and interact with their customer

base, including Higgidy Pies (No 46), Ellas Kitchen (No 9) and Myprotein.

co.uk (No 21).



Myprotein.co.uk (No 21) has Facebook and

MySpace groups or customers to give eedback

and share experiences.

One o PMSS's (No 71) onshore wind arms.

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Top company profile

This years number one company highlights two o the trends

on the table. Cyclescheme has a number o public sector clients,

including nearly a third o all British councils and police orces. Italso has strong green credentials, helping employers administer the

governments Cycle to Work scheme, which is designed to alleviate

congestion and pollution.

Cyclescheme ounder, Gary Cooper


1CyclescemeCycle to Work-scheme administrator

New client Rolls-Royce bought 1.2m worth o bikes or employeesin one month

CAGR 347.91%

Sales 2009 22.7m

Sales 2006 253,000*

Sta 2009 27

Founded 2005

Location Bath

Many companies have taken advantage o the governments green

policies and some have thrived on them. One o those is Cyclescheme,

which has cashed in on the Cycle to Work scheme, an initiative that wasintroduced in 1999 to promote healthier journeys to work and to reduceenvironmental pollution. It allows employers to provide their sta with

bicycles and saety equipment as a tax-ree beneft.

Cyclescheme provides administration or businesses that want to take part

in the scheme. It arranges the purchase o bicycles. Employers become the

owners o the bikes, and then hire them to their employees. Cycleschemeestimates that the average saving on bike purchases is between 30% and

50%.

The company says it runs Cycle to Work schemes or 8,500 employers

throughout Britain, including blue-chip frms and government agencies.

Its clients include Coca-Cola, the BBC, and a third o the countrys police

orces and councils. It has dealt with the purchase o more than 100,000bikes so ar. Rolls-Royce, a new customer, purchased 1,700 bicycles or its

sta in one month, at an average cost o 700.

Cyclescheme has developed an internet platorm that generates invoices,contracts and hire agreements online, making it simple to administer the

scheme, and hassle-ree or employers, employees and the 1,500 partner

cycle shops it works with.

Founders Richard Grigsby and Gary Cooper worked in the bicycle trade or

more than 20 years beore ounding Cyclescheme in 2005. Both are avidcyclists. Cooper had a youth racing career and later competed with road

bikes in France. Grigsby won a British championship racing recumbent

cycles. He also ound success designing road bikes and tested cycles as

a reelance journalist. Together the two ounded and ran a shop in Bathspecialising in olding bikes, and in 1999 launched Foldingbikes.co.uk,

now one o Europes leading specialists in this area. When a nationwideCycle to Work provider would not let their shop participate in the scheme,

their solution was to create their own rival scheme. It started with about

10 local shops that agreed to participate, but today the company says it

partners nearly every independent bicycle shop in Britain. This growth has

come thanks to help rom bike manuacturers such as Specialized, Trekand Giant, which encourage their dealers to join the scheme.

Grigsby and Cooper gave up their cycle shop nearly two years ago and

are confdent that Cyclescheme will keep growing. This year it won an

open government tender with the Department or Communities and

Local Government, making its scheme accessible to more than 3.5mgovernment employees.

compound annual growth rate between 2005/06 and 2008/09 * annualised igure audited accounts not iled at Companies House

how Cyclesceme runs its

Cycle to Work sceme:

1 Employer signs a contract

withCyclescheme and is given a code

or its online system.2 Employee chooses a bike and saety

equipment rom a partner cycle shop,

and requests the whole package

through the Cyclescheme website.

3 Employer approves the application and

pays Cyclescheme or the ull retail

amount.

4 Cyclescheme sends a voucher to the

employee, who uses it to claim his or

her bike rom the shop.

5 Employee pays or the bike in 12

instalments, deducted monthly rom

his or her gross salary, so saving onNational Insurance and tax. Most

employers also reclaim the cost o Vat

on cycles purchased, and pass this

saving on to employees.

6 On completion o the 12-month hire

term, the employer may oer the

employee ownership o the bike or a

air market value (typically 5%-15% o

its original price).

Cyclescheme makes money mainly by

charging participating cycle shops10%

commission on the price o the cycle and

any saety equipment that was sold as parto the package.

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44boost Drinks

Energy drink maker

Became the oicial energy drink or Glastonbury this year

CAGR 87.54%

Sales 2008 9.7m

Sales 2005 1.5m

Sta 2008 12

Founded 2001

Location Leeds

Festival-goers and students who need an energy boost may have a

cheaper alternative to Red Bull thanks to Boost Drinks. The Leeds

company was ounded by Simon Gray in 2001 and dierentiates itsel

rom big-brand rivals by selling value-sized 500ml and one-litre bottles

to petrol stations and newsagents. Today, it sells about 30m o its

drinks each year. Isotonic sports drinks and smoothies are the latest

additions to the Boost product line, and this year the company was the

ofcial energy drink supplier to Glastonbury.

45Stores DirectHeating products retailer Sells about 500 stoves and ireplaces each month rom its websites

CAGR 86.58%

Sales 2009 8.2m

Sales 2006 1.3m

Sta 2009 15

Founded 2001

Location Huddersield

Founder Mike Birtwhistle started out in 2001 selling stoves rom his garage

and delivering them in his Vauxhall Corsa. Today his frm Stores Direct

sells hundreds o stoves and freplaces each month through its brands

Stoves Are Us, Fireplaces Are Us and Stoves Direct. From its headquarters

in Huddersfeld, the company supplies everything rom marble freplaces

to wood-burning and dual-uel stoves, and says its high Google search

rankings help to boost sales. It has recently launched a bathroom products

website, and home urnishing and outdoor urniture sites are being

planned.

97b&M RetailDiscount retailer

Claims that more than 1.5m shoppers enter its stores each week

CAGR 54.60%

Sales 2008 255.9m

Sales 2005 69.3m*

Sta 2008 3,119

Founded 1976

Location Blackpool

This discount retail chain says it has opened one new store a week

throughout 2009 by acquiring empty Kwik Save and Woolworths

stores. Brothers Simon and Bobby Arora bought B&M Retail rom

Phildrew Ventures in 2004, having sold their previous business or a

reported 30m in 2000. They have expanded the company rapidly,

growing rom 21 stores to 140 high-street and retail-park outlets across

Britain. B&M Retail stores sell groceries and health and beauty products

but also stock toys, clothing and electrical equipment.

Companies tat ave enefited from downturn

Not everyone has seen their growth curtailed by the credit crunch: this

years league table eatures 6 discount retailers and wholesalers who

have seen increased opportunities thanks to the current economic

climate. Energy drink maker Boost Drinks (No 44) markets itsel as thevalue-end alternative to big brand energy drinks such as Red Bull, selling

large 500ml and 1L bottles. Fried chicken wholesaler SFC (Wholesale)

(No 49) sells more than 400 tonnes o ready cooked rozen ried

chicken each month and has outsourced its excess capacity production

through agreements with actories in six countries. Discount retailer

B&M Retail (No 97) has opened a new store each week in 2009 thanks

to taking over a number o Woolworths stores.



Stores Direct (No 45) managing director,Mike Birtwistle.

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Companies wit pulic sector clients

This years league table has 15 companies that do a signiicant

amount o work with government agencies and other public-sector

bodies. Building contractor Lie Build Solutions (No 14) generates

80% o its turnover rom educational authorities, schools and social

housing projects. Medical surgery group Alliance Surgical (No 18)

manages more than 1,200 NHS consultants who also work privately

Medical equipment provider Asteral (No 38) has contracts with 7 NHS

trusts to provide and maintain equipment such as x-ray machines and

scanners.

14Life build SolutionsBuilding contractor

Recently completed a 2.5m project or Pinewood Studios opened by

the Queen

CAGR 139.65%

Sales 2008 15.0m

Sales 2005 1.1m

Sta 2008 15

Founded 2005

Location Buckinghamshire

This Buckinghamshire contractor undertakes building projects,

reurbishment and it-outs, mainly or clients in the Thames Valley

region. Most o its clients are public-sector bodies such as education

authorities and housing associations, but Lie Build Solutions has also

constructed ilm laboratories or the studios that produce the James

Bond movies. Founded in 2005 by managing director Ken Adams

and operations director Mike Wilde, the company recently launched a

subsidiary to buy land and develop its own projects.

18

Alliance SurgicalMedical surgery group

450 NHS consultants are shareholders in the business

CAGR 131.22%

Sales 2009 5.9m

Sales 2006 477,000

Sta 2009 29

Founded 2005

Location Birmingham

This Birmingham company provides surgery services, managing more

than 1,200 NHS consultants who also work privately, doing knee and

hip replacements, hernia operations, breast reconstruction and other

treatments. Chairman Paul Howlett and director Ann Copsey ounded

the business in 2005 ater working with consultants and surgeries to

bid or insurance and NHS contracts.

38Asteral

Medical equipment provider

Handles the supply and maintenance o scanners and x-ray machines

to hospitals

CAGR 94.42%

Sales 2009 14.3m

Sales 2006 1.9m

Sta 2009 43

Founded 2003

Location Reading

Medical sta in seven NHS hospitals across Britain can ocus more

on patient care and less on managing equipment thanks to Asteral.

The Reading company supplies, inances, and manages hospital

technology such as x-ray machines and scanners, and also provides

maintenance and sta. Founded in 2003 by director Stephen

Hodgson, the company is in the inal stages o a contract to

design, install and maintain the medical and diagnostic equipment

or an entire acute care hospital that is due to open next year in

Peterborough. The company is owned by the investment irm Brook

Henderson Group, which provided start-up unding.



Asteral (No 38) MD David Role with director

Steve Hodgson with a CT scanner.

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67Zaa hadidArchitect

Designs include the Z.CAR, a hydrogen-powered, three-wheeled

automobile

CAGR 67.43%

Sales 2008 26.2m

Sales 2005 5.6m

Sta 2008 241

Founded 1980

Location Central London

Known or its avant-garde designs, this London frm o architects was

ounded in 1980 by Zaha Hadid. In 1994 she became the frst woman

to win the Pritzker prize or architecture, and in 2006 she was given herown retrospective at New Yorks Guggenheim Museum. The companys

projects have included the Serpentine Pavilion Gallery and the Mind

Zone at theMillennium Dome, and it is now designing the aquatic centre

or the London 2012 Olympic Games. In 2000 the company appointed

the renowned architect Patrik Schumacher as a partner, and it has

recently won big commissions in theMiddle East, one o them to design

a perorming arts centre in Abu Dhabi.

68Igloo booksBook publisher

Publishes around 250 titles each year rom baby nutrition guides togardening handbooks

CAGR 67.36%

Sales 20089 7.7m

Sales 2005 1.6m

Sta 2008 32

Founded 2003

Location Northampton

It may not be a household name, but Igloo Books is behind many o

the childrens and adult novelty books sold in discount retailers such as

TJ Hughes, PoundStretcher, The Works and Asda. The Northampton

company prints some 25m books each year rom childrens activity

books to cookbooks and adult git books, and generates more than hal

its sales abroad, mainly in America, mainland Europe and Australasia.

Directors and co-ounders John Styring and Tracey Lewis have kept the

company growing even as customers such as Woolworths closed down.

82

Go Ape

Adventure course operatorSays that nearly 2m customers have completed a course

CAGR 60.19%

Sales 2008 8.5m

Sales 2005 2.1m

Sta 2008 198

Founded 2002

Location Suolk

Humans can release their inner ape or a day with this Suolk company

that has 22 tree-top adventure courses across Britain. Go Ape was

ounded in 2002 by Tristram and Rebecca Mayhew ater a holiday

in the Auvergne National Forest in France. The duo now claim that

nearly 2m customers have completed their courses, typically in groups

including stag and hen parties and corporate away days. Because o

the recession, the company delayed opening one site earlier this year

and scrapped plans or a course in Glasgow but it is still planning to

expand into America and Australia next year.

Companies wit female founders

17 companies on this years Fast Track 100 league table have emale

ounders or co-ounders. They include ashion retailers NET-A-PORTER.com

(No 92) and Cath Kidston (No 86), along with training course provider

Lietime (No 69), and the companies below.



Zaha Hadid's (No 67) hydrogen-powered Z-CAR

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Companies wit green credentials

Many o the companies on this years Fast Track 100 boast green

credentials. These include voltage optimisation technology provider

PowerPerector (No 33), which distributes Japanese technology that

cuts energy use and carbon emissions by up to 20%. Also included

are renewable energy consultancy PMSS (No 71), recycler Universal

Recycling (No 63), Cycle to Work-scheme administrator Cyclescheme

(No 1), baby ood producer Ella's Kitchen (No 9), and mobile phone

recycler Eazyone (No 5).

5EazyfoneMobile phone recycler

Says it recycles up to 200,000 phones per month through its

Enviroone website

CAGR

176.69%Sales 2009 36.2m

Sales 2006 1.7m*

Sta 2009 124

Founded 2001

Location Cheshire

I you have an old mobile phone handset tucked away in a drawersomewhere, you may want to sell it to this online reseller under its

Enviroone brand, Eazyone buys mobile phones rom individuals and

sells them to customers in mainland Europe and the Far East. The

Cheshire company claims to buy up to 200,000 mobile phone handsets

a month. It also works with charities and schools to recycle old

handsets. The Company was ounded by ather and son Cos and Peter

Petrondas in 2001, and is now run by chie executive Nicholas Brown.

33PowerPerfectorEnergy-saving device distributor

Says its technology can save clients an average o 13% in electricity

costs

CAGR 97.21%

Sales 2008 11.6m

Sales 2005 1.5m

Sta 2008 26

Founded 2004

Location Central London

Businesses that use the Japanese technology supplied by

PowerPerector can cut their carbon emissions and electricity bills by

13% on average, according to the London company. Its units allow

electrical equipment to work at its optimal voltage, maximising energy

efciency. The companys frst UK installation was or Tesco in 2001,

and today it has about 1,500 units throughout the country, with

customers such as Land Registry, Sainsburys and government bodies.

71

PMSSRenewable energy consultancy

Claims to have provided expertise to more than 1,000 renewable

energy projects

CAGR 65.97%

Sales 2009 6.0m

Sales 2006 1.3m

Sta 2009 65

Founded 1994

Location Romsey

PMSS says it has provided its consultancy and support services

to more than 1,000 renewable-energy projects across the globe.

Founded when the sector was in its inancy, the Hampshire-based

company helps with the development, engineering and construction

o onshore and oshore wind arms as well as wave and tidal,

biomass and solar energy projects. Its clients include project

developers, wind turbine makers and investors, and it is currently

working on projects including one o the worlds largest oshore

wind arm in the Thames estuary. Founders Alan Chivers and Robert

Waddington worked on some o Britains irst wind energy projects

beore starting the company in 1994.



PMSS (No 71) provides advice and other

services to renewable-energy projects.

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9Ellas Kitcen

Baby ood producer

Its 30 products include lavours such as butternut squash, appleand prune

CAGR 156.16%

Sales 2009 8.3m*

Sales 2006 491,000*

Sta 2009 10

Founded 2005

Location Henley

Struggling to get his young daughter to eat vegetables drove Paul

Lindley to create Ellas Kitchen. The company aims to make healthy

eating easy or both children and parents, using only organic produce

with no additives or preservatives. The business was launched in 2006

with two avours o kids lunch-box ruit smoothies sold in Sainsburys,

but today the company sells 30 products in avour combinations such

as butternut squash, carrots, apple and prune.

21Myprotein.co.ukSports nutrition supplier

Supplies sports nutrition to the current winner o Britain's StrongestMan competition

CAGR 125.82%

Sales 2009 9.8m

Sales 2006 848,000

Sta 2009 50

Founded 2004

Location Manchester

Anyone who wants nutritional supplements to improve their sporting

perormance may go to Myprotein.co.uk. The Manchester company

makes and distributes protein powders and drinks, perormance and

recovery aids as well as vitamins and minerals. Its hundreds o products

include high-protein apjacks and green tea extract powder. Founder

Oliver Cookson says buying ingredients in bulk and passing the savings

on to customers has kept business booming the company says it

ships more than 5,000 orders each week.

46

higgidy PiesPie maker

Sells its British quiches to a ca in France

CAGR 85.68%

Sales 2009 5.6m

Sales 2006 872,000

Sta 2009 106

Founded 2003

Location West Sussex

Giving one o Britains staple oods a makeover is th mission o Higgidy

Pies, whose hand-made pies and quiches come in lavours such as

Moroccan vegetable with eta and smoked salmon with pesto. Founder

Camilla Stephens developed ood products or the Seattle Coee

Company and Starbucks beore ounding the business in 2003. In 2006

she won a contest to supply the Sainsburys supermarket chain. Today

the company produces 65,000 pies and quiches each week and sells

them through retailers such as Booths and Waitrose. The company is

doubling its pie production acilities to keep up with growing demand.

Companies using new media to reac customers

Some companies on the Fast Track 100 have demonstrated a

commitment to going above and beyond customer service to engage

and retain customers, oten taking advantage o the internet to generateinterest and eedback or products. Nutritional supplement provider

Myprotein.co.uk (No 21) has an online presence on Facebook and

Myspace. Organic baby ood producer Ellas Kitchen (No 9) encourages

customers to send in photos o their babies to post on the company

website. Gourmet pie maker Higgidy Pies (No 46) oers customers the

chance to register online to become pie tasters and name new products.



Camilla Stephens, ounder o Higgidy Pies (No 46)

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Companies wit staying power

Fast Track 100 companies are typically young and dynamic. There

are 29 companies rom last years Fast Track 100 league table which

make a second appearance this year. Nine make a third consecutiveappearance, and online ashion retailer NET-A-PORTER.com (No 92)

would have appeared our consecutive years, except that in 2007

it was classiied as a Tech Track 100 company. There are also three

companies that reappeared on this years Fast Track 100, having

not eatured since the 2007 league table: Financial services provider

Richmond Group (No 62), wine exchange operator Liv-ex (No 59), and

media agency AdConnection (No 85).

Companies on consecutive Fast Track 100 league

tales since 2006



Silver Cross (No 36) have appeared on three consecutiveleague tables

42 (n/a) 65 92 NET-A-PORTER.com

Online ashion retailer

Central London 56.54 81,546 21,258 376 2000 Has raised more than 10m in unding

since 2000

10 49 74 InvestigoRecruitment consultancy

Central London 64.51 28,840 6,478 59 2003 Acts as primary supplier o fnance sta

to Alliance Boots, Coca-Cola and Lloyds

12 3 36 Silver Cross

Pram maker

Skipton, Yorkshire 95.67 17,484 2,334 41 1877 Founded in 1877, now sells to retailers

and direct to public on its own website

16 52 73 Integrated Susea Services

Oshore services provider

Aberdeen 64.67 87,626 19,623 472 2002 Recently opened ofces in Singapore

and Australia

18 7 8 Paladin Group

Property services provider

Bath 170.25 20,450 *1,036 345 2000 Is moving into student letting, with

a contract signed to manage 1,000

student units

30 31 40 DanroPayroll services provider

Blackpool 91.63 51,080 7,259 1,363 2000 Client list includes 1,500 IT contractors

and 1,100 limited companies

65 59 89 Maria Mallaand Care Group

Care home operator

Leeds 58.85 31,834 7,942 1,303 1996 Supplies 1,200 beds in 54 care homes,

including one in Jersey

67 32 54 Gloal Resourcing

IT recruitment consultancy

Bromley, Kent 77.89 14,782 2,626 38 1997 Operates globally, including in America,

Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kazakhstan

73 80 76 henleys ClotingFashion wholesaler

Manchester 63.45 37,952 8,691 191 1996 Says it is one o Shop Direct's top sellingbrands

88 57 70 ActeonOshore services provider

Norwich 66.37 309,154 *67,139 1,595 1989 Group comprises 15 companies with

services including oilwell decommissioning

Rank

2007

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Activity

pa

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growth

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METhODOLOGY

Qualification

The companies on the Fast Track 100 league table must meet the

ollowing criteria:

Unquoted

Registered in the UK

Non-subsidiary, independent

Not a technology company

Annualised sales o at least 250,000 in the base year (2005 or 2006)

Annualised sales o at least 5m in their latest year (2008 or 2009)

Year-on-year sales growth rom penultimate to latest year, and aorecast o growth in sales in the next year

More than 25 trading weeks in the base and inal years

No outstanding court judgements exceeding 10,000

Researc approac

The research was conducted primarily between 1 August and 1

November 2009.

The inal 100 companies are ranked by average annual growth in sales

over three years, either 2005 to 2008 or 2006 to 2009, depending

on their latest available accounts. Companies were selected rom a

database o more than 1.5m private UK companies ater extensive

database and telephone research.


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2009 FAST TRACK 100 LEAGUE TAbLE



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1 CyclescemeBike scheme administrator

Bath Feb 09 347.91 22,748 *253 27 2005 New client Rolls-Royce bought 1.2m obikes or employees in one month

2 Gio-GoiWholesale ashion label

Central London Mar 09 219.92 18,811 575 34 1988 Brand eatured in an MTV show with PeteDoherty modeling its clothes

3 Empiric SolutionsRecruitment consultancy

Central London Aug 09 202.15 8,962 325 14 2005 Has around 50 core investment and assetmanagement clients including ING and Fortis

4 OygenInsurance broker

Central London Dec 08 189.80 17,021 699 177 2004 Has arranged cancellation insurance orMadonna and U2 concerts

5 EazyoneMobile phone recycler

Cheshire Aug 09 176.69 36,246 *1,711 125 2001 Says it recycles up to 200,000 phones permonth through its Enviroone website

6 MattressmanMattress retailer

Norwich Mar 08 173.60 8,680 *424 44 2004 Says it stocks 5,000 bed rames and 3,000mattresses at any given time

7 I-PayePayroll services provider

Merseyside Mar 09 170.65 67,401 3,400 42 2005 Has around 2,000 clients, many o whomare contractors working abroad

8 7 Paladin GroupProperty services provider

Bath Mar 09 170.25 20,450 *1,036 345 2000 Is moving into student letting, with a contractsigned to manage 1,000 student units

9 Ellas KitcenBaby ood producer

Henley Jun 09 156.16 *8,260 *491 10 2005 Its 30 products include avours such asbutternut squash, apple and prune

10 Catering AcademyContract catering provider

Staordshire Dec 08 155.76 14,305 *855 593 2004 Its clients include the Health Protection Agency,the University o Bolton and the YMCA

11 Genuine SolutionsTelecoms product reseller

Surrey Jan 09 153.52 6,258 *384 64 2004 Supplies mobile phone accessories to 800independent retailers in 24 countries

12 Getting PersonalOnline git retailer

Cheshire May 09 148.78 6,282 408 29 2005 Founders met at antenatal classes

13 Rize RecruitmentTelecoms recruitment consultancy

Islington Mar 09 144.85 8,370 *570 19 2005 Says it has placed Colombian workers inAghanistan, and Filipinos in Madagascar

14 Lie build SolutionsBuilding contractor

Buckinghamshire Dec 08 139.65 15,002 *1,090 15 2005 Recently completed a 2.5m project orPinewood Studios opened by the Queen

15 Your Gol TravelGol travel agency

Central London Dec 08 139.35 7,415 *541 52 2005 Its call-centre sta are mostly keen golers whoadvise travellers on best golfng deals

16 Team24Medical recruitment consultancy

Surrey Apr 09 133.97 13,401 *1,046 52 2005 Claims to place more than 1,000 doctorsand nurses a week

17 Redrock ConsultingRecruitment consultancy

Bristol Mar 08 131.41 *15,372 *1,240 21 2005 Clients include Orange, Motorola andAlcatel-Lucent

18 Alliance SurgicalMedical surgery group

Birmingham Mar 09 131.22 5,895 *477 29 2005 450 NHS consultants are shareholders inthe business

19 State OilPetroleum wholesaler

Weybridge Feb 09 128.00 147,199 12,419 14 1999 Claims to be the ourth-largest independentoil importer in the UK

20 Low Cost Travel GroupTravel operator

West Sussex Oct 08 127.03 50,732 4,336 72 2004 Has booked holidays or 1.2m people thisyear

21 Myprotein.co.ukSports nutrition supplier

Manchester Sep 09 125.82 9,764 848 50 2004 Supplies sports nutrition to the current winnero Britains Strongest Man competition

22 Moonpig.comOnline git retailer

Central London Apr 09 125.60 20,906 1,821 65 1999 Says it will sell 10m o its personalisedgreeting cards this year

23 47 MiromaMedia barter company

Central London Jun 09 118.22 20,257 1,949 14 2003 Launched an ofce in Singapore this year

24 E-ResourcingIT recruitment consultancy Epsom Jun 09 115.01 5,641 567 14 2005 Customers include the NHS, Logica andToyota

25 Net VenturesRecruitment consultancy

Central London Dec 08 111.32 8,292 *879 25 2001 75% o its sales are currently generatedoverseas

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26 13 Interim PartnersRecruitment consultancy

Harrogate Dec 08 110.53 9,377 1,005 17 2003 Launched a mid-market recruitment divisionin September

27 Kite Consulting GroupIT recruitment consultancy

Central London Aug 09 110.19 7,914 852 20 2005 Clients include Balour Beatty, Barclays andAviva

28 Olive CateringContract caterer

Warwickshire Dec 08 104.09 9,225 1,085 368 2004 Recently won contracts with Heinz andCapital One

29 Gloal Energy GroupEnergy services provider

Aberdeen Mar 08 103.00 94,309 11,274 425 2005 Has hired two Olympic biathlete skiers tolead sta development

30 Fine Green AssociatesRecruitment consultancy

Manchester Jun 09 102.94 10,861 *1,299 18 2005 Supplies non-clinical management sta tothe NHS and private healthcare organisations

31 ONEPOSTPostal managment advisor

Bristol Jun 09 100.62 28,415 3,519 44 2005 Its 230 clients include the National Trust andthe British Red Cross

32 AM PMCash and carry wholesaler

Scunthorpe Aug 08 99.52 5,332 *671 12 2004 Cash and carry chain started in an oldsewing machine actory with 5,000 o stock

33 PowerPerectorEnergy-saving device distributor

Central London Dec 08 97.21 11,557 1,507 26 2004 Says its technology can save clients anaverage o 13% in electricity costs

34 Cesterfeld PoultryHalal poultry seller

Derbyshire Jun 08 97.02 17,487 2,286 86 1999 Processes up to 120,000 halal chickenseach week

35 Directline holidaysOnline travel operator

Croydon Oct 08 96.22 11,398 1,509 61 1993 Has developed sotware that can tailorholidays to customers requirements

36 3 Silver CrossPram maker

Skipton Dec 08 95.67 17,484 2,334 41 1877 Founded in 1877, now sells to retailers anddirect to public on its own website

37 4 jjFOxRecruitment consultancy

Bristol Dec 08 94.87 13,691 1,850 100 2004 Company's 2008 Christmas party raised44,000 to start a charitable oundation

38 29 AsteralMedical equipment provider

Reading Mar 09 94.42 14,277 1,943 43 2003 Handles the supply and maintenance oscanners and x-ray machines to hospitals

39 N A C holdingsBusiness consultancy

Sunderland Jul 08 92.87 7,598 1,059 40 2003 Helps improve business efciency atImperial College Hospital and JCB

40 31 DanroPayroll services provider

Blackpool Mar 09 91.63 51,080 7,259 1363 2000 Client list includes 1,500 IT contractors and1,100 limited companies

41 19 hoson PriorRecruitment consultancy

Tunbridge Wells Jul 08 91.04 10,267 1,473 20 2002 Has recently ormed strategic partnershipswith companies in Switzerland and Germany

42 22 ea Consulting GroupBusiness management consultancy

Twickenham Mar 09 88.99 25,111 3,720 32 1998 Founded to manage change arising romthe introduction o the euro

43 Motor FuelFuel retailer

North WestLondon

Aug 08 87.73 121,905 *18,425 237 2004 Has acquired more than 20 petrol stationsin the past three years

44 boost DrinksEnergy drink maker

Leeds Oct 08 87.54 9,654 1,464 12 2001 Became the ofcial energy drink orGlastonbury this year

45 Stores DirectHeating products retailer

Huddersfeld Apr 09 86.58 8,224 1,266 15 2001 Sells about 500 stoves and freplaces eachmonth rom its websites

46 higgidy PiesPie maker

West Sussex Sep 09 85.68 5,586 872 106 2003 Sells its British quiches to a ca in France

47 FjordDigital design consultancy

Central London Dec 08 82.36 6,641 1,095 88 2001 Has ofces in London, Berlin, Helsinki andNew York

48 Josep JosepHousehold goods supplier

Central London May 09 82.11 6,477 1,072 21 2003 Sells 250 product lines through storesincluding John Lewis and House o Fraser

49 SFC (Wolesale)Fried chicken wholesaler Merseyside Mar 09 80.81 12,511 2,117 12 2004 Claims to sell more than 400 tonnes orozen chicken products each month

50 DimarkEthnic ood distributor

North London Dec 08 80.60 5,077 862 15 2003 Is one o Britains largest importers o Polishand Eastern European ood

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51 Easi-Drive Accident ManagementAccident services provider

Manchester Mar 08 80.59 *12,857 2,183 96 2001 Says its customers drive 1m miles a year inthe replacement vehicles it provides

52 15 PracticusInterim management consultancy

Henley Dec 08 79.17 33,274 5,786 49 2004 Opened ofces in Amsterdam and Australiaearlier this year

53 World FirstForeign exchange broker

SouthwestLondon

Jan 09 78.86 5,579 975 54 2004 Its most popular currencies traded are eurosand dollars

54 32 Gloal ResourcingIT recruitment consultancy

Bromley Dec 08 77.89 14,782 2,626 38 1997 Operates globally, including in America,Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kazakhstan

55 5 Te book DepositoryOnline book retailer

Gloucester Jun 09 77.79 61,421 10,929 39 2004 Founder was part o the team that launchedAmazon in Britain

56 Oliver James AssociatesRecruitment consultancy

Central London Dec 08 77.57 6,986 1,248 24 2002 Places around 20 candidates each monthwith blue-chip insurance frms

57 Amer TavernsPub operator

Preston Jan 09 76.74 7,019 *1,271 10 2005 Purchased 23 pubs rom the administratorsin April, saving around 100 jobs

58 12 Allen LanePublic sector recruitment consultancy

Central London May 09 76.43 23,644 4,305 19 2004 Clients include Osted and the LondonBusiness School

59 Liv-eWine exchange operator

SouthwestLondon

Dec 08 75.70 27,145 5,005 21 1999 Produces an index ranking the world's top100 wines or investment

60 62 People Source ConsultingIT recruitment consultancy

Bristol Mar 09 74.27 6,480 1,224 22 2002 Claims to have clients in every industrysector

61 ToppesfeldRoad suracer

Ipswich May 08 74.23 10,549 *1,994 33 2004 Recently completed a 1m resuracing projecton behal o Transport or London

62 Ricmond GroupFinancial services provider

Bournemouth Mar 09 71.96 36,301 7,139 372 1999 Sta, customers and company raised150,000 or local charities

63 Universal RecyclingMetal waste recycler

South Yorkshire Oct 08 71.48 47,637 9,447 72 1976 A renewable uel power plant now providesa third o all its electricity requirements

64 bLU 3 (UK)Inrastructure services provider

Croydon Mar 08 70.87 14,283 2,863 77 2004 Clients include Tesco, Transport or Londonand EDF Energy

65 Opti-cal Survey EquipmentSurvey equipment supplier

Reading Aug 09 70.35 5,039 1,019 17 2002 Supplies equipment to projects includingthe London 2012 Olympics and Crossrail

66 18 Mayday healtcareMedical recruitment consultancy

Central London Sep 08 70.14 29,710 6,033 55 2003 Claims its ofces have not closed in fve anda hal years

67 Zaa hadidArchitecture frm

Central London Apr 08 67.43 26,231 5,588 241 1980 Designs include the Z.CAR, a hydrogen-powered, three-wheeled automobile

68 Igloo booksBook publisher

Northampton Mar 08 67.36 7,728 1,649 32 2003 Publishes about 250 titles each year rom babynutrition guides to gardening books

69 LietimeEmployee training provider

Bristol Mar 09 66.40 9,793 2,126 157 1997 Founder worked as a teacher and aerobicsinstructor beore setting up the business

70 57 ActeonOshore services provider

Norwich Dec 08 66.37 309,154 *67,139 1595 1989 Group comprises 15 companies withservices including oilwell decommissioning

71 PMSSRenewable energy consultancy

Romsey Mar 09 65.97 5,963 1,304 65 1994 Claims to have provided expertise to more than1,000 renewable energy projects

72 McKinney RogersBusiness perormance consultancy

Central London Apr 09 65.10 11,042 2,454 59 1999 Stint in the Royal Marines led ounder toadapt military principles to the business

73 52 Integrated Susea ServicesOshore services provider

Aberdeen Sep 08 64.67 87,626 19,623 472 2002 Recently opened ofces in Singapore andAustralia

74 49 InvestigoRecruitment consultancy Central London Jun 09 64.51 28,840 6,478 59 2003 Acts as primary supplier o fnance sta toAlliance Boots, Coca-Cola and Lloyds

75 Timoty James ConsultingRecruitment consultancy

Bristol Oct 08 63.63 5,428 1,239 30 2003 Candidates placed typically earn salaries obetween 80,00 and 100,000

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76 80 henleys ClotingFashion wholesaler

Manchester Mar 09 63.45 37,952 8,691 191 1996 Says it is one o Shop Direct's top sellingbrands

77 44 holiday TaisAirport transer provider

West Sussex Dec 08 63.41 12,238 2,805 48 2002 Founder set up company ater ThomasCook made him redundant

78 MSS GroupFacilities management consultancy

Cardi Mar 09 62.52 7,367 *1,716 287 2005 Its clients include Superdrug, Rockwool andScottish Power

79 67 Sprue AegisSaety products manuacturer

Coventry Dec 08 61.86 9,368 2,209 22 2000 Says it supplies 85% o British freauthorities with its smoke alarms

80 bond Aviation GroupHelicopter operator

Cheltenham Mar 09 67.35 81,005 17,283 400 1999 Flies crews to and rom drilling platorms inthe North Sea

81 PJ CareCare home operator

Milton Keynes Mar 08 60.25 5,002 1,215 155 2000 Recently acquired a training company toenable it to train its own sta

82 71 Go ApeAdventure course operator

Suolk Dec 08 60.19 8,479 2,063 198 2002 Says that nearly 2m customers havecompleted a course

83 70 Fast & Fres RestaurantsSubway sandwich ranchiser

Preston Jun 08 59.84 10,643 2,606 388 2000 Recent openings include restaurants atLiverpool airport

84 Caracter WorldLicensed textile manuacturer

Cheshire Dec 08 59.65 20,813 5,115 47 1998 Recently launched a Spiderman duvet set

85 AdConnectionMedia agency

Wimbledon Mar 09 59.56 14,633 3,602 18 2001 New clients include Grosvenor Casinos andTrinidad and Tobago's tourist board

86 Cat KidstonFashion retailer

Central London Mar 09 59.46 31,294 7,718 275 1993 Recently published a book o sewing projectsdesigned or use with its abric patterns

87 23 Applied Language SolutionsTranslation service provider

Manchester May 09 59.16 6,257 1,552 102 2003 Claims to have a network o more than16,000 linguists around the world

88 37 balousie Care GroupCare home operator

Dundee Apr 09 59.02 12,734 3,167 530 2005 Founder appeared on Channel 4s SecretMillionaire this year

89 59 Maria Mallaand Care GroupCare home operator

Leeds Apr 08 58.85 31,834 7,942 1303 1996 Supplies 1,200 beds in 54 care homes,including one in Jersey

90 Voice MoileMobile phone reseller

Birmingham Dec 08 58.66 7,120 1,782 21 2001 Says it supplies mobile phones to one inevery our British police ofcers

91 8 Manpower DirectSecurity services provider

Essex Jun 08 58.00 7,399 1,876 240 2003 Started in a converted warehouse by agroup o engineering graduates

92 65 NET-A-PORTER.comOnline ashion retailer

Central London Jan 09 56.54 81,546 21,258 376 2000 Has raised more than 10m in undingsince 2000

93 DenticareDental practice operator

Bedord Mar 08 56.47 5,125 1,338 55 2005 Provides fnancial assistance to helpcontinental dentists relocate to Britain

94 EurospanBook distributor

Central London Dec 08 56.09 5,472 1,439 27 1967 Distributes books rom publishers such as theWorld Bank and Stanord University Press

95 PaulBakery and patisserie

Central London Dec 08 55.71 18,901 5,006 413 2000 Claims it sold more than 300,000 croissantsand 70,000 strawberry tartlettes last year

96 1 hotel Cocolat StoresChocolate retailer

Hertordshire Jun 09 55.16 21,788 5,833 287 2004 Recently opened two stores in America, andwill have ranchises in Dubai and Kuwait

97 b&M RetailDiscount retailer

Blackpool Dec 08 54.60 255,922 *69,259 3119 1976 Claims that more than 1.5m shoppers enterits stores each week

98 CMC PartnersipBusiness management consultancy

South Wales Jan 09 53.30 13,262 3,681 50 2000 Clients inclue the Ministry o Deence, theForeign Ofce and the Welsh Assembly

99 Outsource UKRecruitment consultancy Swindon May 09 53.29 18,234 5,062 21 1991 Company was ounded in themanaging directors spare bedroom

100 David Pillips FurnitureFurniture retailer

Central London Mar 08 52.92 12,273 3,432 73 1997 Furnished more than 100 apartments inCyprus this year

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AbOUT ThE SPONSORS

Fast Track would particularly like to thank the title sponsor o Fast

Track 100, the Virgin Group, and our media partner, The Sunday

Times, or their support through all 13 years.

We would also like to thank HSBC or its sixth year o sponsorship,

and KPMG and Royal Mail or their second years o sponsorship.

Virgin is the title sponsor o Fast Track 100.

Virgin was ounded in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson. The group

now has more than 200 branded companies worldwide in sectors

spanning airlines, trains, mobile phones, fnancial services and

ftness clubs, as well as sustainable technologies.

Sir Ricard branson is president o Virgin Group. He is currently

growing Virgin's international business and Virgin Unite, the

Group's not-or-proft entrepreneurial oundation.

www.virgin.com

Sir Ricard branson

President

The Sunday Times is the media sponsor.

The Sunday Times is Britain's leading Sunday broadsheet

newspaper, attracting three million readers every week. It is the

leading business newspaper with a business readership o over500,000, three times more than its nearest rival The Sunday

Telegraph.

Jon Waples is the business editor. He was previously deputy

business editor and city editor, and has been at the paper or

14 years.

www.timesonline.co.uk

Jon Waples

Business editor

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Royal Mail is a main sponsor.

Royal Mail can help a business grow by inding it new

customers, retaining the ones it has, and helping it to save time

and money. Royal Mail has thousands o ideas, products and

services designed to help businesses grow.

Tim Rivett is head o small business. He has been at Royal

Mail or seven years, and is primarily involved with new product

development and working with the small business community.

www.royalmail.com/growth

Tim Rivett

Head o Small Business

HSBC is a main sponsor.

hSbC bank is a principal member o the HSBC Group, one o

the worlds largest banking and inancial services organisations

with around 9,500 oices in 85 countries and territories.

Steve Price is head o commercial Banking having joined

HSBC in July 2008. He previously spent 24 years at Barclays,

most recently as Head o Commercial Banking.

www.hsbc.co.uk/business

Steve Price

Head o Commercial

Banking

KPMG is a main sponsor.

KPMG is the global network o proessional services frms whose

aim is to turn knowledge into value or the beneft o its clients, its

people and its communities. In the UK, KPMG LLP operates rom

22 ofces with more than 11,000 partners and sta.

Malcolm Edge is UK Head o National Markets. His client base

ranges rom FTSE 100 clients, to successul entrepreneurs where

he deals with both corporate and personal matters and acts as

trusted advisor.

www.kpmg.co.uk

Malcolm Edge

Head o the UK National

Market

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bACKGROUND

Aout te autors

Dr hamis StevensonHamish owns and runs Fast Track, which he ounded in 1997,

ater securing cornerstone sponsorship rom Sir Richard Branson.

He works closely with sponsors, leading entrepreneurs and media

partners; and retains an associate ellowship at Green Templeton

College, Oxord University.

Julia Paolitto

Julia is responsible or researching companies and managing

the Fast Track 100 research. She has a background in journalism

and publishing rom the US, and has undertaken reelance work

or management consultancy irms. She recently completed her

doctoral degree in English at Oxord University.

Eva Gronec

Eva is responsible or managing the Fast Track research. Prior

to joining Fast Track in 1999, she worked or companies such

as Kuwait Petroleum and Maersk Line. She has a masters in

politics rom Oxord University, and a degree in business rom

Copenhagen Business School.


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Aout Fast Track

Fast Track 100 is compiled by Fast Track, the UK's leading

networking events and research company, which ranks Britains

top-perorming private companies. It has compiled league tables in

partnership with Te Sunday Times or the last thirteen years.

Fast Tracks annual league tables, awards events and dinners

provide an opportunity or private companies to raise their proile,

and or entrepreneurs and directors to network and meet our

sponsors.

Fast Track publishes ive other annual league tables ranking

Britain's top-perorming private companies, on dierent criteria:

Tec Track 100, with title sponsor Microsot, ranks Britainsprivate tech (TMT) companies with the astest-growing sales.

Profit Track 100, with title sponsor PricewaterhouseCoopers,

ranks Britains private companies with the astest-growing proits.

buyout Track 100, with title sponsor Deloitte, ranks Britainsprivate equity-backed companies with the astest-growing proits.

Top Track 250, with title sponsor HSBC, ranks Britains biggestmid-market companies by their latest sales.

Top Track 100, with title sponsor Deloitte, ranks Britains

biggest private companies by their latest sales.

Fast Track is based in Oxord with 17 ull-time sta and a network

o reelance researchers.

CONTACT DETAILS

Fast Track

Angel Court

81 St Clements

OxordOX4 1AW

Tel: 01865 297 100

Fax: 01865 297 001

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.asttrack.co.uk

The Fast Track team


2009 fast track 100 rep

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