Pram maker and drink manufacturer storm fast track league table
PRAM maker Silver Cross and energy drink maker Boost Drinks are among six Yorkshire firms listed in the latest Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.
Skipton-based Silver Cross made it onto the league table for the third time running by being ranked 36.
The company has been making prams since 1877, and is a favourite with the royal family and celebrity mums including Nicole Kidman.
It has recently started selling prams to consumers directly from its website, and will soon be supplying shops in Germany, Switzerland, Japan and America. Sales have grown 96% a year from £2.3m in 2005 to £17.5m in 2008.
Among the firms making a first time appearance is Leeds-based Boost Drinks, which was ranked 44.
Founded by Simon Gray in 2001 to offer a cheaper alternative to energy drinks such as Red Bull, the company sells around 30 million drinks a year.
This year the company was the official energy drink for Glastonbury. Sales grew 88% a year from £1.5m in 2005 to £9.7m in 2008.
Mexborough metal waste recyclers Universal Recycling also made its debut at 65 while Scunthorpe cash and carry AM PM made it to 32. Stores Direct, the Huddersfield-based heating products retailer, was entered at 45.
Harrogate-based Interim Partners was ranked 26 while Leeds care group Maria Mallaband Care Group was placed 89.
Over the past three years the 100 companies on the league table have grown their sales by an average of 95% a year to combined sales of £2.6bn and are forecast to increase 33% this year to £3.5bn.
Together they employ 17,421 staff, and have created 12,783 jobs over the last three years of available accounts.
However, the true effects of the recession on the ranked businesses is unclear as more than half are still reporting 2008 financial year ends.
Most of the companies are based in London (32) and the North (22). The remainder breaks down as follows: Southeast (18), Southwest (12), Midlands (7), East (4), Scotland (3) and Wales (2).
Sir Richard Branson of Virgin, which has sponsored the league table for all 13 years, commented: “The last year has been one of the toughest I remember in business; but the fear of the early part of 2009 has been replaced by optimism we will find a way through.
“This sense of optimism is reflected in the sterling performance of the Fast Track 100 companies who are expecting impressive continued growth this year.”
