Food manufacturers feature in Fast Track 100 list

The list features the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, operating in a wide range of industries, from food and drink manufacturing to aerospace and healthcare.

Snack maker All Good was the fastest growing food firm – listed in sixth position – on the hot 100 list. Recording annual sales growth of 146.5%, the business manufactures a range of treat products, including chocolate-covered tortilla chips to garlic and coriander naan chips.

Total sales, including domestic sales and exports to Europe, the US and Australia, were said to have reached £18M last year.

Based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, All Good supplies retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Sainsbury.

Fastest growing food firms​

Sausage manufacturer Heck! Food was placed 21^st​ in this year’s list, after leading the list of fastest growing food firms in 2016. Launched as a premium sausage, burger and meatball brand in 2004, the business achieved sales growth of 92.48% on this year’s list.

In October the business opened a £3.5M factory, creating 75 jobs. Commenting at the time, co-founder Andrew Keeble said: “Innovation is at the heart​ of what we do and we’ve been busy taking the traditional British banger and giving it a healthier makeover.” ​

BrewDog achieved 62^nd​ place​

Brewery BrewDog achieved 62nd place on the list, after achieving a 61% increase in sales to reach £71.9M last year. Last April, BrewDog sold a 22% stake to US private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners for £213M. The deal resulted in a new valuation for Scotland’s largest independent brewery of £1bn​.

Fresh fish supplier Copernus was listed in 66^th​ place, with a sales increase of 57.74% to £46.7M last year. The business, based in Hull, supplies fresh fish to a range of retailers, including Morrisons and Lidl.

Other food industry firms featuring on the list included hospitality businesses: burger restaurant chain Five Guys, steak restaurant Flat Iron and Honest Burgers.

Logistics services provider Pallet-Track was placed 20th in the list of the fastest-growing 100 firms, with sales climbing 94.99% last year. The business invested £10M in a new distribution hub in Wigan, which opened in August.

The fastest growing company was aircraft and spares services business AerFin. The company recorded growth of 231.26%, after benefiting from the global airlines’ investment in replenishing ageing fleets.

The Sunday Times​ Virgin Fast Track 100 list charts the nation’s fastest growing private companies. Published annually since 1997, the list excludes technology firms, which are listed in the Tech Track 100.

Read more about this year’s list here​. The hot 100 chart was published yesterday (Sunday December 3).

Meanwhile, discover which food firms featured in last year’s Fast Track 100 list here​.