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years2010-202011

Research report 2020Britain's 200 mid-market private companieswith the fastest-growing international sales

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International Track 200 research report 2020 i

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1Top 10 International Track 200 companies

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2Overview Key themes KEY STATISTICS 3International salesOperating profits Overseas markets 4Sector breakdown 5Industry breakdown Regional breakdown 6Job creationFoundation datesOwnership 7External capital International acquisitions 8Brexit 9

ELEVEN YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL TRACK 200 10Stock market flotationsFailures AcquisitionsAlumni companies 11

KEY THEMES & SELECTED COMPANY PROFILES 13 Trading in America Trading in Europe 14 Sustainability 15 Investing for growth through technology 16 Ecommerce 17 Exporting services 18 Female founders and leaders 19 Brand Britain 20 2020 INTERNATIONAL TRACK 200 LEAGUE TABLE 21

METHODOLOGY 29

SUPPORTERS 30 Media partner Sponsors 31

ABOUT FAST TRACK 32Compiler and publisher The authors Fast Track 33

CONTACT DETAILS 33

https://www.fasttrack.co.uk/


International Track 200 research report 2020 1

This year's No 1 company is Reed & Mackay, a corporate travel agency led by CEO Fred Stratford

INTRODUCTIONThis is the 11th year of The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200, the league table of Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales. HSBC is the title sponsor of the league table, and DHL Express and Oracle NetSuite are main sponsors.

The International Track 200 ranks the 200 mid-market private companies (total sales of £25m to £1bn) based on their growth in international sales over the last two years of available data. However, available data on international sales have limitations [page 29].

Despite the backdrop of continuing Brexit-related uncertainty, the growth rate of this year's 200th company at 29%, almost double that of three years ago, only falls short of last year as the highest in the league table's history, demonstrating the resilience of British companies trading overseas.

The average international sales growth over the last two years for the 200 companies was 64% a year, to a total of £10.3bn, on combined total sales of £22.1bn. They export to all corners of the globe and employ 124,000 staff, having added 38,000 jobs over the same period.

Featured companies include international payments provider TransferWise (No 41), Brewdog (No 47), pet food manufacturer Natures Menu (No 86), clothing retailer FatFace (No 118) and beauty products retailer Charlotte Tilbury Beauty (No 127).

1 Reed & MackayCorporate travel agency Central London Mar 19 412.15% 16,420 71,887 1,000 1962 Its 14 global offices provide support for

more than 2m journeys every year

2 AISOffice interiors consultancy Central London Jul 19 319.74% 16,808 37,900 68 1979 Its clients include American Express

and BlackRock

3[24]

Project OneBusiness consultancy Cheshire Dec 18 278.99% 8,104 30,835 101 1998 Developed a platform to enable Belgian

firm Telenet to digitise its operations

4 Northern Gas & Power Energy management consultancy Gateshead Dec 18 247.57% 11,414 29,616 285 2013 Has offices in Paris and Texas as well as

technology hubs in India and Malta

5 Chilly's BottlesReusable bottles brand Central London Jul 19 227.85% *12,283 *31,471 15 2010 Ships its reusable water bottles to more

than 30 countries via a multilingual website

6[15]

Sigma SportsSports goods retailer

Kingston upon Thames Dec 18 190.40% †7,160 †33,342 107 1992 Exports cycling gear to the EU and other

markets including Japan and America

7 La Fosse AssociatesRecruitment consultancy Central London Dec 18 179.51% 7,879 108,350 171 2007 Has offices on the east and west coasts of

America and recently launched in Canada

8 [7]

High Street TV TV shopping channel Harrogate Dec 18 175.22% 17,596 66,412 119 2008 Its Pressure King Pro pressure cooker and Squat

Magic fitness machine are popular in Japan

9 KingsburyMachine tools wholesaler Hampshire Dec 18 173.39% 5,380 86,845 308 1956 Set up a subsidiary in Dubai in 2018 to

supply the Gulf region with machine tools

10[81]

Envisage GroupAutomotive engineer Coventry Dec 18 148.37% 4,719 46,411 141 2009 Its office in Fremont, California develops

electric vehicle technology

Rank2020

FYEHQ locationActivity[2019]Company

Annual int'l sales growth

over 2 yrs‡

Latest int'l sales

£000 Staff Founded Comment

Top 10 companies on the league table

‡ compound annual growth rate between 2016/17 and 2018/19 * supplied by company † annualised

Latest total sales

£000


International Track 200 research report 2020


2

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Overview• This year’s International Track 200 companies increased their

overseas sales by an average of 64% a year over two years, from a total of £4.7bn to £10.3bn

• 90% of the companies (180) sell to mainland Europe, making it the most popular market, followed by North America (123) and Asia (62)

• The top countries for overseas sales are America (118 companies), Germany (93), France (75), the Netherlands (45), Australia (43), Ireland (39) and China (34)

• There are 69 manufacturers, and 54 of these make products in the UK

• Business services is the largest industry (45 companies), followed by technology, media and telecoms (TMT) (38), consumer goods (37) and food and drink (18)

Key themes

Trading in America: America is the most popular country for overseas sales, with 118 companies citing it as a major market [page 13]

Trading in Europe: Despite uncertainty over Britain's future relationship with the European Union, 180 companies trade with mainland Europe, more than any other continent [page 14]

Sustainability: A significant number of companies are using sustainable business practices and products to grow sales and efficiency [page 15]

Investing for growth through technology: Many companies are investing in technology to give them an edge over competition [page 16]

Ecommerce: 31 ecommerce goods exporters feature on this year's list [page 17]

Exporting services: Service exports are the top sector in this year’s league table with more than half the companies in this category [page 18]

Female founders and leaders: Thirty-four companies on this year's league table were founded or co-founded by a woman (23 firms) or have a woman as chief executive, managing director, or chairperson [page 19]

Brand Britain: Fashion, beauty, and food and drink brands including FatFace, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty and Brewdog feature strongly on this year’s list. [page 20]

64% pa

£110.3m

London and southeast (115)

50-1,000

£51.5m

£68.5m

Services (110)

25%

£23.3m

1997Entrepreneur and/or

founder (101)81

Average growth over two years

Sales in 2018-19

Region

Typical number of staff in 2018-19

International sales in 2018-19

Sales in 2016-17

Sector

Typical increase in staff over two years

International sales in 2016-17

FoundedMajority ownership

PE/VC, angel or corporate investment

International sales

Total sales

Company characteristics

Staff

Characteristics of a typical International Track 200 company

4

5

108

65

18

150-200%

100-150%

25-50%

50-100%

>200%

Growth in international sales

Number of companies in each range of compound annual growth rate for international sales over latest 2 years




KEY STATISTICS

International sales• Companies on the league table are required to have total sales

between £25m and £1bn, have international sales greater than £1m, and be profitable

• The top-ranked company is corporate travel agency Reed & Mackay, headquartered in London. It grew international sales 412% a year, from £626,000 in 2017 to £16.4m in 2019

• International sales at the 200th ranked company, automotive parts supplier CT Automotive, grew an average of 29% a year from £35.3m in 2016 to £58.6m in 2018

• 27 companies had triple-digit growth in international sales, including office interior consultancy AIS (No 2), whose international sales rose an average of 320% a year, from £1m in 2017 to £16.8m in 2019; and fitness clothing retailer Gymshark (No 18), which grew overseas sales an average of 116% a year, from £30.8m in 2017 to £143.5m in 2019

• Online retailer The Hut Group (No 146) had the highest international sales on the table, at £608m in 2018. Testing services provider Element (No 54) recorded the biggest absolute increase in international sales, a jump of £321m to £501m

• Combined international sales of the 200 companies were £10.3bn and total sales were £22.1bn

Operating profitsAverage operating profits were £6.8m. The company with the highest profit margin is reusable bottles brand Chilly’s Bottles (No 5), which made an operating profit of £11.4m on total sales of £31.5m in 2019 (a margin of 36%); and the company with the highest profits is Element (No 54) with operating profits of £83m in 2018.

77

71

30

18

9

26

46

45

19

59

Companies with the largest international sales

Rank CompanyActivity FYE Int'l sales

£m

146 The Hut GroupOnline retailer Dec 18 608

54 ElementTesting services provider Dec 18 501

174 City Facilities Management Facilities maintenance provider Dec 18 473

171 EnerMechEngineering services provider Dec 18 338

134 MATCHESFASHION Luxury fashion retailer Jan 19 295

£75-100m

£50-75m

£25-50m

>£100m

Latest total sales

Number of companies in each range

Fitness clothing retailer Gymshark (No 18) grew overseas sales an average of 116% a year to £143.5m in 2019

£75m-£100m

£50m-£75m

£25m-£50m

>£100m

Latest international sales


£10m-£25m

£1m-£10m




4

Overseas markets• 90% of the companies (180) sell to mainland Europe, making it

the most popular market, followed by North America (123) and Asia (62), including 34 to China

• 74% (147) intend to expand sales to Europe in the future, with North America (129) the next most popular potential market for growth, followed by Asia (82)

• More than half the companies (124) focus their sales on one or two continents. 16 companies have key markets spread across four or more continents. For example, A-Gas (No 139) distributes chemicals and gases to America, Australia, Germany and South Africa

• The top countries for overseas sales are America (118), Germany (93), France (75), the Netherlands (45), Australia (43), Ireland (39) and China (34)

• 71 companies export to or operate in emerging markets†, such as Leeds-based supply chain manager Ligentia (No 147) whose exports to the Far East increased by 474% in 2018 to £18.9m

• The top countries identified by the companies for future international expansion are America (117 companies), Germany (71), China (46), and France and Australia (41 each)

† Emerging markets as defined by the FTSE list of emerging countries

180EUROPE

62ASIA

123NORTH AMERICA

3SOUTH AMERICA

9AFRICA

29MIDDLE EAST

47

AUSTRALASIA

Main markets of the International Track 200 companies

America is a main overseas market for 118 companies, with 117 saying it is a top future market (see p.13)

Map shows the number of companies selling to each market




Sector breakdownThe International Track 200 companies operate in a range of sectors, and, due to the breadth of their activities, 54 companies are considered to operate across two sectors. For example, Sports nutrition brand BULK POWDERS (No 113) is both a manufacturer and a retailer.

The largest sectors are services (110 companies) and manufacturing (69, including some firms that outsource their manufacturing to third parties).

• Services (110) encompasses a wide range of industries, and includes payments providers such as Checkout.com (No 39); recruiters, like La Fosse Associates (No 7); and tour operators such as Inside Travel Group (No 110), which organises tailored trips in Asia

• Manufacturers (69), including those that outsource to third parties, are represented by luxury yacht builder Princess Yachts (No 175), lift manufacturer Niftylift (No 68), and flour miller Whitworth Group (No 140)

• Wholesalers (41) comprise consumer goods suppliers such as Pricecheck (No 198), and electronics distributors like Phoenix Cellular (No 38), which trades second-hand phones

• Retailers (30) include companies that trade overseas through online channels, such as beauty products retailer Revolution Beauty (No 51) and fitness clothing retailer Gymshark (No 18). Others, such as lifestyle retailer The White Company (No 185), have opened physical stores overseas

• Construction (4) is represented by companies such as scaffolding contractor Brogan Group (No 65), which is helping to build the 2020 World Expo in Dubai

Industry breakdown• Business services (45) is the most represented industry, helped

by an influx of recruitment consultancies such as LHi Group (No 25); as well as others including Investis Digital (No 138) which specialises in digital communications

Business services accounts for combined international sales of £2.2bn and employs 27,900 people

• TMT (38) includes IT consultancies and suppliers such as Invenio Business Solutions (No 29) and Adder Technology (No 193); and media agencies like Once Upon A Time (No 13) and the7stars (No 183)

TMT accounts for combined overseas sales of £1.8bn and employs 12,100 people

• Consumer goods (37) covers a wide range of products and includes handbag brand Radley + Co (No 40) and books reseller World of Books (No 131)

Consumer goods accounts for combined international sales of £2.1bn and employs 25,500 people

Construction 4

Services 110

Retail 30

Manufacturing 69

Wholesale 41

Sector breakdown

Note: companies can operate in more than one sector

Industry breakdown

Other

Leisure

Transport

Building

Engineering

Consumer goods

Food and drink

TMT

Business services

16

8

8

37

16

18

38

45

Finance

77




6

Regional breakdownThe region with the highest number of companies is London with 79 firms (40%); an increase of 16% on last year. A large concentration of media and finance companies on the table have their headquarters there. The next highest is the Southeast with 36 (18%), compared to 42 last year.

• 19 companies (10%) are headquartered in the Northwest, including Lancashire-based hardwood flooring specialist Havwoods (No 34)

• 18 (9%) are based in the Northeast, including County Durham craft products retailer Crafter’s Companion (No 122), which was founded by new Dragons' Den panellist Sara Davies

• 15 companies (8%) are located in the Midlands, which continues to be a strong manufacturing region, and is home to companies such as Coventry-based copper tube supplier Lawton Tubes (No 129)

• 11 (6%) are based in the Southwest, including Bristol-based storage tank manufacturer Western Global (No 125)

The regions with the lowest representation are: Scotland with eight, followed by the East and Northern Ireland with seven and four respectively; and Wales with three.

Job creation• The 200 companies directly employ 124,000 people, a

decrease of 11% on last year's figure of 140,000*. Typical staff numbers range between 50 and 1,000. City Facilities Management (No 174) is the largest employer on the league table with more than 12,200 staff on its payroll

• The smallest employers are generally wholesalers and niche service firms, such as Done + Dusted (No 88), which produces TV and events and has 17 staff. 17 of the companies on the league table employ fewer than 50 people

• The league table companies have increased total staff numbers by 38,000 over the past two years. Testing services provider Element (No 54) has created the most new jobs during this period, adding more than 4,500 employees to its payroll, primarily as a result of acquisitions

*This is likely to be as a result of the exclusion of companies with total sales of more than

£1bn from this year's league table

Foundation dates• The International Track 200 companies are of very diverse

ages, with a typical foundation date of 1997. Seven companies were established pre-1900

• The company with the oldest foundation date is logistics and corporate travel company John Good (No 100). It can trace its origins back to 1833, when it first established itself as a shipping agent in Hull

• 18 companies were set up after 2010, including beauty products retailer Charlotte Tilbury Beauty (No 127), which was founded in 2013 and generated exports of £73.8m in 2018

Regional breakdown of headquarters

Southwest

Wales

N. Ireland

Scotland

Northwest

Northeast

East

Midlands

Southeast

London79

19

11

15

8

18

3

4

36

7

70

17

100-249

50-99

<50

36250-499

1,000-1,999

500-999

Number of employees


13>=2,000

10

30

24




101

46

28

21

Ownership• More than half of the companies (101) are majority-owned

by an entrepreneur and/or founders, such as Ennismore (No 148), the hospitality group whose properties include Gleneagles and The Hoxton hotels, which is wholly owned by Sharan Pasricha and his wife Eiesha

• 46 companies are majority-owned by private equity firms.These include exhibition organiser CloserStill (No 60), which sold a 65% stake to Providence Equity Partners in 2018 for a reported £340m

• 28 companies are family-owned, i.e. they remain owned by the founder's offspring or other relatives. An example is refrigeration manufacturer Carter Thermal Industries (No 27) which was founded in 1945 by the war veteran grandfather of current chief executive, John Scott

• Management owns a majority stake in 21 companies, including bakery products supplier St Pierre Groupe (No 36), which is the licensed producer of Paul Hollywood ready-to-bake rolls

External capitalMore than two fifths of companies (81) have secured equity investment from private equity, business angels or corporations, an increase of 11% on last year's figure (73).

• In addition to the 46 companies majority-owned by private equity firms, a further 23 have received minority investment from private equity. Among these is outdoor clothing retailer Mountain Warehouse (No 194), which sold a 20% stake to Inflexion for £45m in 2018

• Business angels have made equity investments in seven companies, including online beauty retailer Cult Beauty (No 35), which has undertaken three rounds of fundraising since 2011 and now exports in excess of £50m

• Five companies have also received backing from corporate investors, such as advertising agency The&Partnership (No 15), which sold a minority stake to WPP, the world’s largest advertising company, in 2007

Ennismore (148), which runs the Hoxton chain of hotels, is wholly owned by Sharan Pasricha and his wife Eiesha

PE and/or VC

Family

Management

Entrepreneur and/or founder

Majority ownership type


Business angels

Employees 1

3




8

Busy Bees (No 67) expanded in Europe last year with the acquisition of Italian childcare provider Doremi

Sep 19 67 Busy Bees Nurseries operator 432.4 161.2 Bought Italian childcare provider Doremi and took over 19 Educational

Playcare centres in Connecticut, America

Sep 19 135 Salt Recruitment consultancy 44.7 14.0 Acquired overseas counterpart Xpand with offices in Hong Kong, Melbourne

and Singapore

Jul 19 79 VSI Group Language services provider 52.4 43.2 Purchased Argentinian production company CIVISA Media to celebrate its

30th year

Jul 19 49 Wireless Logic Technology platform provider 67.4 18.8 Acquired French start-up Matooma, as well as Dutch connectivity firms

M2MBlue and SIMPoint earlier that year

Jul 19 123 Jellyfish Digital marketing agency 127.6 77.6 Expanded its presence in the Middle East by purchasing Israeli digital agency

Perelview

Feb/Jul 19 63 QBS Software Software delivery platform 62.9 10.2 Increased the scale of its European operations via acquisitions in France and

Lithuania

Apr 19 19 Arlington Industries Group Components supplier 183.8 69.7 Acquired the thermostat business of BorgWarner, an American car parts

firm, for a reported €24m

Apr 19 146 The Hut Group Online retailer 915.8 607.9 Secured a $1bn banking facility in April and acquired luxury Parisian haircare

brand Christophe Robin that month

Mar 19 170 Corin Group Orthopaedic parts maker 114.0 106.2 Added American surgical robotics firm OMNI, following the acquisition of

Global Orthopaedic Technology in 2018

Feb 19 1 Reed & Mackay Corporate travel agency 71.9 16.4 Backed by private equity firm Inflexion since 2016, its acquisitions include

Sydney-based Concierge Travel Group

Feb 19 13 Once Upon a Time Marketing agency 34.9 5.4 Expanded into America when it bought New York-based IdeaWork Studios,

its seventh acquisition

Feb 19 82 ACC Aviation Aviation services provider 135.3 129.8 Acquired global aviation consultancy Aerotask, which is based in Dubai

International acquisitions Despite economic and political uncertainty, companies on the league table are continuing to expand internationally via strategic acquisitions, particularly those within the service sector. Many of these transactions are bolt-on acquisitions of small businesses that provide entry and local expertise in new overseas markets. For example, language services provider VSI Group (No 79) acquired Argentinian production company CIVISA Media in July last year. Other acquisitions aim to expand presence in a region, such as digital marketing agency Jellyfish's (No 123) purchase of Israeli agency Perelview, which added to its Dubai office in the Middle East.

Some of the M&A activity has been externally financed, including corporate travel agency Reed & Mackay (No 1), which has made overseas acquisitions in America, Australia, France and Germany since private equity firm Inflexion bought a majority stake in 2016.

The table below shows a selection of the mergers and acquisitions made since the publication of last year's league table in February:

Date of transaction Rank

Total sales

£m

Int'l sales

£m NotesCompany Activity




BrexitFast Track conducted a survey during the research period (August – December 2019) asking the companies about the overall impact the Brexit vote has had on their business. This is the fourth year that the survey has been conducted (see below for trends).

Of the 152 respondents this year (76% response rate):

• The majority (52%, down from 57% last year) said the vote has had no, or a neutral, impact on their business

• 41%, up from 34%, said the vote has had a negative effect on their business, due to factors such as increased import costs for raw materials, difficulties hiring and retaining European staff and, above all, the uncertainty surrounding the terms of the UK's exit

• 7%, down from 9%, said the vote has had a positive influence on their business. For example, the weak pound has boosted exports for some manufacturers

60

40

10

50

20

70%

30

Trends over four years on the overall impact of Brexit on International Track 200 companies

In response to the question: "What overall impact has the Brexit issue had on your business?"

201920182017

Negative Neutral/no impact Positive

League table year

2020




10

ELEVEN YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL TRACKInternational Track 200 was launched 11 years ago to recognise the success of Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing international sales. Since its launch, more than 1,000 different companies have appeared on the league table.

The vital statistics of the league table companies have changed over the past 11 years. The companies are employing more people, with the average rising from 380 to 620, and average international sales have increased from £44m to £52m – although this is partly due to inflation.

Stock market flotations18 companies have floated on the stock market. Examples include (in league table appearance order):

• Fever-Tree, the mixer drinks manufacturer, featured in 2011 with international sales of just £4m; it floated in 2014, valued at £154m and is now worth £1.7bn

• Endava, the IT services provider, first featured in 2012 with overseas sales of £4m; it floated on the NYSE in 2018 with a valuation of $1.1bn and is now valued at $2.5bn

• Markit, the financial website operator, featured in 2013 with overseas sales of £251m, floated on Nasdaq in 2014, valued at $4bn and completed a $13bn merger with IHS in 2016

• Midwich, the audio-visual equipment supplier, first featured in 2013 with international sales of £26m; it floated in 2016, valued at £165m and is now worth £424m

• The Watches of Switzerland Group, the jewellery and watch retailer, first featured in 2018 with overseas sales of £40m; it floated in 2019, valued at £647m and is now worth £895m

FailuresFewer than 10% of International Track companies have gone bust.

Companies that have failed include Berwin & Berwin, the menswear firm which featured in 2013 and 2016, becoming one of Europe’s largest suit makers before being saved from administration by The Edinburgh Woollen Mill in 2018; and civil engineering contractor Dawnus Construction, which had exports of £102m in 2014 before going bust in March last year.

AcqusitionsMore than 150 International Track 200 companies have been acquired, including Skyscanner, the travel search engine, first featured in 2013 with overseas sales of £21m and acquired by China’s Ctrip for £1.4bn in 2016; and WorldFirst, the international payment provider, first featured in 2015 with international sales of £8m, which was bought by China's Ant Financial for $700m last year.

Travel search engine Skyscanner, co-founded by Gareth Williams in 2003, was sold to China's Ctrip for £1.4bn in 2016

How the International Track 200 has changed

Averageint'l sales

Average staff

2010

£44m

380

£52m

620

2020

Top industries

Average figures for companies with turnover above £25m, as the 2010 league also included firms below £25m turnover

Top company

Engineering(18%)

Business services(23%)




International Track 200 alumni companies

First featured in 2012 with int’l sales of £46m; acquired by General Atlantic in

2016, valuing it at almost £1bn

Featured in 2012 with int’l sales of £15m; floated in 2014 valued at £309m

and now worth £1.1bn

Featured in 2013 with int’l sales of £100m; acquired by Permira for

£300m in 2014

Featured in 2015 with int’l sales of £7m; floated on AIM in 2016 valued at £140m,

and now worth £175m

First featured in 2012 with int’l sales of £4m; it floated on the NYSE in 2018 valued

at $1.1bn and is now worth $2.5bn

Featured in 2013 with int’l sales of £331m; acquired by LabCorp for

$1.2bn in 2017

First featured in 2010 with int’l sales of £6m; acquired by Baring Private Equity

Asia in 2016 for an undisclosed sum

Featured in 2012 with int’l sales of £86m; acquired by Coty in 2016

for £420m

First featured in 2011 with int’l sales of £8m; total sales rose to £82m in 2019,

with two-thirds generated overseas

Featured in 2011 with int’l sales of £4m; floated on AIM in 2014 valued at £154m,

and now worth £1.7bn

First featured in 2014 with int'l sales of £26m; bought by Brown-Forman for

£285m in 2016

First featured in 2012 with int’l sales of £108m; American sales rose to £145m in

2018 on total sales of £383m

First featured in 2012 with int’l sales of £36m; has appeared a further four times, and now has exports of £128m

Featured in 2014 with int’l sales of £165m; bought by Canada’s NFI Group

for £320m in 2019

Featured in 2010 with int’l sales of £151m; group sales rose to

£524m in 2018




12

First featured in 2013 with int’l sales of £21m; acquired by China’s Ctrip for

£1.4bn in 2016

First featured in 2016 with int’l sales of £14m; acquired by American firm JBT

last year in a £220m deal

Featured in 2014 with int’l sales of £164m; sold to Verisk Analytics for

£1.85bn in 2015

First featured in 2015 with int’l sales of £263m; now has more than 280 sites in 10 countries, with total sales of £800m in 2018

Featured in 2012 with int’l sales of £287m; Brait acquired an 80% stake for

£682m in 2015

Featured in 2013 with int’l sales of £649m; floated in the same year and in 2019 was taken private in a £6bn deal

First featured in 2012 with int’l sales of £593m; generated total sales of £2.8bn

in 2019 and employs 35,000 people

Featured in 2017 with int’l sales of £15m; acquired by Unilever in the same

year for an undisclosed sum

Featured in 2013 with int’l sales of £251m; floated on Nasdaq in 2014, and completed

a $13bn merger with IHS in 2016

International Track 200 alumni companies

First featured in 2011 with int’l sales of £11m; sold to US firm Roper Technology

for £410m last year

First featured in 2013 with int’l sales of £131m; now has more than 10 luxury hotels,

generating total sales of £219m in 2019

First featured in 2015 with int’l sales of £22m; acquired by Warburg Pincus in

2016, valued at c£200m

First featured in 2013 with int’l sales of £26m; floated in 2016 valued at £165m

and is now worth £424m

First featured in 2018 with int’l sales of £40m; floated last year valued at £647m

First featured in 2015 with int’l sales of £8m; acquired by China's Ant Financial

for $700m last year




19

57

154

This Manchester firm designs and makes parts for automotive and aerospace customers, such as BMW, Ford and Nissan. It has factories in Britain, continental Europe, Brazil, America and China, alongside ventures in Turkey and India. The company acquired the thermostat business of BorgWarner, an American car parts firm, for a reported €24m last year. Chairman Kevin Morley, 69, and chief executive Mark Franckel, 57, head the group

This Kent firm can trace its history to 1924, when it sold typewriters. Now led by brothers Kevin and Nigel Batley, 65 and 62, it supplies audiovisual products from brands such as Epson, Hitachi and Panasonic. The company also makes its own Clevertouch interactive touchscreens, which are distributed internationally for use in education. Overseas sales reached £36m in 2018, and Clevertouch has since launched an American business, headquartered in Texas.

Chairman and chief executive Peter Smith, 70, founded this engineering group in 2003. It makes components for the aerospace, defence and energy sectors and counts BAE Systems, Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce among its customers. The Coventry-based company has 14 manufacturing operations in the UK, India and America, where it opened its new regional headquarters in California in 2018. International sales reached £23.9m last year, boosted by work that included a satellite transport system and an acoustic minesweeping project.

CAGR‡ 113%Int'l sales 2019 £69.7mInt'l sales 2017 £15.3mTotal sales 2019 £183.8mStaff 1,072Founded 2013Location Manchester

CAGR‡ 37%Int'l sales 2019 £23.9mInt'l sales 2017 £12.7mTotal sales 2019 £78.9mStaff 784Founded 2003Location Coventry

CAGR‡ 66%Int'l sales 2018 £36.0mInt'l sales 2016 £13.1mTotal sales 2018 £72.6mStaff 85Founded 1924Location Kent

Arlington Industries GroupComponents supplier

Sahara Presentation Systems Audiovisual equipment supplier

Nasmyth GroupPrecision component manufacturer

Nasmyth (No 154) opened its new North American HQ in California in 2018

Opened a state-of-the-art metals treatment facility in California in 2018

Bought an American thermostat business for a reported €24m in 2019

Launched its American headquarters in Texas in 2018

KEY THEMES AND SELECTED COMPANY PROFILESOn the following pages we profile examples of companies that demonstrate some of the key themes from this year’s league table.

Trading in AmericaAmerica is the world’s largest economy and Britain’s biggest single trading partner. It is also the most popular country for overseas sales among the International Track 200 companies, with 118 firms citing it as a major market. It is the top choice for future growth, with more than half the companies (117) planning to expand there. Examples of companies trading there include live entertainment operator Ambassador Theatre Group (No 157), which has more than 10 venues in the country.

‡compound annual growth rate between 2016/17 and 2018/19




14

2

63

81

Trading in Europe

Despite the uncertainty over Britain's future trading relationship with the European Union, Europe remains the most popular market for companies with 90% of businesses (180 firms) trading there. Almost three quarters (147 firms) of International Track 200 businesses are also planning to target Europe for future growth – more than any other continent.

Companies trading in Europe include VSI Group (No 79), which provides language services to European clients including Sky Deutschland and French television channel Canal+; and iwoca (No 22), which has provided funding to more than 50,000 small businesses in Europe since 2012.

This workplace interiors business kick-started its international growth in 2017 when American Express commissioned it to fit out offices in Europe. AIS has since won high-profile overseas clients such as asset manager BlackRock, and opened bases in Amsterdam and Frankfurt. The business is led by managing director Gerry Graville, 50, who acquired AIS in 2013 after setting up the interiors division of construction group Willmott Dixon.

This London-based platform delivers enterprise software on behalf of more than 9,000 publishers, such as Opentext, Smartsheet and Docusign, to thousands of European enterprise clients through a network of 4,000 partners. It was bought in 2018 by chief executive Dave Stevinson, 49, and has since expanded overseas with the acquisition of French counterpart Siener Informatique and Lithuanian enterprise software distributor UAB Laknova.

Founder Andrew Killingsworth, 58, started this plus-sized clothing business from a market stall. The retailer now has more than 160 shops in the UK, one in Ireland and four in Germany. It also runs 14 ecommerce sites and ships to more than 90 countries. The company moved to its new £4m headquarters in Peterborough in 2018.

AIS Office interiors consultancy

QBS SoftwareSoftware delivery platform

Yours ClothingPlus-size clothing retailer

QBS Software (No 63) chief executive Dave Stevinson made two European acquisitions in 2019

Opened three new stores in Germany in its 2019 financial year

Helped American Express fit out new offices across Europe

Acquired French software platform Siener Informatique in 2019

CAGR‡ 320%Int'l sales 2019 £16.8mInt'l sales 2017 £1.0mTotal sales 2019 £37.9m Staff 68Founded 1979Location Central London

CAGR‡ 53%Int'l sales 2019 £9.9m†

Int'l sales 2017 £4.2mTotal sales 2019 £103.9m†

Staff 1,319Founded 1994Location Peterborough

CAGR‡ 62%Int'l sales 2019 £10.2mInt'l sales 2017 £3.9mTotal sales 2019 £62.9m Staff 60Founded 1987Location Wembley

‡compound annual growth rate between 2016/17 and 2018/19 † annualised




5

37

131

Sustainability

A 2019 survey by HSBC of more than 9,000 business decision-makers across 35 markets found 23% were using sustainable practices to grow sales, with 26% seeing sustainability as a means of improving operational efficiency. Only 2% were not implementing sustainability practices.

League table companies with sustainable business practices or products include Smith Anderson (No 71), which makes recycled paper bags for McDonald's and Burger King, and Fruitful Office (No 98), whose fruit baskets use biodegradeable packaging and locally-sourced fruit.

This London company’s reusable water bottles, an alternative to single-use plastic water bottles, have proved a hit in mainland Europe. Overseas sales – through its multilingual website and distributors – have been driven by a focus on social media marketing. Co-founders James Butterfield, 31, and Tim Bouscarle, 31, have expanded the range to include reusable coffee cups and have recently launched Chilly's in America, Australia, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Eco-friendly cutlery, coffee cups and thermal bags to keep toasties warm are among the compostable packaging products made by this Edinburgh firm. It uses plant-based materials such as wood pulp or sugar cane, and supplies clients including independent cafes and catering wholesalers. Founded in 2006 by chief executive Joe Frankel, 43, it has bases in America, Australia and Hong Kong and distributors worldwide.

This circular economy "re-commerce" company recycles or resells more than 85m used books bought from charities or consumers every year. Selling to more than 190 countries, it trades via its own websites, which include World of Books and Ziffit, and through Amazon and eBay. Last September, Graham Bell, 45, took over as chief executive from co-founder Stephen Boobyer, 57.

Chilly'sReusable bottles brand

Vegware Compostable packaging manufacturer

World of BooksBooks and media reseller

Co-founders Tim Bouscarle (left) and James Butterfield of Chilly's Bottles (No 5), whose reusable water bottles are an alternative to single-use plastics.

Recycles or resells more than 85m used books a year

Co-founder James Butterfield set up the business after becoming tired of having to buy plastic bottles

Its compostable products are made from renewable, lower carbon or recycled materials

CAGR‡ 228%Int'l sales 2019 £12.3m*Int'l sales 2017 £1.1mTotal sales 2019 £31.5m* Staff 15Founded 2010Location Central London

CAGR‡ 41%Int'l sales 2018 £22.9mInt'l sales 2016 £11.4mTotal sales 2018 £64.0m Staff 568Founded 2002Location West Sussex

CAGR‡ 81%Int'l sales 2019 £11.4mInt'l sales 2017 £3.5m†

Total sales 2019 £32.2m Staff 72Founded 2006Location Edinburgh

‡compound annual growth rate between 2016/17 and 2018/19 * supplied by company † annualised




16

1

59

144

Investing for growth through technology

In an increasingly competitive environment, companies are turning to technology to give them an edge. Research by HSBC found that technologies being embraced by businesses include artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and wearables. In addition, 46% of International Track 200 companies are planning to review the business management software they use.

Among companies using technology to drive growth and efficiency are The Hut Group (No 146), which spent £29m on its proprietary tech platform in 2018; and Gymshark (No 18), which launched a £5m innovation centre last year.

Reed & Mackay helps companies arrange travel for their employees via its 750 travel experts, online booking portal and mobile app. Its platforms – driven by technology developed in-house – offer price comparisons on flights and hotels, real-time travel alerts, and even the option for travellers to share their location when travelling to volatile destinations, so employers can monitor their safety. Led by chief executive Fred Stratford, 56, Reed & Mackay has shown its capacity to adapt to an ever-evolving business landscape with its tech-driven approach and global footprint.

Set up in 1981 by John Walker, 70, in partnership with the then Templeton College, Oxford, this consultancy provides tailored economic analysis on hundreds of countries, industries and significant events, from Brexit to a US-China trade war. It has invested heavily in the technology behind its forecasting models, which clients can access through subscription services or one-off fees. Led by chief executive Adrian Cooper, 55, it has subsidiaries and sister companies on six continents.

Founded in 2000 by brother-and-sister duo Ed Reeves, 51, and Rachel Clacher, 53, this telephone answering service handles 15m calls and live chats a year for clients ranging from start-ups to multinationals. Moneypenny opened an office in South Carolina in 2015, and, in the same year, the Wrexham business was valued at more than £100m after securing investment from private equity firm ECI.

Reed & MackayCorporate travel agency

Oxford EconomicsEconomic research consultancy

MoneypennyOutsourced communications provider

Moneypenny (No 144), run by chief executive Joanna Swash, has invested in AI to drive improvements in its service

Has invested in AI and is testing chat bots with Microsoft to improve its service

Its tech platform, which has driven overseas expansion, was only developed two years ago

Has developed a service for America, offering an online databank with forecasts to 2035

CAGR‡ 412%Int'l sales 2019 £16.4mInt'l sales 2016 £0.6mTotal sales 2019 £71.9mStaff 1,000Founded 1962Location Central London

CAGR‡ 40%Int'l sales 2018 £2.3mInt'l sales 2016 £1.2mTotal sales 2018 £31.7m Staff 665Founded 2000Location Wrexham

CAGR‡ 65%Int'l sales 2018 £18.8mInt'l sales 2016 £6.9mTotal sales 2018 £39.2m Staff 247Founded 1981Location Oxford

‡compound annual growth rate between 2016/17 and 2018/19




12

40

96

Ecommerce

Online retail can be a cost-effective route to international trade. This year’s list features 31 ecommerce goods exporters that generate at least 10% of their overseas sales online, a similar number to last year (34 firms) and a 24% rise on 2017 (25 firms).

They include 13 clothing retailers, such as Yours Clothing (No 81), whose 14 ecommerce sites ship to more than 90 countries. Other firms cater for hobbyists, such as Crafter’s Companion (No 122), which invested £120,000 in a new digital platform last year, and BVG Group (No 104), whose websites include Total Fishing Gear and Garden Gear.

London-based One Retail Group dispatches more than 4,000 orders a day to customers in nine countries across Europe and North America. The group comprises five consumer brands including Active Era, which sells tents, sleeping bags and airbeds, and Pro Breeze, which has sold its dehumidifiers, fans and air purifiers to 750,000 people worldwide. Chief executive Joshua Stevens, 30, founded the business in 2013.

Known for its distinctive Scottie dog logo, London-based Radley ships its handbags and purses to 48 countries. Last year, it doubled revenues to £19.2m in America, where it sells through shopping channel QVC and department store Macy’s, as well as online. Other key markets include China, Thailand and Australia. The business is led by chief executive Justin Stead, 52, and majority-owned by private equity firm Bregal Freshstream.

This business supplies contemporary, traditional and ‘shaggy’ rugs to retailers in the UK and across the world. A family business since 1984, it now operates from a 125,000 sq ft warehouse in Hadfield, Derbyshire, with managing director Tina Carswell, 48, at the helm. International sales rose to £1.6m in 2019, helped by a wider range of products including a V&A-inspired collection.

One Retail GroupConsumer goods retailer

Radley + Co Handbags and accessories brand

Flair RugsRugs supplier

Handbag brand Radley + Co (No 40) has a global ecommerce site that ships to 48 countries

Generates 50% of exports through its B2B ecommerce site

Ships more than 4,000 orders a day to customers in nine countries and offers 150 products online

US website sales rose 65% in 2019, helping revenues in the country double to £19m

CAGR‡ 143%Int'l sales 2018 £15.4mInt'l sales 2016 £2.6m†Total sales 2018 £25.4mStaff 11Founded 2013Location North London

CAGR‡ 49%Int'l sales 2019 £1.6m*Int'l sales 2017 £0.7mTotal sales 2019 £28.3m* Staff 121Founded 1984Location Derbyshire


‡compound annual growth rate between 2016/17 and 2018/19 * supplied by company † annualised




18

33

54

67

Exporting services

Services are a vital part of the UK economy, accounting for about 80% of the nation’s economic output and 46% of its exports.

Service exports is the top sector in this year’s league table, with more than half the companies (110) in this category, up 18% on last year (93 firms). In particular, there are 45 firms providing business services, a rise of 32% compared to 2019 (34 firms). These include recruitment agencies such as Phaidon International (No 64), which has 10 overseas offices, as well as consultancies specialising in economics (Oxford Economics, No 59), employment law (Peninsula, No 152), and energy (Northern Gas & Power, No 4).

This London-based company helps businesses such as Jaguar Land Rover and American Express deliver their business strategy by organising managed office space worldwide. It also runs a listings website for flexible office space, co-working and serviced offices in more than 2,200 cities across the world. Overseas turnover, which includes some rental income, reached £26.1m in 2019. The group is led by chief executive Tim Rodber, 50, a former England rugby union international.

Element’s 188 laboratories worldwide test the safety and compliance of materials used in sectors such as aerospace, transport, and oil and gas. Formed in 2010, the London business bought UK rival Exova in 2017 for £620m and opened aerospace laboratories in Shanghai and South Carolina in 2019. The acquisitions of American companies MTC and Orbit, and Germany’s Vohtec, helped overseas sales reach £500.9m in 2018. Jo Wetz, 43, took over as chief executive from Charles Noall, 60, in December last year.

Led by chief executive Simon Irons, 57, this Staffordshire business cares for more than 57,000 children across 640 nurseries worldwide. In 2018, the group acquired 42 nurseries in Australia, helping international sales reach £161.2m. Last year, Busy Bees entered the American market when it bought 19 nurseries in Connecticut. It also expanded in Europe, with the acquisitions of Italian childcare provider Doremi and 21 nurseries around Dublin.

The Instant GroupOutsourced office supplier

Element Testing services provider

Busy BeesNurseries operator

Element (No 54) provides testing services at 188 labs in more than 30 countries

The UK’s largest childcare provider operates 640 nurseries across four continents

Places more than 11,000 companies a year in flexible workspaces worldwide

Provides testing, inspection and certification for 50,000 customers, including Ford and GE

CAGR‡ 85%Int'l sales 2019 £26.1m*Int'l sales 2017 £7.7mTotal sales 2019 £100.5m*Staff 291Founded 1999Location Central London

CAGR‡ 59%Int'l sales 2018 £161.2mInt'l sales 2016 £63.7mTotal sales 2018 £432.4m Staff 11,554Founded 1983Location Staffordshire

CAGR‡ 67%Int'l sales 2018 £500.9mInt'l sales 2016 £180.1mTotal sales 2018 £618.6m Staff 6,351Founded 2010Location Central London

‡compound annual growth rate between 2016/17 and 2018/19 * supplied by company




35

122

185

Female founders and leaders

Thirty-four companies on this year's league table were founded or co-founded by a woman (23 firms) or have a woman as chief executive, managing director, or chairperson.

Examples include cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury Beauty (No 127), led by founder Charlotte Tilbury and chief executive Demetra Pinsent; fashion retailer FatFace (No 118), run by chief executive Liz Evans; and media agency the7stars (No 183), co-founded in 2005 by managing director Jenny Biggam.

This online beauty retailer sells well-known brands such as Charlotte Tilbury Beauty and Drunk Elephant, as well as emerging labels such as Milk Makeup and Augustinus Bader. Co-founders Alexia Inge, 42, and Jessica DeLuca, 45, started the business in 2008 after growing frustrated with spending hundreds of pounds on ineffective products, with current co-chief executive Murray Salmon, 49, joining in 2011. Overseas turnover, generated in Europe, Asia, America and the Middle East, grew to £51.3m in 2019, driven by social media campaigns and the acquisition of hard-to-find brands.

Sara Davies, 35, started this County Durham firm while at university in 2005 after creating the 'Enveloper', a hand-held device for making envelopes for home-made cards. It now sells 4,000 craft items across 40 countries through websites, retailers, shopping channels, and four UK shops. In 2018, it moved its American operations to a new 31,000 sq ft site in California, helping international sales rise to £20.3m in 2019. Since August, Davies has appeared as a panellist on the BBC's Dragons' Den.

Founded in 1994 by Chrissie Rucker, 51, after she struggled to find high-quality linen and tableware that was affordable, The White Company sells predominantly white bed and bathroom linen, home and dining accessories, and fashion. It opened a flagship store in New York in 2017, and has since launched a partnership with American department store Nordstrom. International sales hit £18.3m in 2019, under chief executive Mary Homer, 61.

Cult BeautyOnline beauty retailer

Crafter's Companion Craft products retailer

The White CompanyLifestyle retailer

Chrissie Rucker is founder of The White Company (No 185), which sells homeware and fashion online and in more than 60 stores in the UK, America and Ireland

Ex-Topshop boss Mary Homer is CEO of this retailer, launched by Chrissie Rucker in 1994

Alexia Inge is co-founder and co-CEO of this beauty website, which attracts 63m visitors a year

Dragons’ Den panellist Sara Davies set up the company while studying for a business degree


CAGR‡ 32%Int'l sales 2019 £18.3m*Int'l sales 2017 £10.5mTotal sales 2019 £217.4m* Staff 1,716Founded 1994Location West London

CAGR‡ 43%Int'l sales 2019 £20.3mInt'l sales 2017 £10.0mTotal sales 2019 £31.8m Staff 195Founded 2005Location County Durham





20

118

124

127

Brand Britain

Fashion, beauty, and food and drink firms feature strongly among the British brands on this year’s league table.

They include brands founded in the last decade, such as makeup retailer Revolution Beauty (No 51), which launched in 2014 and now exports to more than 140 countries. Founded in 2012, fitness clothing brand Gymshark (No 18) generated exports of £143m in 2019. Other companies were established more than a century ago, including Lyle & Scott (No 115), a 146-year-old firm known for its knitwear and golf clothing. Fentimans (No 145) has been brewing soft drinks botanically since 1905.

A black run ski slope in the French resort of Val d'Isère, called La Face, inspired the name of this clothing brand, which was launched in 1988 by Jules Leaver, 55, and Tim Slade, 54. The Hampshire-based company has more than 240 shops across Britain and Ireland, and it is led by chief executive Liz Evans, 48, who is spearheading its expansion across America, where it now has 22 stores.

This London firm’s shoes, which retail for around £150, forsake conventional padding, resulting in a lighter design that mimics the foot's natural shape. The company has a focus on sustainability, offering a range of recycled and plant-based materials. Galahad Clark, 44 – who hails from the family behind Clarks shoes – founded the company in 2012 and has overseen expansion into Northern Europe and America.

Founder Charlotte Tilbury, 47, make-up artist to celebrities such as Salma Hayek and Amal Clooney, launched her eponymous cosmetics and skincare line in 2013. The London-based brand now ships to 76 markets and has overseas stores in the Middle East, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. It also sells through retailers such as TMall Global in Asia, and Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s in North America. In 2018, Sephora stores in North America and Europe began selling its products, helping exports reach £73.8m. Singapore and France were added in 2019 when total sales surpassed £225m.

FatFaceClothing retailer

VivobarefootFootwear manufacturer and retailer

Charlotte Tilbury BeautyBeauty products retailer

Charlotte Tilbury’s eponymous beauty brand (No 127) ships to 76 markets and has stores in London, the Middle East, America and Hong Kong

Has launched a “vegan” shoe made with more than 30% renewable, plant-based materials

Launched this beauty brand in 2013, and sales topped £100m four years later

Its founders originally sold T-shirts from a campervan to fund their skiing in the French Alps

CAGR‡ 42%Int'l sales 2019 £19.7m*Int'l sales 2017 £9.8mTotal sales 2019 £26.2m*Staff 61Founded 2012Location Central London

CAGR‡ 42%Int'l sales 2018 £73.8mInt'l sales 2016 £36..6mTotal sales 2018 £145.4m Staff 836Founded 2013Location West London

CAGR‡ 44%Int'l sales 2019 £15.7m*Int'l sales 2017 £7.6mTotal sales 2019 £241.5m* Staff 2,830Founded 1988Location Hampshire





2020 INTERNATIONAL TRACK 200 LEAGUE TABLE

* supplied by company † annualised

1 Reed & MackayCorporate travel agency Central London Mar 19 412.15% 16,420 71,887 1,000 1962 Its 14 global offices provide support for more

than 2m journeys every year

2 AISOffice interiors consultancy Central London Jul 19 319.74% 16,808 37,900 68 1979 Its clients include American Express

and BlackRock

3[24]

Project OneBusiness consultancy Cheshire Dec 18 278.99% 8,104 30,835 101 1998 Developed a platform to enable Belgian firm

Telenet to digitise its operations

4 Northern Gas & Power Energy management consultancy Gateshead Dec 18 247.57% 11,414 29,616 285 2013 Has offices in Paris and Texas as well as

technology hubs in India and Malta

5 Chilly's BottlesReusable bottles brand Central London Jul 19 227.85% *12,283 *31,471 15 2010 Ships its reusable water bottles to more than

30 countries via a multilingual website

6[15]

Sigma SportsSports goods retailer

Kingston upon Thames Dec 18 190.40% †7,160 †33,342 107 1992 Exports cycling gear to the EU and other

markets including Japan and America

7 La Fosse AssociatesRecruitment consultancy Central London Dec 18 179.51% 7,879 108,350 171 2007 Has offices on the east and west coasts of

America and recently launched in Canada

8 [7]

High Street TV TV shopping channel Harrogate Dec 18 175.22% 17,596 66,412 119 2008 Its Pressure King Pro pressure cooker and Squat

Magic fitness machine are popular in Japan

9 KingsburyMachine tools wholesaler Hampshire Dec 18 173.39% 5,380 86,845 308 1956 Set up a subsidiary in Dubai in 2018 to

supply the Gulf region with machine tools

10[81]

Envisage GroupAutomotive engineer Coventry Dec 18 148.37% 4,719 46,411 141 2009 Its office in Fremont, California develops

electric vehicle technology

11 [71]

AVMIAudiovisual systems integrator

Southwest London Jun 19 146.08% 20,553 81,209 498 1990 Opened its new American office in the Tribeca district of New York last year

12One Retail GroupConsumer goods retailer

North London Dec 18 142.88% 15,367 25,420 11 2013 Sends more than 4,000 orders a day to nine countries across Europe and North America

13Once Upon A TimeMarketing agency

Central London Apr 19 141.22% 5,377 34,836 105 2013 Works for some of Hollywood's largest studios including Disney and Warner Bros

14Hunters ContractsOffice furniture supplier

Dagenham Dec 18 129.78% 5,995 37,077 44 1990 Recent projects include office fit-outs for companies in Paris and Gibraltar

15 [13]

The&PartnershipMarketing communications group

Central London Dec 18 129.01% 285,277 557,533 733 2013 Created a 60,000 hour documentary on Japanese craftsmanship for carmaker Lexus

16 [26]

OguryMobile marketing technology

East London Dec 18 123.93% 53,842 62,318 212 2014 More than half its sales are in America, where it has 12 offices

17 [22]

Jupiter GroupFruit grower and exporter

Shropshire Sep 19 121.99% *46,464 *77,167 113 2003 Expanded into South America last year to grow produce including avocados and pineapples

18 [1]

GymsharkFitness clothing retailer

Solihull Jul 19 115.72% *143,481 *176,164 330 2012 Generates 46% of its sales in North America and opened its US headquarters in Denver in 2019

19 [27]

Arlington Industries GroupComponents supplier

Manchester Mar 19 113.48% 69,729 183,816 1,072 2013 Acquired a thermostat business from American company BorgWarner for a reported €24m in 2019

20 [58]

YMU GroupGlobal talent management

Central London Aug 18 112.52% 12,642 37,867 277 1984 Pop group Blink 182 are among this talent agency's American clients

21Quacquarelli SymondsHigher education services

Northwest London Dec 18 109.25% 9,466 37,264 466 1990 Hosts more than 350 events in 57 countries, including the QS World Grad School Tour

22 [21]

iwocaBusiness finance provider

Central London Dec 18 106.59% 6,500 47,534 230 2011 Has provided funding to more than 50,000 small businesses in Europe since 2012

23Ward BrosScrap metal processor

Darlington Sep 18 105.78% 18,214 41,717 84 1974 Exports nearly 50,000 tonnes of metal to steel producers in Turkey and mills in Europe

24 [142]

Project OnePharmaceuticals wholesaler

Essex Sep 18 105.40% 5,718 40,169 83 1986 Tanzania, the founder's native country, is a key export market

25LHi GroupRecruitment consultancy

Central London Dec 18 105.36% 22,760 49,474 157 2002 Has eight offices in the UK, America and Europe, most recently opening in Texas in 2018

Rank2020



over 2 yrs

Latest int'l sales


Latest total sales

£000




22


* supplied by company

26 CField ConstructionConstruction contractor Central London Dec 18 104.08% 23,839 67,545 55 2011 Recently completed a new 120-bed care

home extension in County Cork, Ireland

27 Carter Thermal IndustriesRefrigeration manufacturer Birmingham Dec 18 101.59% 15,702 129,066 929 1945 Has supplied refrigeration display units

for American retailer Target

28 Granada Material HandlingLifting equipment manufacturer Rochdale Sep 18 98.20% 12,000 27,375 125 1980 Its cranes are used to lift offshore and

onshore wind turbines in Europe

29 Invenio Business SolutionsIT consultancy Reading Mar 19 96.35% 20,398 32,950 727 2006 Winning contracts with tax authorities in Fiji

and the Middle East boosted overseas sales

30 Plimsoll ProductionsTV show producer Bristol Aug 19 95.13% *32,079 *37,284 149 2013 Distributes to 50+ countries via Magnify

Media, a firm it invested in four years ago

31 SabioContact centre technology provider Central London Sep 18 93.81% 29,996 71,845 324 1998 Has acquired operations in Europe and

Singapore since Horizon Capital invested in 2016

32 [35]

Leisure Pass GroupTourism smartcard provider Central London Dec 18 89.48% 252,487 276,809 121 1998 Its tourist passes are used by 3m sightseers a year

in more than 20 countries across five continents

33 [28]

The Instant GroupOutsourced office supplier Central London Jul 19 84.50% *26,083 *100,454 291 1999 Places more than 11,000 companies a year in

flexible workspaces around the world

34 [112]

HavwoodsHardwood flooring specialist Lancashire Dec 18 83.12% 8,223 52,904 146 1975 Opened a showroom in Canada last year, adding

to bases in Europe, America and Australia

35 [2]

Cult BeautyOnline beauty retailer Central London May 19 81.26% 51,322 89,566 149 2008 Sells cult and up-and-coming beauty brands

from around the world

36 [8]

St Pierre GroupeBakery products provider

Manchester Dec 18 81.18% 35,335 69,493 27 1986 Its products are stocked in 20,000 stores worldwide, with 50% of its distribution in America

37VegwareCompostable packaging manufacturer

Edinburgh Jan 19 81.12% 11,353 32,171 72 2006 Finding a spoon made from potato and corn at a California farmers market inspired this business

38 [65]

Phoenix CellularMobile phone distributor

Crewe Oct 19 80.33% *39,347 *53,312 65 2015 Supplies more than 30,000 handsets a month to European buyers

39Checkout.comPayment services provider

Central London Dec 18 79.68% 23,914 56,082 120 2012 Counts more than 100 European fintech start-ups as customers

40 [75]

Radley + CoHandbags and accessories brand

Central London Apr 19 79.11% 29,154 92,938 554 1998 Set up a sales and marketing office in Dallas in 2019, after American revenues doubled to £19.2m

41 [12]

TransferWiseInternational payments provider

Central London Mar 19 77.20% 132,500 179,100 1,800 2010 Has 6m customers worldwide transferring a total of £4bn each month

42 [32]

JDXFinancial services consultancy

Central London Mar 19 76.76% 10,312 41,939 610 2012 Overseas sales topped £10m in 2019, boosted by growth in its Asian and Irish operations

43 [52]

Flying Trade GroupConglomerate

Essex Dec 18 76.17% 19,555 152,603 815 1998 Its world food products cater to Asian, Caribbean, African and Polish communities

44Buy It DirectOnline retailer

Huddersfield Mar 19 74.64% 14,316 248,779 617 1999 Its Irish website has driven overseas sales of its consumer goods

45 [4]

MiQDigital marketing agency

Central London Dec 18 73.55% 162,497 196,869 612 2010 Out of 22 global offices, 11 are based in America, its largest market

46CaptifyAdvertising technology company

Central London Mar 19 73.46% *19,279 *42,996 197 2011 Provides data and marketing insights for 750 global brands including Disney, Apple and Adidas

47 [168]

BrewDogBrewery

Aberdeenshire Dec 18 71.47% 39,262 171,619 1,247 2007 In 2018, it shipped 136m bottles of craft beer globally and opened 21 bars

48 [158]

SIAN WholesaleConsumer goods supplier

Surrey Dec 18 71.08% 23,515 40,706 28 2003 Exports more than 4,000 products to 65 countries

49 [101]

Wireless LogicTechnology platform provider

Berkshire Apr 19 70.07% *18,801 *67,405 154 2000 Acquired one French and two Dutch 'Internet of Things' connectivity providers last year

50Wilsons of RathkennyCar and farm equipment dealer

County Antrim Dec 18 68.98% 1,631 31,054 83 1964 Supplies the Irish Republic with agricultural vehicles such as forklift tractors and mowers

Rank2020



over 2 yrs

Latest int'l sales


Latest total sales

£000

Rank2020



over 2 yrs

Latest int'l sales


Latest total sales

£000

Rank2020



over 2 yrs

Latest int'l sales


Latest total sales

£000






51 [34]

Revolution BeautyBeauty products retailer Kent Dec 18 68.86% 76,312 112,621 180 2014 Fans queued up for hours to buy its beauty

products when it launched in Australia last year

52 Davies GroupSpecialist professional services Central London Jun 19 67.38% *13,882 *115,512 2,200 1968 Bought a Nashville business in October

2019, its sixth acquisition last year

53 Ancasta GroupBoat retailer Southampton Aug 18 67.31% 13,513 30,807 76 1982 Sells yachts and powerboats from locations in

Marseille, Mallorca, Andalucia and Barcelona

54 [143]

ElementTesting services provider Central London Dec 18 66.75% 500,900 618,600 6,351 2010 Ford, GE and Boeing are among its 50,000

customers worldwide

55 [46]

Integrity PrintPrinter Somerset Dec 18 66.69% 5,304 57,095 392 2008 Supplies government documents to

Mongolia, Ghana and Qatar

56 Antal InternationalRecruitment consultancy Central London Dec 18 66.01% *19,481 *32,536 375 1993 Uzbekistan and Ukraine are among the

markets it is targeting for future expansion

57 [29]

Sahara Presentation SystemsAudiovisual equipment supplier Kent Dec 18 66.00% 35,962 72,643 85 1924 Its interactive touchscreens can be found

in schools from Australia to South Africa

58 Audley TravelTour operator Oxfordshire Dec 18 65.57% 74,785 291,234 800 1996 Demand from American travellers has grown

after it opened an office in Boston in 2014

59 [93]

Oxford EconomicsEconomic research consultancy Oxford Jul 18 64.55% 18,798 39,240 247 1981 Compiles economic forecasts for more

than 7,000 cities and regions worldwide

60 [108]

CloserStillExhibition organiser Central London Dec 18 64.43% 24,314 60,005 222 2008 US conference DevLearn is one of more than

50 annual trade shows it organises

61Spectrum MedicalMedical device developer

Cheltenham Dec 18 64.20% 19,043 26,171 116 2006 Its heart-lung machines are used in hospitals around the world

62 [94]

Off-Piste WinesWine distributor

Cheltenham Jan 19 64.00% 2,913 39,631 25 2006 Stockists include Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Scandinavian retailer Alko

63QBS SoftwareSoftware delivery platform

Wembley Mar 19 62.12% 10,181 62,885 60 1987 French software platform Siener Informatique was one of two European acquisitions last year

64 [152]

Phaidon InternationalRecruitment consultancy

Central London Oct 18 61.68% *82,908 *95,975 606 2004 Helped 2,150 professionals make career moves across 60 countries in 2018

65 [31]

Brogan GroupScaffolding contractor

Hertfordshire Dec 18 60.48% 12,620 34,018 532 1988 Has provided scaffolding to help build the 2020 World Expo in Dubai and ESB’s HQ in Dublin

66Slush Puppie UKFrozen drinks distributor

High Wycombe Dec 18 59.98% 10,224 33,808 142 1974 Says it has sold more than 175bn Slush Puppie cups in Europe since 1974

67 [184]

Busy BeesNurseries operator

Staffordshire Dec 18 59.13% 161,185 432,355 11,554 1983 Acquired childcare businesses in Ireland, Italy and America last year

68 [51]

NiftyliftLift manufacturer

Milton Keynes Dec 18 58.95% 93,798 117,430 512 1985 Sells through a dealer network spanning more than 60 countries

69Pureprint GroupPrinting services provider

East Sussex Dec 18 58.73% 9,730 55,973 421 1926 Printed 350,000 tickets and 45,000 programmes for the 2018 Ryder Cup in France

70 [45]

Oliver James AssociatesRecruitment consultancy

Manchester Dec 18 58.70% 66,325 118,397 358 2002 Has 12 offices across Europe, America and the Asia-Pacific region

71Smith AndersonPaper bag manufacturer

Fife Sep 18 58.36% 5,122 26,885 227 1859 Makes 60m paper bags a week and supplies McDonald's in the UK and Europe

72G2V Recruitment GroupRecruitment consultancy

Central London Mar 19 57.05% 27,505 72,757 220 2004 Operates in more than 50 countries from nine offices across the UK, Europe and America

73DormoleTool distributor

Kent Dec 18 56.78% 26,007 232,909 990 1974 Acquired two Irish distributors for an undisclosed sum in 2018

74Redwood Technologies GroupCommunications technology provider

Berkshire Dec 18 56.00% 8,338 31,281 198 1993 Its communication platform is used by hundreds of Japanese call centres

75ASM TechnologiesIT channel provider

Cheshire Mar 19 55.50% 7,892 53,065 74 1992 Has offices in Dusseldorf and Paris, and exports to 36 countries worldwide

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24



76 [47]

OriginDoor and window manufacturer High Wycombe Dec 18 55.44% 3,936 38,706 272 2002 Manufactures hurricane-resistant doors and

windows at its facility in Florida

77 [100]

AC GroupConstruction services provider Bedfordshire Mar 19 54.26% 41,000 54,143 76 1987 Working on data centres and office fit-

outs across Europe

78 Nexus UnderwritingUnderwriting agency Central London Dec 18 54.11% 7,600 38,614 191 2008 Operates in Hong Kong, Malaysia, America,

France, Germany and the Netherlands

79 [17]

VSI GroupLanguage services provider Central London Dec 18 53.70% 43,211 52,361 155 1989 Operates from 24 studios across Europe,

the Americas and the Middle East

80 [84]

Gama HealthcareAntimicrobial product distributor Watford Mar 19 53.69% 13,022 40,715 156 2004 Distributes its infection-prevention products

to more than 60 countries

81 Yours ClothingPlus-size clothing retailer Peterborough Feb 19 53.22% †9,946 †103,866 1,319 1994 Opened 26 stores, including one in Dublin and

three in Germany, in the 2019 financial year

82 [127]

ACC AviationAviation services provider Surrey Dec 18 52.70% 129,759 135,322 41 2002 Helped fly hundreds of fans to Madrid for

the UEFA Champions League final last year

83 Adare InternationalMarketing services provider Basingstoke Dec 18 52.43% 143,816 191,428 588 1982 Has expanded across Latin America and now

has operations in 65 locations worldwide

84 [56]

Austin FraserRecruitment consultancy Reading Feb 19 52.38% 25,221 64,875 179 2007 Opened offices in Hamburg and San Diego

last year

85 Emerson & RenwickProduction machinery manufacturer Lancashire Dec 18 51.42% 34,244 36,367 169 1918 Its new platform that prints electronic devices

has been winning orders from America especially

86 [95]

Natures MenuPet food manufacturer

Norfolk Dec 18 51.12% 3,666 38,338 233 1981 The biggest overseas markets for its raw pet food are Germany and Scandinavia

87Xcede GroupRecruitment consultancy

Central London Dec 18 50.95% 1,572 25,678 63 2003 Opened an office in Berlin last year to meet demand in Europe's fastest-growing tech hub

88 [196]

Done + DustedTV and events producer

Central London Dec 18 50.90% 75,165 79,391 17 1998 Produced broadcast around the visit of Pope Francis to Abu Dhabi last year

89Euro Food BrandsFood and drink distributor

Northampton Mar 19 50.82% 7,492 136,958 122 1991 Sold 19.9m cases of food and drink globally last year

90SelwoodPump manufacturer

Hampshire Dec 18 50.63% 8,177 83,694 573 1946 Its pumps have been supplied to the Paris Métro expansion project

91 [116]

SilburyFood ingredients supplier

Banbury Oct 18 50.47% 6,228 58,935 35 1985 Has a stake in Portuguese tomato processor HIT Group

92 [54]

SmyleFinancial services consultancy

Hertford Mar 19 50.31% 16,600 26,648 74 2003 Created a brand experience for Facebook at the World Economic Forum

93Edge Worldwide LogisticsLogistics services broker

Salford Jun 19 49.99% *9,798 *57,640 63 1989 Launched a joint venture in Vietnam and America in 2019 and has a logistics hub in Thailand

94CAE Technology ServicesIT reseller

Watford Jun 19 49.63% 13,652 132,913 275 1992 Has installed WiFi in Mulberry's luxury handbag shops around the world

95 [113]

Specialist People ServicesRecruitment consultancy

Bradford Mar 19 49.55% †16,032 †74,129 219 1983 Launched in Australia in 2012 and now has six offices in the country

96Flair RugsRugs supplier

Derbyshire Jun 19 48.99% *1,636 *28,314 121 1984 Produces some of its rugs in India, where it set up a site in 2005

97 [90]

GrenadeSports nutrition brand

Solihull Dec 18 48.77% *13,500 *44,169 48 2009 140,000 of its protein bars are sold globally every day

98Fruitful OfficeFruit delivery service

Croydon Dec 18 48.48% 14,119 25,190 436 2006 Delivers fruit to thousands of workplaces across Ireland, Germany and the Benelux region

99Phil McIntyre EntertainmentsEntertainment promoter and producer

Central London Jun 18 48.40% 5,377 56,601 27 1974 Produced comedian James Acaster's Repertoire stand-up show for Netflix

100 [16]

John GoodLogistics and corporate travel

Hull Dec 18 48.11% 13,779 92,387 312 1833 Operates from 13 UK locations as well as Turkey, China and mainland Europe

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Latest total sales

£000






101 [38]

Claranet IT services provider Central London Jun 19 47.63% *251,500 *369,000 2,024 1996 Has 24 offices and 43 data centres worldwide

to serve its 6,500 customers

102 [89]

Mark Allen Group Publisher and events organiser South London Mar 19 46.85% 12,470 51,338 360 1985 Publishes almost 100 titles and runs

200 events across four continents

103 MJ Sections Aerospace components engineer West Midlands Dec 18 46.84% 10,399 28,396 195 1979 Makes sheet metal fabrications and machined

components for the worldwide aerospace industry

104 [66]

BVG Group Mail order retailer South Wales Aug 18 46.60% 10,792 126,619 869 1991 Ships more than 100,000 orders a year to

continental Europe and beyond

105 [121]

Frank Recruitment Group Recruitment consultancy

Newcastle upon Tyne Nov 18 46.43% 164,410 227,879 1,281 2006 Sources IT professionals from 21 offices

across America, Asia, Australia and Europe

106 [177]

Amoria Bond Recruitment consultancy Manchester Nov 18 46.24% 51,938 68,106 133 2006 Trades in more than 40 countries from bases in

the UK, Netherlands, Germany and Singapore

107 Metropolis Consumer and business media West London Dec 18 45.98% 10,478 52,658 452 1994 Produces the New York for Less street maps

and organises the World Architecture Festival

108 Mivan Joinery and fit-out County Antrim Dec 18 45.92% 11,609 29,045 170 1975 Refits cruise ships worldwide for customers

including Tui and Royal Caribbean

109 [145]

Ptarmigan Media Financial media agency Central London Dec 18 45.61% 66,893 115,913 109 1993 Its American revenues rose 95% to £40m

in 2018, boosted by new client wins

110 [150]

Inside Travel Group Tour operator Bristol Dec 18 45.40% 18,459 36,114 157 2000 Releasing new holiday destinations to

mark its 20th anniversary this year

111 [59]

Barron Wood Distribution Transport broker Preston Oct 18 44.99% 8,118 74,527 145 1993 Has a Europe-wide network of more than

2,500 haulage vehicles

112 [131]

MVF Customer generation services North London Mar 19 44.99% 59,995 91,123 425 2009 Generates customer leads in 45 countries

and produces content in 30 languages

113 [80]

BULK POWDERS Sports nutrition brand Colchester Dec 18 44.78% 22,459 43,083 164 2006 Opened a distribution centre in Poland last

year to supply customers in mainland Europe

114 [181]

Fundamental Media Financial media agency Central London Dec 18 44.73% 72,859 95,966 77 2003 Provides media, marketing and technology

services to clients in more than 20 countries

115 Lyle & Scott Fashion clothing retailer Central London Mar 19 44.55% 23,058 54,167 164 1874 Its ecommerce site ships to more than 50

countries, including Sweden and the Netherlands

116 [64]

Optal Payment services provider Central London Dec 18 44.32% 269,640 269,640 72 2002 Offers payment processing in 34 currencies

across 45 countries

117 Storm Technologies IT reseller Watford Dec 18 44.14% 11,575 108,560 151 2000 Sells to clients in 45 countries and has an office

in Hungary offering 24/7 customer support

118 FatFace Clothing retailer Hampshire Jun 19 43.54% *15,667 *241,460 2,830 1988 Its founders sold T-shirts to skiers in the

French Alps before opening a London shop

119 Oil Consultants Recruitment consultancy Tyne and Wear Dec 18 43.48% 39,330 43,733 39 1999 Works across more than 95 countries to find

technical staff for the oil and gas sector

120 M247 Internet and cloud services Manchester Mar 19 43.35% 11,312 60,017 258 2003 Works with more than 10,000 customers

across 110 countries

121 [10]

Opus Talent Solutions Recruitment consultancy Bristol Dec 18 42.67% 31,693 78,341 244 2008 Opened a Hong Kong office in 2018, its

fourth overseas base

122 Crafter's Companion Craft products retailer County Durham Mar 19 42.51% 20,331 31,809 195 2005 Has moved its American operations to a 31,000

sq ft base in California to meet growing demand

123 [109]

Jellyfish Digital marketing agency Central London Mar 19 42.32% 77,625 127,563 572 2005 Has more than 30 offices worldwide,

including eight in America

124 Vivobarefoot Footwear manufacturer and retailer Central London Jun 19 42.16% 19,724 26,176 50 2012 Taiwanese firm Stella International, which makes

shoes for Nike and Timberland, is an investor

125 Western Global Storage tank manufacturer Bristol Dec 18 42.13% 36,627 50,747 121 1962 Sells across America from offices in Detroit

and Norwalk, Connecticut

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26



126 Adaptavist IT consultancy Central London Sep 18 42.11% 23,421 26,825 162 2005 Works in 60 countries and with more than half

of the Fortune 500 companies

127 [60]

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Beauty products retailer West London Dec 18 41.94% 73,825 145,437 836 2013 Ships to 76 markets and has stores in London,

the Middle East, America and Hong Kong

128 Vohkus Technology provider Hampshire Jun 19 41.61% †*9,298 †*97,679 141 2001 Norwegian cruise ship operator Fred. Olsen

is among its international clients

129 [166]

Lawton Tubes Copper tube supplier Coventry Sep 18 41.51% 14,233 149,024 103 1918 Has shipped containers of medical gas

tubes to the Middle East and Asia

130 [91]

John Cotton Group Bedding manufacturer West Yorkshire Mar 19 41.45% 62,234 217,342 1,493 1916 Opened a factory in Poland in 2018

131 World of Books Books and media reseller West Sussex Oct 18 41.35% 22,856 64,000 568 2002 Recycles or resells more than 85m books a year

and exports to over 190 countries

132 Purdicom Wireless network provider Oxfordshire Dec 18 41.31% 3,238 31,245 57 2005 Says it is the largest distributor in the EMEA

region for California firm Ruckus Wireless

133 [76]

A-Safe Safety barrier manufacturer Halifax Dec 18 41.26% 44,386 52,302 391 1984 Its safety barriers have been installed in more

than 30 international airports

134 [79]

MATCHESFASHION Luxury fashion retailer Central London Jan 19 41.22% 295,179 371,784 682 1987 Launched its first ad campaign last year starring

American supermodel Christy Turlington

135 [14]

Salt Recruitment consultancy Central London Dec 18 41.06% 14,043 44,723 121 2009 In September it acquired Xpand, a recruitment

agency based in Asia and Australia

136 Simarco Logistics services provider Essex Dec 18 40.86% 6,221 57,125 310 1997 Delivers 250,000 consignments to 40

destinations across Europe every year

137 [172]

Firmdale Hotels Hotelier Central London Jan 19 40.82% 53,228 162,022 1,692 1985 Its Crosby Street hotel in New York has an

average room rate of $977

138 Investis Digital Digital communications provider Central London Dec 18 40.78% 22,381 34,636 463 2000 Groupon, ASOS and Anglo American are

among its global customers

139 A-Gas Chemicals and gases distributor Bristol Dec 18 40.69% 182,826 229,606 665 1993 Launched operations in Toronto in 2019

140 [62]

Whitworth Group Flour miller Northamptonshire Mar 19 40.47% 31,495 397,896 607 1886 Exports flour to food manufacturers and

bakeries in Ireland and mainland Europe

141 Insights Group Employee development consultancy Dundee Mar 19 40.35% 52,015 65,927 513 1993 Has employees in 18 countries after opening offices

in Mumbai, Sydney and Johannesburg in 2019

142 Next Ventures Recruitment consultancy Central London Dec 18 40.16% 47,547 56,316 105 2001 Uses multi-lingual recruitment consultants who

are specialists in technology niches

143 Simms International IT distributor Kent Dec 18 40.01% 10,517 34,423 30 1990 Ships more than 3m products a year all over

the world

144 Moneypenny Outsourced communications provider Wrexham Dec 18 39.94% 2,309 31,740 665 2000 Handles more than 15m calls and live chats a

year for businesses in the UK and America

145 [174]

Fentimans Drinks manufacturer Northumberland Dec 18 39.28% 15,645 40,443 61 1905 Launched five flavours of soft drinks in the

Middle East last year

146 [63]

The Hut Group Online retailer Manchester Dec 18 38.51% 607,867 915,758 4,531 2004 Operates 178 localised websites, selling goods in

169 countries

147 Ligentia Supply chain manager Leeds Dec 18 38.03% 47,351 102,878 339 1996 Has subsidiaries across four continents, including

in China, Australia, Vietnam and South Africa

148 Ennismore Hotelier Central London Dec 18 37.95% 8,936 25,853 223 2012 The Hoxton Paris, a ‘monument historique’, was

previously owned by King Louis XV’s advisor

149 [132]

Sapphire Systems Systems integrator Central London Dec 18 37.86% 13,470 36,697 262 1993 Offers round-the-clock support from offices

on four continents

150 Autosmart International Vehicle cleaning products Staffordshire Jan 19 37.73% 11,806 32,207 193 1979 Sells through more than 250 franchisees

across the UK, Europe and Australia

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151 [147]

Options Financial technology provider Central London Dec 18 37.29% 44,326 70,850 210 1993 Has over 200 clients in the financial sector,

across more than 20 countries

152 [123]

PeninsulaEmployment law consultancy Manchester Mar 19 37.27% 105,791 270,583 2,747 1983 Has 75,000 clients across the UK,

Ireland, Australasia and Canada

153 [149]

XexecEmployee engagement services Northwest London Nov 18 37.17% 7,842 40,299 39 2000 Offers employee discounts with 3,000+ retailers,

including Apple, Starbucks and Amazon

154 Nasmyth GroupPrecision component manufacturer Coventry Jan 19 37.10% 23,899 78,853 784 2003 Opened its state-of-the-art metals

treatment facility in California in 2018

155 MJM MarineSpecialist joiner County Down Dec 18 36.22% 92,515 97,725 272 1983 Led a multimillion dollar refurbishment

project for the Norwegian Joy cruise ship

156 Cloud Technology SolutionsCloud IT developer Manchester Mar 19 36.19% 8,120 26,144 113 2008 Its software has moved the data of 11m

users into the cloud across 83 countries

157 [88]

Ambassador Theatre Group Live entertainment operator Surrey Mar 19 35.90% 235,195 443,180 5,414 1992 Operates more than 10 venues in

America and five in Germany

158 prosource.it IT services provider Aberdeen Jun 19 35.82% *24,540 *64,186 269 1999 Its five global offices have worked with

firms in more than 25 countries

159 Gravitas RecruitmentRecruitment consultancy Central London Nov 18 35.70% 5,399 42,537 153 2010 Has overseas offices in Hong Kong and

Singapore, as well as three in the UK

160 CinesiteVisual effects and animation Central London Apr 19 35.61% 66,326 72,972 927 1991 Its Vancouver studio drew 85,000 hairs to

create Cousin Itt in The Addams Family film

161 [198]

Priority FreightLogistics services provider Dover Dec 18 35.51% *56,632 *80,090 197 1996 Delivered 600kg of aircraft landing equipment

from Toronto to Athens in just two days

162 Argent Foods Food supplier Central London Dec 18 35.34% 140,489 735,157 1,723 1997 Operates in Europe, Australasia, North

America and Africa

163Ash & LacyBuilding parts manufacturer

West Bromwich Dec 18 35.30% 3,387 49,587 343 1864 Operates from six UK sites and a facility in Cape Town, and exports to five continents

164admMarketing services provider

West London Dec 18 35.25% 186,882 202,673 419 2014 Services clients such as Bacardi, Diageo and L’Oréal from offices in 29 countries

165GBALogistics services provider

Preston Dec 18 34.95% 18,836 48,595 236 1987 Opened Portuguese and German operations in 2017 to serve the automotive sector

166 [141]

TopCashback Cashback website Stafford Dec 18 34.80% 33,681 128,702 203 2005 Runs cashback sites in the UK, America,

India and China

167SystemsAccountantsRecruitment consultancy

Central London Jul 19 34.37% *12,700 *36,800 69 1997 Has worked with over 75% of the FTSE 100, as well as many Fortune 500 companies

168 [42]

Lincoln & York Coffee manufacturer Lincolnshire Jan 19 34.31% 12,997 45,873 124 1994 Supplies more than 300 customers in 10

countries across Europe

169 [139]

Vision RTMedical technology developer

North London Dec 18 34.05% *45,875 *48,646 179 2001 Partnering with Swedish software firm RaySearch to work on technology development projects

170 [118]

Corin Group Orthopaedic parts maker Cirencester Dec 18 33.62% 106,152 113,988 595 1985 Acquired an American surgical robotics

firm in 2019

171 [170]

EnerMechEngineering services provider

Aberdeen Dec 18 33.50% *337,890 *414,278 3,320 1987 Plans to double turnover in the Americas to more than £200m a year by 2022

172 [163]

Cooper & TurnerIndustrial fastener manufacturer

Sheffield Feb 19 33.40% 59,744 76,533 422 1912 Acquired French bolt manufacturer Beck Industries in 2019

173 Autocraft Solutions Group Automotive engine manufacturer Lincolnshire Dec 18 33.37% 8,805 25,033 217 2010 Produces 20,000 engines a year for the likes

of Jaguar Land Rover, Ford and Aston Martin

174 [50]

City Facilities Management Facilities maintenance provider Glasgow Dec 18 33.30% 472,704 971,177 12,217 1985 Employs more than 12,000 people across

Europe, Australia, America and Asia

175Princess YachtsLuxury yacht builder

Plymouth Dec 18 33.15% 263,752 340,260 2,865 1965 Aiming to build 300 boats a year by 2022 to meet international demand

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28



176 Bee Health Food supplement manufacturer East Yorkshire Dec 18 33.10% †1,638 †29,422 302 1992 Ships health food supplements to more than

40 countries from its factory in Bridlington

177 [68]

END.Designer menswear retailer

Newcastle upon Tyne Mar 19 32.94% 80,856 134,658 464 2005 Its website and apps receive more than 10m

visitors each month

178 Cobalt Recruitment Recruitment consultancy Central London Dec 18 32.90% 21,337 30,078 207 2001 Opened its first Austrian office in 2018, one

of 12 global locations

179 [197]

Brook TavernerClothing supplier West Yorkshire Dec 18 32.87% 6,368 32,152 135 1912 More than 90% of its exports go to European

markets, such as France and Germany

180 UformKitchen door supplier County Antrim Apr 19 32.61% 10,640 34,876 182 1993 Supplies more than 1,000 kitchens a week to

retailers in the UK and Ireland

181 ForsythsMetal fabricator Northeast Scotland Oct 18 31.96% 12,418 46,774 386 1890 Has opened operations in Japan and Hong Kong

to meet Asian demand for its whisky stills

182 Hexadex Steel systems manufacturer Lincolnshire Dec 18 31.93% 87,590 116,188 928 1978 Global supplier of complex emission systems

and components for heavy-duty vehicles

183 [87]

the7starsMedia agency Central London Mar 19 31.83% 103,518 340,033 214 2005 Promoted American band Foo Fighters by rebranding

an East End pub as 'The Foo Fighters Arms'

184 [155]

Reward Gateway Employee engagement services Central London Jun 19 31.69% 104,484 210,685 416 2006 4.6m people in 23 countries use its employee

engagement products

185 The White Company Lifestyle retailer West London Mar 19 31.65% *18,277 *217,424 1,716 1994 Has a retail partnership with American department

store Nordstrom, both online and in-store

186 [85]

MNC Media agency Central London Dec 18 31.57% 27,577 73,831 21 1997 Buys advertising in the UK for European

brands such as marketplace app Shpock

187 [128]

County Milk ProductsHotelier

Cheshire Dec 18 31.39% 60,498 252,787 92 1994 Exports dairy ingredients to Europe and further afield

188SolventisSolvent distributor

Guildford Dec 18 31.38% 165,665 219,531 45 2002 Operates a state-of-the-art storage, blending and distribution facility in Antwerp

189CultechDietary supplement manufacturer

Port Talbot Dec 18 31.26% 24,861 38,224 253 1994 Its probiotics are sold across six continents, with America its largest market

190 [200]

MPM ProductsPet food producer

Manchester Dec 18 31.04% 47,843 70,607 61 2002 Exports to more than 50 markets globally, including America and China

191Broadland DrinksWine producer and importer

Norfolk Mar 19 30.76% 4,539 70,636 154 1965 Its advent calendar of 24 mini wine bottles is popular with American drinkers

192 [61]

Capital Hair and BeautyHair products wholesaler

Brighton Dec 18 30.71% 3,971 53,914 516 1954 Has made two acquisitions in Ireland, where it has five stores

193Adder TechnologyIT hardware manufacturer

Cambridge Jun 18 30.16% 28,621 31,520 145 1984 Distributes its products across 60 countries, including America and China

194 [74]

Mountain Warehouse Outdoor clothing retailer Central London Feb 19 29.97% 78,388 255,044 2,082 1997 Founder Mark Neale travels 10 weeks of the

year visiting his stores across the globe

195 Four Communications Marketing and communications agency Central London Dec 18 29.54% 27,101 70,560 318 2001 Operates in more than 30 countries

worldwide through its own affiliate network

196iKas InternationalRecruitment consultancy

Central London Dec 18 29.24% 21,711 34,537 53 2004 Has offices in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and New York

197 Croxsons Glass bottle supplier Southwest London Aug 18 29.06% 9,668 27,111 28 1872 Has operations in New Zealand, Australia and

America, and sells to 50 markets worldwide

198 [130]

Pricecheck Consumer goods supplier Sheffield Apr 19 29.03% 37,171 81,644 155 1978 Exports its range of 5,000 fast-moving

consumer goods to 82 countries

199 [178]

Seasalt CornwallClothing retailer

Cornwall Feb 19 28.87% 3,677 65,657 903 1981 Plans to launch websites in Germany and America this spring

200 [175]

CT AutomotiveAutomotive parts supplier

Portsmouth Dec 18 28.79% 58,561 86,937 2,668 2000 Supplies parts for 70% of electric vehicles produced for the global market

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METHODOLOGYThe International Track 200 league table ranks Britain's privately-owned mid-market companies with the fastest-growing international sales over their latest two years of available accounts, i.e. between 2016 and 2018, or 2017 and 2019. International sales were defined as declared non-UK revenue.

Limitations: The research is based on the available data about a company's international sales, which can be limited. Companies filing abridged accounts are not required to disclose any geographical breakdown of sales, and many companies filing full accounts do not make this disclosure on the grounds that it may be prejudicial to their interests.

Qualification criteria• UK-registered, unquoted, independent and making an

operating profit

• International sales of at least £500,000 in the base year (2016 or 2017)

• Latest year international sales of at least £1m (2018 or 2019)

• Latest year total sales between £25m and £1bn. Any sales from joint ventures were excluded

• International sales greater than 5% of total sales in latest year

• No drop in international sales from penultimate to latest year

• Latest year staff numbers greater than 10

• Recruitment, media and travel agencies must show gross profits of at least £5m in the latest year

• At least 25 trading weeks in latest and base year (trading periods different from 52 weeks were annualised on a straight pro-rata basis)

Research approachThe main research was conducted by the Fast Track research team predominantly between August and December 2019. Companies were selected from a database of 2m private limited UK companies after extensive desk, telephone and case study research. The majority of the companies in the league table have been interviewed by Fast Track.

DisclaimersPrivate company information can be incomplete and, while every effort is made to include all qualifying companies, there may be omissions. Some exceptions were made to the qualification criteria set out above. The compiler’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Nominations for next year’s table would be welcome at [email protected] or via our website: www.fasttrack.co.uk




30

Fast Track would like to thank HSBC for its title sponsorship of International Track 200 for all 11 years; DHL Express for its sponsorship for a fourth year; and Oracle NetSuite for its second year as a main sponsor.

We would also like to thank our media partner The Sunday Times for its continued support of International Track 200 for all 11 years.

Neither Fast Track or our sponsors or media partner endorse, guarantee or recommend investment in any of the companies. The rankings are based on historical sales growth.

Media partner

SUPPORTERS

The Sunday Times has been Fast Track's media partner for all 23 years.

It is Britain’s No 1 newspaper for business, and the leading broadsheet newspaper, attracting over two million readers every week. Almost half (46%) of senior business decision-makers read The Sunday Times, a greater market share than any other publication, according to the 2018 Ipsos survey.

Oliver ShahBusiness editor

thesundaytimes.co.uk@ST_Business


https://www.thetimes.co.uk/?sunday

https://twitter.com/ST_Business



Sponsors

Nicky TozerEMEA Vice President

Amanda MurphyHead of Commercial Banking, HSBC UK

HSBC UK has been the title sponsor of International Track 200 for all 11 years.

We are one of the world’s largest banks serving over 1 million UK businesses among 37 million customers worldwide. Our international banking network covers 53 international markets and gives us access to around 90% of world trade flows.

Alongside specialist teams serving eight key sectors, two further teams offer core financing support. Our Leverage Finance service supports deals of all sizes, facilitating M&A, syndication financing, and access to high-yield bonds and Treasury. Our Commercial Banking Origination service facilitates and advises on sophisticated corporate financing in the UK and Europe.

Ian WilsonCEO, DHL Express UK & Ireland

DHL Express is a main sponsor for a fourth year.

DHL Express is the global market leader in the international express delivery market, specialising in time and day critical shipping to all corners of the world. With a network spanning over 220 countries and territories, DHL ensures your products are quickly and reliably delivered to destinations all over the world, providing tailored delivery options and returns. Whether you are a new or experienced international shipper, DHL is here to help. From improving your website’s international appeal, to the intricacies of customs duties and taxes, DHL Express offers support at every stage of the export journey.

Oracle NetSuite is a main sponsor for a second year.

For more than 20 years, Oracle NetSuite has helped organisations grow, scale and adapt to change. NetSuite provides a suite of cloud-based applications, which includes financials / Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), HR, professional services automation and omnichannel commerce, used by more than 19,000 customers in 203 countries and dependent territories.

For more information, please visit https://www.netsuite.com.

Follow NetSuite’s Cloud blog, Facebook page and @NetSuite Twitter handle for real-time updates.

business.hsbc.uk/corporate

@HSBCUKBusiness

dhlguide.co.uk@DHLExpressUK

netsuite.com@NetSuite


For more information, please visit https://www.netsuite.com.

http://www.netsuiteblogs.com/

http://www.facebook.com/netsuite

https://twitter.com/netsuite

https://www.business.hsbc.uk/corporate

https://www.business.hsbc.uk/corporate

https://twitter.com/HSBCUKBusiness

https://dhlguide.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/dhlexpressuk

http://netsuite.co.uk/portal/uk/home.shtml

https://twitter.com/NetSuite



32

Gareth Morgan co-manages International Track 200 research.

Prior to joining Fast Track in 2019, he worked on the research team at private equity information service Unquote, covering the European market. He has a degree in English language and linguistics, and a masters in applied linguistics – both from the University of Sheffield.

Lindsay Uppadine co-manages International Track 200 research.

She joined Fast Track in 2006, having previously worked as a research associate at Library House in Cambridge. She spent three years as a post-doctoral research chemist at the Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France, and has a doctorate and a masters in chemistry from Oxford University.

Richard Tyler is director of editorial at Fast Track.

Prior to joining Fast Track in 2013, he was the enterprise editor of The Daily and Sunday Telegraph for nine years, covering private companies and government policy. He trained in journalism at Euromoney, part of Daily Mail & General Trust, after completing his degree at Manchester University.

ABOUT FAST TRACK

Compiler & publisher

The authors

Hamish Stevenson owns and runs Fast Track, which he founded in 1997 after securing cornerstone sponsorship from Virgin and ongoing support from Sir Richard Branson. He works closely with leading entrepreneurs, sponsors and media partners.

He is an associate fellow at Green Templeton College, Oxford University, where he completed his masters and doctorate in management studies, and subsequently set up and held the Virgin research fellowship in entrepreneurship. He also has a degree in political science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Research support was also provided by Fast Track researchers Michael Cook, Malcolm Gilmour, Kaye Johnson, Matthew Elliott, Ed Parsons and Jonathan Sinclair; and freelancers Claire Harrington, Ian Hall and Jessica Johnson.

John Elliott is deputy head of editorial and social media at Fast Track.

He joined in 2019 from communications consultancy Powerscourt, where he advised fast-growth TMT companies. He was previously a journalist at The Sunday Times for eight years and has also worked for the Daily Telegraph, Condé Nast, and HarperCollins publishers. He has a degree in English literature from the University of Cambridge.


https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishstevenson1/



CONTACT DETAILS

Fast Track Angel Court 81 St Clements Street Oxford OX4 1AW

Tel: 01865 297100

Email: [email protected]

Web: fasttrack.co.uk

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Fast TrackInternational Track 200 is compiled by Fast Track, the UK's leading research and face-to-face networking events company, which ranks top-performing private companies and entrepreneurs.

Fast Track has compiled league tables on private companies in partnership with The Sunday Times for the last 23 years.

It publishes six other annual league table awards programmes:

SME Export Track 100 ranks Britain's SMEs with the fastest-growing international sales (total sales between £5m and £25m)

Tech Track 100 ranks Britain's private technology (TMT) companies with the fastest-growing sales

Fast Track 100 ranks Britain's private companies with the fastest-growing sales (excluding tech companies)

Profit Track 100 ranks Britain's private companies with the fastest-growing profits

Top Track 250 ranks Britain’s leading mid-market private growth companies with the biggest sales (the next tier below the top 100, and minimum 5% growth in sales or profits)

Top Track 100 ranks Britain’s private companies with the biggest sales (£700m to £27bn)

Fast Track is based in Oxford with 32 staff, and a network of six freelance researchers.




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