As Brexit worries loom large, against a backdrop of global instability and domestic uncertainty, many of Britain's biggest private firms have risen to a new height. According to the 17th annual Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100, combined sales of companies that make up the list, add up to a record £205bn and profits to a record of £23.5bn.
Top Track 100 ranks Britain's biggest private companies by their latest sales. The league table is produced by Fast Track, the Oxford firm that researches Britain's top-performing private companies and organises invitation-only dinners for their owners and directors to network and meet sponsors. This year six companies with Asian ownership have been featured on the list.
Fuel forecourt operator Zuber and Mohsin Issa, is on number 5 with a £4516mn turnover. Both 46, EG Group owns and manages 4500 forecourts under BP, Esso and Shell fuel brads across Europe and the US.
On number 10 is the Bestway group with a turn over of £3,293mn. Under Chairman Anwar Pervez, 83, Bestway has grown from a single grocery stored, opened in 1963, to Britain's largest, privately owned cash-and-carry group. The group also operates 798 Well Pharmacy stores across the UK.
On number 11 is 2 Sisters Food Group with £3,289mn turnover. This West Midlands food producer is best known for its poultry division. Which accounted for two-thirds of its £3.3bn in sales last year. The group is led by founder and president Ranjit Boparan, 51, and chief executive Ronald Kers, 49, who joined in June.
On number 21 is Westcoast with £2,227mn turnover. Founded in 1984 by chairman Joe Hemani, 71, Westcoast distributes IT products and services to more than 14,000 customers in the UK and Europe.
Dhamecha Foods is on number 89 with a turn over of £753mn. Founded in 1976, this Wembley-based company sells more than 12,000 products from seven depots in London and two in Midlands, having opened a site in Birmingham in November. Cousins Pradip and Manish Dhamecha, 59, and Manish's brother -in-law Mukesh Vithlani, 65, lead the business, which supplies groceries, drinks, snacks and other products to corner shops, off-licenses, pubs and pharmacies.
Welcome Break with £723mn is on number 96. A familiar sight on Britain's motorways for more than 55 years, this company says 85mn people use its 27 service areas each year, visiting retailers such as Pizza Express and Starbucks.
