Hospitality groups among Britain's fastest-growing firms
The Richard-Caring backed Bill's - this year's R200 Restaurant Operator of the Year - was the highest ranking from the hospitality sector at 19, having achieved 108 per cent compound annual growth over the past three years to £53.9m.
Living Ventures' cocktail specialist The Alchemist Bar and Restaurant group was number 20, with annual sales growth of 105 per cent to £9.6m.
Scottish-based brewery and bar operator Brew Dog - which topped the Zolfo Cooper Profit Tracker in 2013 - was ranked 40th on the list, having enjoyed 76 per cent average annual sales growth over the past three years to £18.1m.
Nightclub bar and operator Inception Group (47), Ed's Easy Diner (59), Côte Restaurants (70), Loungers (98) and Corbin & King (99) also ranked in the top 100 after demonstrating impressive growth.
Meanwhile, Brazilian barbecue chain Cabana – named the Best Overall Restaurant Operator with under 20 sites at this year’s R200 awards – was on The Fast Track ‘Ones to Watch’ list.
The business secured £3m in July from high-profile investors including Saracens owner Nigel Wray, and plans to grow from seven sites to 30 in four years.
The Fast Track 100
The Fast Track 100 league table and awards programme is sponsored by Virgin, Barclays, BDO and BGF, and compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company.
To make it on the list, companies must be registered in the UK. Sales growth is measured by compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the latest three financial years.
Sir Richard Branson of Virgin said: “This year’s Fast Track 100 is packed full of examples of entrepreneurs taking on many different challenges head-on.
“Their success is based on real team spirit and it is this togetherness, above and beyond any other factor, that sets great businesses apart from also-rans. The Fast Track 100 are testament to that spirit of creativity and camaraderie.”
Charlie Gilkes, co-owner of the Inception Group, said: "We are delighted that our growth has been recognised in the top 50 of this very prestigious list. With our latest site, Beaver Lodge opening this week and plans for several more sites in 2015 and beyond we hope to rank even higher in the future."
Ed’s Easy Diner chairman Stephen Greene said: “We are delighted to have a received such recognition again. To have improved our position since last year in this prestigious league table of the fastest growing companies in the UK is quite some achievement and is testament to the hard work and efforts of everyone at Ed’s.
“We have a very strong foundation and platform, a unique and market leading business and a focused strategy from which to take the business forward and to build on our success to date. We have exciting plans for the future and a receptive market place to grow into… we plan to more than double again in the next couple of years.”
