Who are Bristol’s top 100 owner-managed companies?
We’ve partnered with leading chartered accountants and business advisory firm PKF Francis Clark to showcase the top 100 owner-managed companies in the Bristol area.
Our exclusive list ranks owner-managed businesses with headquarters in the BS postcode area by turnover, according to their latest published accounts.
In total, these 100 businesses have achieved more than £7bn in annual sales and employ nearly 34,000 people.
The list features representatives of a wide range of sectors, from recruitment to retail, the creative industry and legal services to name just a few. Many of the Bristol area’s biggest businesses have grown to become household names, among them a strong contingent of thriving family-owned firms.
By far the largest business in terms of total sales is energy company Ovo Group, with a turnover of £1.4bn. Completing the top three are recruitment specialists Sanderson and catering equipment supplier Key West Holdings.
The top 12 businesses have turnovers exceeding £100m. A turnover above £18.5m was required to make the top 100 list, and £37.4m to break into the top 50.
Paul Bray, Partner and Head of the Bristol Office of PKF Francis Clark, said, “Owner-managed businesses are the backbone of the regional economy and are often overshadowed by bigger name corporates. The Bristol area is home to a wealth of successful independent businesses that are creating jobs, innovating and making a positive contribution to the communities they operate in.
“We advise many business owners across the South West and beyond, and it’s fantastic to see some of our clients featured in this top 100 list. We know the sacrifices owner-managers make to start and grow their businesses and the challenges many have faced due to COVID-19.
“So, as we look ahead to the post-pandemic era, it’s the perfect time to celebrate their contribution to the regional economy.”
Top 10
1. Ovo Group Ltd
Annual turnover: £1,448,754,944
Ovo is a leading energy company that is helping the industry shift to a more sustainable future. Their technology will enable energy grids to be powered by 100% renewable energy – and they currently supply more than five million customers across the UK. According to the data from PKF Francis Clark, their annual turnover is £1.45bn, and they currently have more than 2000 employees.
2. Sanderson Solutions Group PLC
Annual turnover: £448,676,992
With more than four decades of experience, Sanderson is one of the UK’s leading independent global recruitment companies. The firm has annual revenues of more than £448m and currently has 320 members of staff. They specialise in permanent and contract recruitment, executive search, and project-based solutions, as well as recruitment process outsourcing, managed service programmes and talent on demand.
3. Key West (Holdings) Limited
Annual turnover: £426,297,984
Headquartered in Bristol, the company specialises in the distribution and rental of catering equipment and supplies to the hospitality trade and the development of proprietary product brands for the hospitality market. Its two market-leading subsidiaries, Nisbets and Jongor, have helped the company achieve annual revenues of more than £426m and over 2200 employees.
4. Yeo Valley Production Limited
Annual turnover: £251,415,584
The family-owned dairy manufacturer, with six operational sites based across the South West, was founded in 1961 as a small dairy farm – and it has grown to become one of the region’s largest and most celebrated businesses. The company currently produces more than 20% of the yoghurt consumed in the UK. Last year, Yeo Valley reported annual revenues of £251m and has more than 1500 members of staff.
5. Dick Lovett Limited
Annual turnover: £174,832,992
The Dick Lovett Group is a family-owned company which has been serving the South West since 1966, and now represents the world’s best automotive brands including Aston Martin, BMW, Jaguar, MINI, Land Rover and Porsche. The firm has official dealerships in Bath, Bristol, Swindon, Hungerford, Tewkesbury and Cardiff, that have more than 170 staff. Last year, they reported revenues of £174m.
6. Ford Fuels (Holdings) Limited
Annual turnover: £163,659,584
The family-owned fuel and lubricant distribution business is based in south Bristol and covers the South West. Growing year-by-year since the 1970s, the firm now operates over 75 delivery vehicles from its nine depots across the region. With the fourth generation of the family recently entering the business, the company is aiming to maintain the same family-driven traditions of the past. It has almost 170 employees and revenues of more than £163m.
7. Molson Group Ltd
Annual turnover: £161,540,000
Molson Group are the UK’s largest independent plant and equipment dealer, with new and used machines from world leading brands. Based in Avonmouth, the firm offers a range of new and used equipment including excavators, loading shovels, telehandlers, dump trucks, rollers, attachments, crushers, screeners, shredders, trommels and more. From 13 locations strategically positioned throughout the UK, Molson’s team includes over 70 fully trained service engineers and millions of pounds worth of parts. They have a turnover of over £161m and currently have 239 employees.
8. Howard Garages (Weston) Limited
Annual turnover: £141,657,264
Established as a single family-owned garage in 1972, Howards has evolved into a multi-site group with car dealerships not only in its hometown of Weston-super-Mare but also in Taunton, Yeovil and Dorchester – with more than 275 members of staff. With over 40 years of automotive heritage, the firm has grown to over 20 sites and has a turnover of £141m. The current brands they work with are Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Nissan, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Honda, MG and Suzuki.
9. Thatchers (Myrtle Farm) Limited
Annual turnover: £129,977,552
The iconic South West cider-maker has been in business since 1904, with four generations running the firm over the past 117 years – currently, the company is run by Martin Thatcher. The Sandford-based company has over 500 acres of land where they harvest their own apples and manufacture their drinks on-site. Thatchers have exported across the world to more than 20 countries, and have opened a popular pub and tourist attraction at its HQ. Last year, the business had revenues of more than £129m.
10. Brent Cars Limited (Carbase)
Annual turnover: £121,309,152
Carbase is a family-run enterprise which has grown into the largest independent used car and van supermarket in the South West. With five branches in Westbury, Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, Lympsham and Brent Knoll, and one Vanbase store in Bristol, its award-winning enterprise guarantees its customers a high quality of service and the chance to browse through its selection of over 3,000 RAC Approved cars and vans. Carbase has more than 185 employees and had a turnover of £121m last year.
Top 11-100
| 11 BURGES SALMON LLP | £104,937,000 |
| 12 SOMERSET BRIDGE GROUP LIMITED | £103,255,000 |
| 13 TLT LLP | £98,147,000 |
| 14 ORGANIC MILK SUPPLIERS CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED | £90,466,000 |
| 15 HOARE LEA LLP | £90,399,000 |
| 16 IAN WILLIAMS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED | £81,239,000 |
| 17 OPUS TALENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED | £73,510,872 |
| 18 KEENWORK LIMITED | £69,362,000 |
| 19 ARTHUR DAVID (FOOD WITH SERVICE) LIMITED | £64,717,988 |
| 20 TURTLE BAY RESTAURANTS LIMITED | £63,768,084 |
| 21 HIGHBRIDGE CARAVAN CENTRE LIMITED | £60,917,896 |
| 22 CJL HOLDINGS (SW) LIMITED | £60,710,108 |
| 23 WW TRUCK AND BUS LIMITED | £60,555,252 |
| 24 UPLANDS RETAIL HOLDINGS LIMITED | £57,916,044 |
| 25 AVON GROUP MANUFACTURING (HOLDINGS) LIMITED | £57,752,340 |
| 26 R.J. HEATHMAN (CONTRACTORS) LIMITED | £57,277,556 |
| 27 SOMERSET BRIDGE INSURANCE SERVICES LIMITED | £57,080,000 |
| 28 CARCO GROUP LIMITED | £56,681,176 |
| 29 LANCER SCOTT LIMITED | £56,104,979 |
| 30 PARKSIDE HOLDINGS LIMITED | £55,119,256 |
| 31 WILLETT & SON HOLDINGS LIMITED | £53,356,488 |
| 32 INSIDE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED | £49,444,216 |
| 33 KELLAWAY BUILDING SUPPLIES LIMITED | £49,197,988 |
| 34 WESTERN GLOBAL HOLDINGS LIMITED | £48,735,000 |
| 35 SAFE HOUSE HOLDINGS LIMITED Holding co of BM foods | £48,457,308 |
| 36 CASPIAN NETWORKS LIMITED | £47,910,416 |
| 37 ALEC JARRETT LIMITED | £46,171,012 |
| 38 SEASONS HOLIDAYS PLC | £45,272,408 |
| 39 HARVEY COMMERCIAL HOLDINGS LIMITED | £45,159,520 |
| 40 HOLT JCB HOLDINGS LIMITED | £44,364,000 |
| 41 F & B PROFILES (HOLDINGS) LIMITED | £43,375,272 |
| 42 BROTHERS DRINKS CO. LIMITED | £41,825,564 |
| 43 HSH MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED | £41,743,496 |
| 44 ROSSFELD LIMITED | £40,393,548 |
| 45 VEALE WASBROUGH VIZARDS LLP | £39,761,808 |
| 46 POWER ELECTRICS (BRISTOL) LIMITED | £39,065,364 |
| 47 HYDROCK HOLDINGS LIMITED | £38,677,352 |
| 48 HASELTINE LAKE KEMPNER LLP | £38,360,840 |
| 49 HARVEY SHOPFITTERS LIMITED | £38,115,868 |
| 50 SADDLEBACK LIMITED | £37,406,594 |
| 51 BLUE MACHINERY (SOUTHERN) LIMITED | £37,361,780 |
| 52 AVORTEX LIMITED | £37,028,672 |
| 53 B T Q LIMITED | £36,845,000 |
| 54 LD GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED | £36,143,492 |
| 55 ST JAMES PARADE (107) LIMITED | £34,562,948 |
| 56 SDS HOLDINGS LIMITED | £34,214,768 |
| 57 GDS INT HOLDINGS LIMITED | £33,862,860 |
| 58 REDROCK CONSULTING LIMITED | £33,716,496 |
| 59 LUNAMAR (GROUP) LIMITED | £33,705,616 |
| 60 KING LIFTING LIMITED | £33,657,316 |
| 61 WW (UK) LIMITED | £33,494,696 |
| 62 MCBRAIDA HOLDINGS LIMITED | £33,465,000 |
| 63 SWEET CONSTRUCT LIMITED | £32,413,112 |
| 64 OPTIONS RESOURCING LTD | £31,821,072 |
| 65 PRECISION RESOURCE GROUP LIMITED | £31,344,768 |
| 66 SHIELD ENVIRONMENTAL HOLDINGS LIMITED | £30,974,808 |
| 67 ALVIS BROTHERS LIMITED | £30,674,840 |
| 68 SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS LIMITED | £30,654,080 |
| 69 KEN BIGGS CONTRACTORS LIMITED | £30,605,840 |
| 70 CULLEN GROUP LIMITED | £30,463,548 |
| 71 MAURICE LAY DISTRIBUTORS LIMITED | £29,846,258 |
| 72 B M FOODS LIMITED | £27,641,028 |
| 73 SMITHCORP LIMITED | £26,464,688 |
| 74 JONES BUILDING GROUP LIMITED | £25,747,328 |
| 75 CLADE ENGINEERING SYSTEMS GROUP LTD | £25,610,792 |
| 76 PLANTFORCE RENTALS LTD | £24,850,152 |
| 77 LGW GROUP LIMITED | £24,829,352 |
| 78 BRISTOL & AVON TRANSPORT & RECYCLING LTD | £24,439,302 |
| 79 INTOHEAT (HOLDINGS) LIMITED | £24,343,260 |
| 80 N. NOTARO HOMES LIMITED | £24,210,442 |
| 81 YATE DISPOSABLES LTD | £23,621,616 |
| 82 CEDAR CARE HOMES LIMITED | £23,234,834 |
| 83 IZIT GROUP LIMITED | £22,891,204 |
| 84 AARDMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED | £22,774,416 |
| 85 THE COMMONWEALTH MINT & PHILATELIC BUREAU LTD | £22,636,568 |
| 86 BODYWISE (UK) LIMITED | £22,461,592 |
| 87 CHARLES SAUNDERS HOLDINGS LIMITED | £22,236,888 |
| 88 MAIL HANDLING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED | £21,519,900 |
| 89 KELSTON SPARKES HOLDINGS LIMITED | £21,493,010 |
| 90 STOWELL CONCRETE LIMITED | £21,361,516 |
| 91 REDCLIFFE HOMES LIMITED | £20,971,404 |
| 92 STAGE ELECTRICS GROUP LIMITED | £20,872,212 |
| 93 E T M CONSTRUCTION & RECYCLING HOLDINGS LIMITED | £20,762,896 |
| 94 STRIDE TREGLOWN GROUP PLC | £20,752,957 |
| 95 BARRETTINE HOLDINGS LIMITED | £20,342,668 |
| 96 COTTLESTON HOLDINGS LIMITED | £20,318,850 |
| 97 PROPER JOB SUPERSTORES LIMITED | £19,180,852 |
| 98 FAYRE OAKS LIMITED | £18,994,548 |
| 99 PICKSONS PLC | £18,836,640 |
| 100 THE BOSTON TEA PARTY GROUP LIMITED | £18,589,476 |
