Today we complete the countdown of the Top 200 LeicestershireLive Companies, revealing the Leicester-based Sytner Group in the top spot.
Sytner is the biggest automotive group in the UK, representing more than 20 of the world’s most prestigious brands and with more than 100 modern dealerships nationwide.
Its portfolio ranges from Audi and BMW to Ferrari and Lamborghini, with Bugatti recently joining the group in Manchester.
According to the Top 200 list compiled by De Montfort University, and based on Companies House figures for the 2019-20 financial year, the business had a turnover of almost £6 billion and almost 10,500 staff.
The Grove Park business was actually formed in Nottingham in 1968 by Frank Sytner and his older brother Alan (who once owned the Cavern Club in Liverpool).
Two years later, the brothers were awarded the BMW franchise for Nottingham and Frank began his successful motorsport career.
After working exclusively with BMW, the decision was made to diversify into other prestige marques and by 1997 the dealership count had reached double figures.
Over the past few days BusinessLive has been counting down the 2022 Top 200 list, which has been prepared by De Montfort University and sponsored by Pattersons Commercial Law.
The Top 20 were revealed at a breakfast event at Winstanley House hotel in Leicester, this morning (February 22), which included trophies for the biggest business, highest new entrant and highest climber.
That highest new entrant to our 2022 list is BM Fashions (Holdings), which is based near Leicester station in St George’s Way, and trades as Fashion UK.
The business has not been in the list since 2016 when it held 161st place.
It entered in the 2022 list at 90th position, and has seen a growth in revenue of 264 per cent over the periods of comparison.
Fashion UK makes licensed and branded clothing featuring characters from some of the world’s biggest films and television programmes, sold in many of the UK’s biggest stores.
Brands it has been licensed to use range from Disney to The Simpsons, Chupa Chups, Peppa Pig, Fortnite and Star Wars.
In recent years it has used new levels of innovation in its designs, including sounds and lights, colour changing prints, reversible sequins, 3D glasses activated prints and functional chalkboard prints.
The business has been running for more than 20 years and operates along the principles of “excellent design, the production of quality products and the speed to the market”.
Highest climber Amber Beverage UK, which was previously known as Cellar Trends, has climbed 64 places from 197 to 133 since the last list came out. It trades out of Castle Donington.
The group was established in 1999, and has established a strong record in building brands of wines, spirits and associated products in the UK. Since 2018, it has been a part of Amber Beverage Group.
With its global headquarters in Luxembourg, it makes, bottles, markets, distributes, exports and sells a comprehensive range of beverages of more than 600 own and third party brands.
Its own portfolio of over 150 brands includes Riga Black Balsam, Moskovskaya Vodka, Rooster Rojo Tequila and Cross Keys Gin.
The company serves all sectors of the UK drinks trade in both on- and off-trade categories.
So, here is the 2022 Top 20 LeicestershireLive companies list:
20 (39) FLOGAS BRITAIN
Distribution of liquefied petroleum gas
Turnover: £258,262,000
Employees: 1,091
Year End: 31/03/2020
Address: Rayns Way, Watermead Business Park, Syston, Leicestershire, LE7 1PF
www.flogas.co.uk
19 (46) DRIVE HOLDINGS 2015
Car sales and repairs
Turnover: £262,725,000
Employees: 832
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Freemens Common Road, Leicester, LE2 7SL
www.drivevauxhall.co.uk
18 (36) REFRESCO DRINKS UK
Soft drinks
Turnover: £270,592,000
Employees: 930
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Citrus Grove, Sideley, Kegworth, Derbyshire, DE74 2FJ
www.refresco.com
17 (32) SANDICLIFFE
Vehicle sale, repair and maintenance
Turnover: £306,545,000
Employees: 654
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Derby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 5HN
www.sandicliffe.co.uk
16 (31) EUROPCAR GROUP UK
Self drive vehicle hire
Turnover: £331,993,000
Employees: 1,986
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: 1 Great Central Square, Leicester, LE1 4JS
www.europcar.co.uk
15 (29) PLASTIC OMNIUM AUTOMOTIVE
Manufacture of plastic injection parts
Turnover: £349,069,000
Employees: 1,144
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Westminster Industrial Estate, Measham, Derbyshire, DE12 7DS
www.plasticomnium.com
14 (24) CEVA LOGISTICS
Complex supply chain solutions
Turnover: £357,053,000
Employees: 3,313
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Ceva House, Excelsior Road, Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leicestershire, LE65 9BA
www.cevalogistics.com
13 (26) IBSTOCK
Manufacture of bricks and building products
Turnover: £409,257,000
Employees: 2,249
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Leicester Road, Ibstock, Leicestershire, LE67 6HS
www.ibstockplc.com
12 (28) BREEDON TRADING
Building materials and quarrying
Turnover: £419,992,000
Employees: 1,473
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Breedon-On-The-Hill, Derbyshire, DE73 8AP
www.breedongroup.com
11 (25) CROWN CREST GROUP
Wholesaler and owner of Poundstretcher
Turnover: £442,219,000
Employees: 5,972
Year End: 31/03/2019
Address: Desford Road, Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, LE9 2BJ
www.crowncrest.co.uk
10 (23) GRAHAM BELL (HOLDINGS)
Car sales as Availablecar.com
Turnover: £454,058,000
Employees: 785
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Station Road, Castle Donington, Derbyshire, DE74 2NL
www.availablecar.com
9 (20) WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND GROUP
Luxury Watches & Jewellery including Goldsmiths Jewellers
Turnover: £810,512,000
Employees: 1,984
Year End: 26/04/2020
Address: Aurum House, 2 Elland Road, Braunstone Frith, Leicester, LE3 1TT
www.thewosgroupplc.com
8 (13) DUNELM GROUP
Homeware retailer
Turnover: £1,057,900,000
Employees: 6,519
Year End: 27/06/2020
Address: Watermead Business Park, Syston, Leicestershire, LE7 1AD
www.dunelm-mill.com
7 (11) CATERPILLAR (UK)
Digger and backhoe loader maker
Turnover: £1,101,800,000
Employees: 2,217
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Peckleton Lane, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9JT
www.cat.com
6 (14) SAMWORTH BROTHERS (HOLDINGS)
Food manufacturer & distribution including Ginsters Pasties
Turnover: £1,163,984,000
Employees: 9,895
Year End: 28/12/2019
Address: Chetwode House, 1 Samworth Way, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 1GA
www.samworthbrothers.co.uk
5 (9) AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES UK
Heavy Building materials
Turnover: £1,330,012,000
Employees: 3,433
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: Bardon Hall, Copt Oak Road, Markfield, Leicestershire, LE67 9PJ
www.aggregate.com
4 (6) BLOOR INVESTMENTS
Housebuilder and Triumph motorcycles
Turnover: £1,557,289,000
Employees: 4,024
Year End: 30/06/2020
Address: Ashby Road, Measham, Derbyshire, DE12 7JP
www.bloorhomes.com
3 (2) BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS
Housebuilder
Turnover: £3,419,200,000
Employees: 6,422
Year End: 30/06/2020
Address: Barratt House, Cartwright Way, Forest Business Pk, Bardon Hill, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 1UF
www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk
2 (4) NEXT
Clothing Retail
Turnover: £4,266,200,000
Employees: 25,491,000
Year End: 25/01/2020
Address: Desford Road, Enderby, Leicestershire, LE19 4AT
www.nextplc.co.uk
1 (1) SYTNER GROUP
Maintenance & Repair of Vehicles
Turnover: £5,915,844,000
Employees: 10,489
Year End: 31/12/2019
Address: 2 Penman Way, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicestershire, LE19 1ST
www.sytner.co.uk
