Five Northern Ireland companies have made it into the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table which ranks the UK's private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales.
The biggest mid-market growth company in the country is transport services provider Ballyvesey Holdings which grew sales 14 per cent to £561m in 2014, partially due to acquisitions of two firms in England in 2013.
The company is one of two entrants in Northern Ireland that were not on the league table last year, the other being Cookstown-based Lissan Coal Company which enjoyed a rise in operating profits of 46 per cent to £18m.
Other Northern Ireland representatives on the league table were counstrction business Graham, crisp manufacturer Tayto and online bike retailer Chain Reaction Cycles.
Other businesses on the list include Chelsea FC, Nando's, Caffè Nero, Foster + Partners, Graff and Travelodge.
Gareth Neill, partner at Grant Thornton UK, the title sponsor of the league table, praised the companies for their performance.
"It's inspiring to see such a diverse range of businesses creating growth opportunities both at home and abroad and positively contributing to the UK economy," he said.
"Many of the businesses highlighted are recognising that the best way to grow and create sustainable profits is by developing new, innovative ways to serve their customers, alongside making a broader contribution to society."
The league table and awards programme is sponsored by Grant Thornton and Barclays, and compiled for the 11th year by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company.
