Four local businesses in UK list of top 250 firms
FOUR companies in Northern Ireland with products ranging from pharmaceuticals to gardening products will feature in a Sunday Times list of the UK’s top firms this weekend.
The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table ranks the UK’s private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales. The four companies headquartered here have made a strong contribution to the economy, the Sunday Times said.
However, the number of firms from here on the list is down from seven last year.
The companies on this year’s chart increased combined sales by 14% to £1.1bn and operating profits 26% to £101m, and employ 8,000 people.
There are two pharmaceuticals manufacturers — Almac Group in Craigavon, led by Alan Armstrong, which provides research, development and commercialisation services to more than 600 international biopharma companies, and reported a 19% rise in sales to £531m in 2017, and Norbrook Laboratories in Newry.
Norbrook researches, devel- ops and produces veterinary drugs sold in 120 countries and reported a 14% increase in sales to £272m in 2017. There are two companies making their debut — plastic sheet manufacturer Brett Martin, based in Newtownabbey, and gardening products manufacturer Westland Horticulture in Dungannon, which owns garden brands including Gro-Sure compost, Peckish bird food and Aftercut lawn fertiliser. Westland Horticulture reported sales of