NI firms with £190m in total sales make ‘Fast Track 100’ list

FOUR Northern Ireland firms including a maker of licence plates and branded piggy banks will feature in a Sunday Times chart of fast growing companies at the weekend.

And two of the province’s entrants on the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 are new arrivals on the league table.

Sales at all four firms have grown by an average of 58% a year over three years to a total of £190m, and together they employ 680 people.

Northern Ireland’s top-ranked company is new entrant, Londonderry housebuilder Braidwater, which is at 45 in the UK list.

The firm, which was set up by father-and-son team Patrick and Joe McGinnis, has secured two rounds of investment from growth-capital firm BGF to help it build more homes across Northern Ireland.

Over the past three years, sales have grown an average of 72% a year, reaching £24.1m in the year to March. It now has 46 staff.

The other new entrant is spelast

The view from River House in Belfast, fitted out by Newry-based mac Group

cialist printer Eakin, which has grown its sales by 48% a year to £50.9m last year. The firm is based in Craigavon, Co Armagh, and has been in business for over 30 years. It now employs 319 people.

It’s best-known for producing car number plates for dealers including Donnelly Group, Charles Hurst and Joe Duffy Group in the Republic.

The family-run company, which is led by Noel Eakin and his son Simon, also makes branded merchandise for companies on both sides of the Irish border — ranging from piggy banks to umbrellas.

It also acquired US licence plate manufacturer John R Wald

year as part of its overseas expansion plans.

The other two companies are both based in Newry — fit-out firm mac Group and the sandwich and food-to-go company, Around Noon. They employ 83 and 235 people respectively.

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Group, which supports Fast Track 100, said: “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of UK business and have always been the beating heart of positive change.

“In a climate of uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to recognise those entrepreneurs, like those of this year’s Fast Track 100, who are making the world a better place for everybody.”