Rank 2008 Company Sector Sales, £m Profit, £m
1 Ineos Group Chemical manufacturer *18824 *1506
2 Alliance Boots Pharmaceutical retailer and wholesaler *15304 *1027
3 John Lewis Partnership Food and general retailer 6052 598
4 Stemcor Steel trader 4254 109
5 Somerfield Supermarket operator *4221 *226
6 Palmer and Harvey Food distributor 3983 44
7 Laing O’Rourke Construction contractor 3037 111
8 John Swire & Sons Conglomerate *2512 *572
9 JCB Construction equipment maker *2250 0
10 Virgin Atlantic Airline and tour operator 2225 65
11 Arnold Clark Automobiles Car dealer *2084 *177
12 SCH Group IT infrastructure integrator 2042 34
13 Arcadia Fashion retailer 1859 342
14 Iceland Frozen food retailer *1834 *130
15 Sir Robert McAlpine Construction contractor 1817 77
16 Bet365 Online bookmaker *†1815 *†36
17 Bestway Group Cash and carry operator *1811 86
18 Grampian Country Food Group Food producer 1807 57
19 Littlewoods Shop Direct Internet and catalogue retailer 1766 -8
20 Greenergy International Fuel supplier *1754 *17
21 EMI Music publisher 1752 172
22 European Metal Recycling Metal recycler 1691 136
23 Brakes Food distributor 1638 109
24 Thames Water Water services provider *1494 *917
25 TI Automotive Car part maker 1395 127
  • Key:

  • * Provided by the company and not yet filed at Companies House

  • † Annualised figure