Six hospitality businesses make list of 100 fastest-growing firms

Six independent operators in the hospitality sector have been recognised for their ability to maintain year-on-year sales growth by being ranked in this year's Deloitte & Touche Indy 100 survey of fastest-growing companies.

Contract caterer Catering Alliance was named the fastest-growing contract caterer of its size in the UK, with growth of 77% over four years, and was ranked 11th. The company, which has a turnover of £30m a year, moved up from 12th last year.

The ranking, run by Deloitte & Touche and the Independent on Sunday, examines the growth rates of more than 6,100 middle-market companies with turnovers of between £5m and £100m. The listed companies, identified through Deloitte & Touche research carried out in conjunction with Professor David Storey at the University of Warwick Business School, are those that have demonstrated extraordinary and sustained growth over the past four years - at least 25% sales growth for smaller companies and 15% for those with sales between £10m and £100m.

Other caterers that made the list were Kenilworth-based Hopkinson Catering, at 14th, and Charlton House, 72nd. Restaurant companies included were Ask Central, ranked 36th, and Wagamama Group at 85th.

Topping the rankings of this year's winners was United Foods International, which has achieved a compound annual growth rate of more than 141% over the past four years. United Foods International's principal activities are the sale of chilled fruit juice in Europe and organic fruit and vegetable juice in the UK.