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The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 table Solent
A series of acquisitions over the past few years has taken a Bournemouth sales and marketing agency into the top ranks of UK export companies.
Ceuta Group, which was founded in 1994 by Edwin Bessant and Annette D’Abreo, has gained fourth place.
Ceuta provides sales, marketing and consultancy services to the health, beauty and grocery sectors, working with major names such as Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Unilever. It also has a network of health and beauty distributors working across more than 100 countries.
The group has made 11 acquisitions in the past five years with the backing of its majority owner, private equity firm Juggernaut Capital, taking staff totals to the 350 mark. The moves have helped international sales surge to £32.8m in 2017 – average growth over 200% – from total sales of £88m.
A second Bournemouth-based company to make the top 100 is Solent Group, a consumer goods supplier that has production facilities in the UK, China and Vietnam.
It provides branded and own-label goods, including health and beauty products, household cleaners and snack foods. It also supplies reusable bags to top stores such as Tesco, M&S and Aldi.
With its main overseas markets including South Africa and Australia, the group has seen exports grow to £5.5m in 2016 – average growth 52% – under chief executive Richard Porter. A staff of over 120 helped total sales to £42m, gaining 89th place in the table.
Five other companies from the Solent area were named in the lower half of the 200 table. STR Group (117th) was founded in 2000 in Portsmouth and comprises six niche recruitment brands that place candidates in the science, technology, engineering and professional
sectors.International sales hit £15.7m in 2016.
Backpack distributor Osprey Europe (136th) was set up in Poole by managing director Rob Wylie in 2003 with his own savings to sell the high-end backpacks designed by US brand Osprey Packs in Europe. International sales hit £26.7m in 2017.
Wiggle CRC (149th) at Portsmouth was formed in 2016 when the online sports retailer bought its Belfast rival Chain Reaction Cycles for £43.5m. Overseas sales were £148.4m in the year to January 2017.
Poole-based BOFA International (163rd) has extraction systems which remove hazardous dust and fumes from the workplace. Its technology, also used to make consumer goods, helped international sales reach £21.1m in 2017.
Ahmad Tea (195th) at Chandler’s Ford, a household name in the Middle East and Russia, now sells to customers in 80 countries. Exports expanded to £54.3m in 2016.
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The Sunday Times HSBC International Track table is compiled annually by Oxford-based Fast Track
07977 146670
tracey@thomasanthonycas.co.uk www.thomasanthonycas.co.uk
Thomas Anthony Commercial Accountancy Services Ltd
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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
businessmag.co.uk
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