TV Outfit Tops Unquoted Company Profits League

Only eight of the top 100 unquoted UK companies in terms of profit growth for 2001 were in the media industry, according to the Sunday Times’ Profit Track 100 report, published during the weekend, although the top performer was a TV and film producer.

Complete Communications, which makes the internationally selling Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, made it to the top spot with an annual profits growth of 177.5%.

Hampshire marketing agency Food Brokers, ranked 6th in the league. The company was responsible for the UK launch of FMCG brands Pringles, Ferrero Rocher and Salon Selectives shampoo and saw annual profits growth of 83.46%.

The next best performer, Cardiff’s Golley Slater Group, an advertising agency which has made TV ads for Givenchy and Christian Dior, made it to 44th position this year, but was down from 28 last year. Another marketing group, Haygarth Group, which launched Lavazza coffee and Tropicana in the UK, is at 65, Newspaper Publisher Archant was down year on year from 26 to 68 and marketing services provider Mediaforce, which claims to distribute 3 billion advertising leaflets a year, also saw a year on year fall in rankings, from 54th to 74th.

Newspaper Publisher Kent Messenger continued to build the strength of its portfolio in the last year (see Kent Messenger Extends Radio Interest), but saw its Profit Track rating fall from 49th to 81st this year, with annual profits growth of 29.74%. Lowest ranked of the media companies in the top 100 was M & C Saatchi at 99, down from 97 last year. It nevertheless saw 23.55% annual profits growth.

The league tables rank the UK’s unquoted companies in terms of profit growth over a three-year period. Profits are defined as operating profit with directors’ pay added back.

The Sunday Times: 020 7782 5000 www.sunday-times.co.uk

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