Four businesses from the north and north-east have made it onto the latest list of the UK’s top 200 private firms for international sales growth.
Fochabers-based soup maker Baxters jumped 38 places from last year to 34th in the annual league table, based on overseas commercial success, of Britain’s mid-market private companies.
Three Aberdeenshire companies are also among the nine Scottish businesses that feature in this year’s HSBC International Track 200 list.
Engineering firm Balmoral Group dropped 32 places to 113th in the rankings, while Westhill-based catering firm Entier was placed 186th, after climbing to 43rd spot last year. Brewdog, of Ellon, also slipped in the league table from 118th place in 2016 to 193rd this year.
Baxters achieved £198.6million worth of international sales last year and an average annual increase over the past two years of 84%, according to the league’s compilers. Established in 1868 and now run by the fourth generation of the family, the firm manufactures in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Poland and sells to more than 30 countries.
Yesterday, a spokesman for Baxters said: “It’s encouraging to see our position in The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 with annual international sales growth of 84% over the last two years.
“Our rise up the league table is recognition of a successful trading period and also underlines the positive impact on group performance from our expanded operations in the USA following the acquisition of Wornick foods in 2014.”
Balmoral chairman Jim Milne said he was pleased to see the company feature on the list again.
He added: “Although times are tough opportunities still exist but you have to take a proactive approach in securing them.
“I’ve promoted internationalisation for many years and this is how we’ve grown our business. Almost 80% of the goods manufactured by Balmoral last year were exported around the world, from Australasia to South America.
“Our commitment to a programme of continuous investment in people, R&D, manufacturing plant and processes helps us maintain a global industry-leading position in the fields in which we operate.”
Amanda Murphy, UK head of commercial banking at HSBC, said: “This year’s Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 is testament to the exciting opportunities available to ambitious Scottish businesses with appetite to grow their goods and services abroad.
“The nine companies in Scotland are putting the country firmly on the map as a thriving business hub.”
