Each year the Sunday Times produces their Fast Track 100, a definitive league table of Britain’s private companies with the fastest growing sales. To qualify companies have to be registered in the UK and be (rather importantly for us) independent.
So who was ranked number 1? Well, just so you know – it was London-based Chilly’s Bottles – a company who’s success is pretty much completely guaranteed – mostly because even I bought one this year. Probably my only ‘new’ purchase of 2019. Not too much of a surprise with that one.
You may be surprised by the second spot though as it goes to Manchester’s very own Junkyard Golf, who saw a massive increase in sales in 2019 – prompted by the opening of more locations throughout the UK.
Set up by Chris Legh, Mat Lake, James Bart Murphy and Lyndon Higginson in 2015 after playing crazy golf while on holiday, Junkyard Golf has seen some massive growth in the city, starting as a pop-up before heading to permanent quarters near Piccadilly.
After outgrowing that space, they most recently moved to First Street, as well as opening up locations in London, Oxford, Leeds and Liverpool. Since opening they’ve had nearly 1m people through their doors to play golf and get hammered on cocktails – and plan to open another 10 or more sites by 2022.
Next on the list from Manchester is Missy Empire at number 17 – an online only ladies clothing company started by brothers Ash and Ish Siddique who graduated from their father’s knitwear company to start their own brand in 2014.
Seeing as I very rarely wear women’s clothes nowadays I don’t really know too much about Miss Empire that will be of interest to you. The brothers seem to be smashing it though – and their website looks snazzy – so I’m presuming the clothes (and accessories) are pretty good too.
Sitting pretty at number 48 is Tattu, the modern Chinese restaurant that you’ll find on Spinningfields, launched by Adam and Drew Jones in 2015.
Their unique take on modern Chinese cuisine, mixed with that always desirable ‘Instagram moment’ have allowed them to open up further restaurants in Leeds, Birmingham and most recently in Edinburgh.
The lads plan to open up in London next year – where I’m sure they’ll love the mix of traditional and modern just as much as we have up here. With stunning interiors, regularly updated and changing menus and that all important outstanding customer service – I think this is a sure fire winner. Good luck to them!
You can check out the full list right below. Let’s hope to see more Manchester names on there next year eh?
