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CASE STUDIES
This section features three businesses in the category of ‘movers and shakers’ which have shown significant growth and future promise.
Top 30 Business Refresco
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Refresco has risen 26 places from 48 to 22. Refresco (Beverages UK and Drinks UK) are based in Derbyshire for manufacture and sale of soft drinks. These include popular brands such as Aquajuice, Del Monte, Just Juice, Mr Freeze, Ocean Spray, Old Jamaica, Sunny D and Sunpride. Refresco has been a mainstay of the EM Top 500, with combined turnovers consistently above £560m with a peak of £647m for the year ended December 31, 2018. Refresco is part of an international group headquartered in the Netherlands, resulting from the buyout from a Dutch dairy group. It has made strategic purchases in the UK and globally to become the world’s largest independent bottler for retailers and A-brands with leadership positions across Europe and North America.
New Entrant Carlin Group Ltd
Carlin Group Limited is a new entrant at 265. Carlin Group’s entry to the EM Top 500 results from the growth of its award- winning trading subsidiary Superior Wellness Limited. Founder Robert Carlin started Superior Wellness Ltd in 2011, based in Chesterfield. It grew to lead the market as Europe’s largest hot tub, swim spas and related products distributer, with a focus on improving health and well-being. Turnover in 2020-21 rose from £15.1m to £48.4m, a huge rise of 220%. It sold over 18,000 spas for the year under review. Its central location in the UK aids distribution, with investment in showrooms and warehousing. The lockdown period encouraged homeowners to install hot tubs and swim spas, driving a sustained increase in sales.
New Entrant
GEARY’S BAKERIES HOLDINGS LTD
Geary’s Bakeries Holdings Limited is a new entrant at no 343. Based in Barrow on Soar as a family bakery established in 1985 as C. Geary and Sons Limited, its success results from the growth of its trading subsidiary, Geary’s Bakeries Limited. This has a long track record of growth, with turnover growing from £11.6m in 2014, to £30.6m in 2020, with average annualised growth of 18%, a great achievement.
