Benfield rated highest dealer in Top Track 250

Franchised dealers and car supermarkets featured heavily in the 2014 Grant Thornton Top Track 250, published by The Sunday Times.

The annual survey reviews the performance of the 250 biggest privately owned companies sitting outside The Sunday Times’ Top Track 100, which identifies Britain’s top 100 companies by sales.

The highest rated dealer was Newcastle-based Benfield Motor Group, which took third place (2013: 16) in the listings on sales of £622.4m and profits of £6.9m. The family-owned group was also the highest rated business from the North East.

“We are again delighted to be flying the flag for the North East’s privately-owned businesses in the top 250 league table,” said Mark Squires, chief executive.

“It is vital the region’s businesses continue to work together for the good of the region and its economy. It is also particularly pleasing therefore to see several other leading North East businesses prominently placed in this high profile listing.”

Benfield Motor Group is an independently owned family business founded in Newcastle in 1957 by John Squires Senior and developed by John Squires Junior the present chairman.

Benfield operates 30 outlets throughout the region and into South West Scotland.

The biggest car supermarket was Derby-based Motorpoint at 36 (2013: 58) on sales of £463.3m and profits of £8.1m.

Newbury-based Ridgeway Group was the second biggest at number 12 (2013: 36) on sales of £547m and profits of £11.3m.

While Northampton-based Perrys was rated 29 (2013: 38) on sales of £491.5m and profits of £7.8m and Aberdeen-based John Clark Motor Group was rated 33 (2013: 62) with sales of £470.2m and profits of £8.9m.

Other dealers featured in the listing included Harwoods (47), Car Giant (51), Helston Garages (53), Stoneacre (54), Eastern Western Motor Group (55), Swansway (58) and Pentagon (62).

The survey covered companies with turnovers ranging from £143m to £632.9m. The highest placed company was Domestic and General.