Northern Ireland's Around Noon in Fast Track 100

Around Noon, the Northern Ireland producer of sandwiches, wraps, salads and cold-pressed juices, has been named in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.

The company, which is based at Newry in county Down and employs around 400 people, is listed at 79 in the prestigious list of the UK's top private companies. The company, now among Newry's biggest employers, has enjoyed a sales rise of 54.15 percent.

The business was established in 1989 by husband and wife team Frances and Shelia Chambers. It is now run by their son, Gareth, chief executive and chairman Howard Farquahar following a management buy-out in 2016. It has since expanded through the acquisition of Sweet Things Bakery in Dublin and London's Chef in a Box.

Around Noon is a Northern Ireland leader of 'food-on-the-go' solutions for foodservice operations, especially in Ireland but with developing business in Britain.

The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table ranks Britain's 100 private companies with the fastest-growing sales over the latest three years. It is compiled by Fast Track and published in The Sunday Times. Companies are nominated for inclusion in the list.

Now in their 21st year, the list is sponsored by Virgin, Barclays, BDO and BGF. The league table identifies growth companies across all sectors except technology.

Over the past 21 years, the Fast Track 100 has become the definitive barometer of privately-owned growth companies in the UK and has featured many companies that have gone on to greater success.

This year's 100 companies achieved, on average, sales growth of 65 percent
a year over their last three years of accounts, to a combined total of £3.9bn. They employ 19,300 staff, and have added 14,000 jobs over the same period, some as a result of acquisitions.

Some of this year's household names include burger restaurant chain Five Guys (No 8), fashion retailer Missguided (No 61), and brewery BrewDog (No 62).

Pic Caption: Gareth Chambers, Around Noon