Tobacco giant Imperial Brands has been named the top business in the Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire region in 2023. The Bristol-headquartered FTSE-100 company behind cigarette brands including West and Davidoff turned over a whopping 拢32.7bn last year, according to Companies House data analysed by Vistra.
Despite taking a 拢400m-plus hit to its profits in 2022 after pulling out of Russia following the country鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, the company still reported operating profits of 拢2.6bn. Group operating profit was also up 1.8%, with growth in the company鈥檚 tobacco and next-generation products offsetting a distribution decline.
The list of the region鈥檚 top 150 companies was published on Thursday (January 26) by BusinessLive and in sister title the Western Daily Press Annual Business Guide. With the biggest turnover, Imperial Brands ranked first on the list, retaining the top spot for 2023.
In second place - up from position 26 last year - was Cirencester-based investment management firm St James鈥檚 Place, with a turnover of 拢11.6bn. The company had 拢142.3bn of funds under management for the month ending June 30, 2022.
Swindon-based Intel Corporation, which sells and distributes Intel products, retained its third-place position for 2023 with a turnover of 拢5bn, while tech giant Dyson, which employs thousands of people at its base in Malmesbury in Wiltshire, dropped from second place last year to fourth this year. The company has an annual turnover of 拢4.5bn, according to Vistra.
Energy supplier Ovo - founded by billionaire businessman Stephen Fitzpatrick in 2009 and headquartered in Bristol - also dropped in the rankings from fourth to fifth place.
The rankings follow a difficult year for the business community across the region, with political and economic turmoil causing much uncertainty for firms. However, many South West business leaders are confident 2023 will be more successful than 2022 despite challenging economic forecasts, recent research has found.
A total of 91% of firms in the region are planning to make investments over the next 12 months, while 42% expect a higher turnover, according to a survey by Lloyds Bank published earlier this month. Overall, more than two-thirds of firms questioned believe they will achieve greater success in 2023 than they did last year.
Richard Bache, editor of the Western Daily Press, said: "Although 2023 will be tough for many businesses and individuals, I鈥檇 caution against talking ourselves into a recession.
"Despite the challenges ahead, within this guide there are scores of businesses around the West that are doing inspirational things and are thriving. Money is still being spent across the economy and though things may not be easy, there are plenty of opportunities for companies to capitalise on this.鈥
The full version of the Western Daily Press Business Guide is online.
Top 150 businesses in the West Country in 2023
| RANK | 2022 RANK | COMPANY NAME | REGISTERED OFFICE CITY OR TOWN |
| 1 | 1 | IMPERIAL BRANDS PLC | Bristol |
| 2. | 26 | ST. JAMES'S PLACE 海角视频 PLC | Cirencester |
| 3 | 3 | INTEL CORPORATION (海角视频) LIMITED | Swindon |
| 4 | 2 | DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED | Malmesbury |
| 5 | 4 | OVO GROUP LTD | Bristol |
| 6 | 19 | RWE GENERATION 海角视频 PLC | Swindon |
| 7 | 6 | AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED | Bristol |
| 8 | 9 | SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING PLC | Swindon |
| 9 | 10 | SCREWFIX DIRECT LIMITED | Yeovil |
| 10 | 15 | PUMA ENERGY (海角视频) LIMITED | Bristol |
| 11 | 11 | NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC | Bristol |
| 12 | 16 | IVC ACQUISITION PIKCO LTD | Bristol |
| 13 | new | IVC ACQUISITION MIDCO LTD | Bristol |
| 14 | 27 | WESTCON GROUP EUROPEAN OPERATIONS LIMITED | Cirencester |
| 15 | 12 | ROYALTY PHARMA PLC | Bristol |
| 16 | 7 | EDF ENERGY NUCLEAR GENERATION LIMITED | Gloucester |
| 17 | 17 | WINCANTON PLC | Chippenham |
| 18 | 14 | FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED | Swindon |
| 19 | 18 | SPIRAX-SARCO ENGINEERING PLC | Cheltenham |
| 20 | New | ARVAL 海角视频 LIMITED | Swindon |
| 21 | 23 | THE MORTGAGE WORKS (海角视频) PLC | Swindon |
| 22 | New | COATS GROUP PLC | Bristol |
| 23 | 19 | SMITHS NEWS PLC | Swindon |
| 24 | 29 | C&J CLARK (NO 1) LIMITED | Street |
| 25 | 28 | ALD AUTOMOTIVE LIMITED | Bristol |
| 26 | 23 | WH SMITH PLC | Swindon |
| 27 | 35 | INDEPENDENT VETCARE LIMITED | Bristol |
| 28 | 27 | MEARS GROUP PLC | Gloucester |
| 29 | new | NEW LOOK RETAILERS LIMITED | Weymouth |
| 30 | 68 | BASF METALS RECYCLING LIMITED | Cinderford |
| 31 | 24 | MATTHEW CLARK BIBENDUM LIMITED | Bristol |
| 32 | 32 | BAKER HUGHES ENERGY TECHNOLOGY 海角视频 LIMITED | Bristol |
| 33 | 31 | YTL UTILITIES (海角视频) LIMITED | Bath |
| 34 | 33 | WESSEX WATER LIMITED | Bath |
| 35 | 42 | RENISHAW P L C | Wotton-Under-Edge |
| 36 | 40 | DICK LOVETT COMPANIES LIMITED | Swindon |
| 37 | 41 | WESTERN COUNTIES AUTOMOBILE COMPANY LIMITED | Swindon |
| 38 | 43 | FREEMANS OF NEWENT LIMITED | Hereford |
| 39 | 45 | SUPERDRY PLC | Cheltenham |
| 40 | 63 | FUTURE PLC | Bath |
| 41 | 36 | HARGREAVES LANSDOWN PLC | Bristol |
| 42 | 37 | ROTORK P.L.C. | Bath |
| 43 | 47 | CAMBRIA AUTOMOBILES LIMITED | Swindon |
| 44 | 30 | VIRIDOR LIMITED | Taunton |
| 45 | 55 | PATHEON 海角视频 LIMITED | Swindon |
| 46 | 50 | MAN TRUCK AND BUS 海角视频 LIMITED | Swindon |
| 47 | new | VMWARE 海角视频 LIMITED | Bristol |
| 48 | 61 | OPENWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED | Swindon |
| 49 | 59 | THE OASIS HEALTHCARE GROUP LIMITED | Bristol |
| 50 | 39 | RWE RENEWABLES 海角视频 SWINDON LIMITED | Swindon |
| 51 | 80 | NIANTIC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED | Bristol |
| 52 | 44 | NUTRICIA LIMITED | Trowbridge |
| 53 | 57 | MAGNOX LIMITED | Bristol |
| 54 | 34 | BORGWARNER TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED | Stonehouse |
| 55 | 53 | COMBINED INDEPENDENTS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED | Andover |
| 56 | 54 | ZURICH ASSURANCE LTD | Swindon |
| 57 | 79 | TELEPERFORMANCE LIMITED | Bristol |
| 58 | 65 | KEY WEST (HOLDINGS) LIMITED | Bristol |
| 59 | 49 | NOKIA 海角视频 LIMITED | Bristol |
| 60 | 56 | GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 61 | 60 | BENEFACT TRUST LIMITED | Gloucester |
| 62 | 61 | OPENWORK LIMITED | Swindon |
| 63 | 66 | NISBETS PLC | Bristol |
| 64 | 38 | SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS 海角视频 LTD | Gloucester |
| 65 | 51 | DKH RETAIL LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 66 | 67 | CENTAUR SERVICES LIMITED | Castle Cary |
| 67 | 94 | AUXILLIS SERVICES LIMITED | Bath |
| 68 | 52 | SANDERSON SOLUTIONS GROUP PLC | Bristol |
| 69 | 132 | NASA UMBRELLA LTD | Bristol |
| 70 | 71 | KK DAYTONA HOLDING LTD | Gloucester |
| 71 | 77 | GRANGE MOTORS (BRENTWOOD) LIMITED | Swindon |
| 72 | New | INFINITY MIDCO LIMITED | Bristol |
| 73 | 87 | M AND M DIRECT LIMITED | Leominster |
| 74 | 73 | HERITAGE AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS LIMITED | Salisbury |
| 75 | 72 | MASSTOCK ARABLE (海角视频) LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 76 | 62 | NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO 海角视频 LIMITED | Stonehouse |
| 77 | 76 | ASPIRE DEFENCE HOLDINGS LIMITED | Tidworth |
| 78 | 100 | GALLOPER WIND FARM LIMITED | Swindon |
| 79 | 78 | MONAGHAN MUSHROOMS LIMITED | Bristol |
| 80 | 84 | ECCLESIASTICAL INSURANCE OFFICE PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY | Gloucester |
| 81 | 93 | THE UNITE GROUP PLC | Bristol |
| 82 | 82 | YEO VALLEY PRODUCTION LIMITED | Bristol |
| 83 | 74 | STANNAH LIFTS HOLDINGS LIMITED | Andover |
| 84 | 70 | NOV DOWNHOLE EURASIA LIMITED | Stonehouse |
| 85 | 83 | OAK FURNITURELAND HOLDINGS LIMITED | Swindon |
| 86 | 92 | ETEX BUILDING PERFORMANCE LIMITED | Bristol |
| 87 | 114 | MOLSON GROUP LTD | Bristol |
| 88 | 108 | AVON PROTECTION PLC | Melksham |
| 89 | new | GREEN BRITAIN GROUP LIMITED | Stroud |
| 90 | 96 | TAYLOR MAXWELL GROUP (2017) LIMITED | Bristol |
| 91 | 85 | INTERCEPT PHARMA EUROPE LTD. | Bristol |
| 92 | 98 | INTERNATIONAL PLYWOOD PLC | Gloucester |
| 93 | 145 | SEABANK POWER LIMITED | Bristol |
| 94 | 89 | ECOTRICITY LIMITED | Stroud |
| 95 | New | LOUNGERS PLC | Bristol |
| 96 | 88 | EURONICS LIMITED | Andover |
| 97 | new | DEREK RAPHAEL & COMPANY LIMITED | Cirencester |
| 98 | 109 | YANKEE CANDLE COMPANY (EUROPE) LIMITED | Bristol |
| 99 | 86 | RYGOR GROUP LIMITED | Westbury |
| 100 | 91 | MAGNERS GB LIMITED | Bristol |
| 101 | 111 | KINGSPAN INSULATION LIMITED | Leominster |
| 102 | new | GALAXY GROUP BIDCO LIMITED | Bath |
| 103 | 97 | SIGMA-ALDRICH COMPANY LIMITED | Gillingham |
| 104 | 119 | BRADFORD AND SONS LIMITED | Yeovil |
| 105 | New | ACHIEVE TOGETHER LIMITED | Bath |
| 106 | new | ANTHOLOGY GROUP LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 107 | new | SODRA WOOD LIMITED | Cirencester |
| 108 | 95 | SIMPLYHEALTH ACCESS | Andover |
| 109 | 102 | JISC | Bristol |
| 110 | 113 | ANAPLAN LIMITED | Bristol |
| 111 | 103 | LEIDOS EUROPE, LIMITED | Bristol |
| 112 | 69 | NUVIAS GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED | Cirencester |
| 113 | 122 | FORD FUELS LIMITED | Bristol |
| 114 | 101 | HAPPOLD LLP | Bath |
| 115 | 104 | APETITO LIMITED | Trowbridge |
| 116 | new | ARK ESTATES DEVELOPMENT LIMITED | Corsham |
| 117 | new | EPIPHANY HOLDINGS LIMITED | Gloucester |
| 118 | 134 | THOMAS SILVEY,LIMITED | Bristol |
| 119 | new | INSPECS GROUP PLC | Bath |
| 120 | New | PORTMAN HEALTHCARE LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 121 | 106 | DAC BEACHCROFT SERVICES LIMITED | Bristol |
| 122 | 123 | COTSWOLD MOTOR GROUP LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 123 | 124 | DOPANO LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 124 | 112 | SIRONA CARE & HEALTH C.I.C. | Bristol |
| 125 | New | UNITE INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS PLC | Bristol |
| 126 | 115 | ZELLIS HOLDINGS LIMITED | Bristol |
| 127 | 105 | TYCO ELECTRONICS 海角视频 LTD | Swindon |
| 128 | new | HOLMAN HOLDINGS EUROPE LIMITED | Chippenham |
| 129 | 150 | FORAY MOTOR GROUP LIMITED | Salisbury |
| 130 | New | ALLIANCE PHARMA PLC | Chippenham |
| 131 | New | FMG REPAIR SERVICES LIMITED | Bath |
| 132 | 130 | FISH BROTHERS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED | Swindon |
| 133 | New | AIRLINE INVESTMENTS LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 134 | 115 | ZELLIS TOPCO LIMITED | Bristol |
| 135 | 81 | QUALASEPT HOLDINGS LIMITED | Corsham |
| 136 | 126 | CORIN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED | Cirencester |
| 137 | 144 | KOHLER SHOWERS HOLDINGS LIMITED | Cheltenham |
| 138 | 120 | WATER 2 BUSINESS LIMITED | Bristol |
| 139 | 138 | HOWARD GARAGES (WESTON) LIMITED | Weston-Super-Mare |
| 140 | 143 | FANATICS 海角视频 HOLDINGS LIMITED | Bristol |
| 141 | New | MULBERRY GROUP PLC | Radstock |
| 142 | 117 | AMCOR EUROPE GROUP MANAGEMENT | Bristol |
| 143 | New | T. H. WHITE HOLDINGS LIMITED | Devizes |
| 144 | 125 | MERCK LIFE SCIENCE 海角视频 LIMITED | Gillingham |
| 145 | 121 | KNORR-BREMSE RAIL SYSTEMS (海角视频) LIMITED | Melksham |
| 146 | New | STEF LANGDONS LTD | Bridgwater |
| 147 | 128 | LANGDON GROUP LIMITED | Bridgwater |
| 148 | new | RWE RENEWABLES MANAGEMENT 海角视频 LIMITED | Swindon |
| 149 | New | OUTDOOR AND CYCLE CONCEPTS LTD | Malmesbury |
| 150 | 135 | VITACRESS LIMITED | Andover |
