The UK’s fastest growing private companies: Hot 100 2015 – (65) Universal Meats

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Name: Universal Meats
Industry/sector: Food and drink
Date founded: 1989
The boss: Alan Burke
Location: South East
Latest turnover: £121.7m
Three-year compound growth rate (%): 36.61
Latest EBITDA: £5.3m

Prepared to make its mark this year, the Sevenoaks-based distributor was also listed in the Sunday Times’s 16th annual BDO Profit Track 100 table at the same position – 74th. Formed in 1989, it rapidly developed close relationships with many overseas producers. This has enabled the company to dabble in both the import and export of various meats.

Among its import list, the company offers raw and processed poultry, beef, lamb, pork, tuna and pastry products, predominantly from South America, the Far East and continental Europe. Universal Meats also exports meat products to other European countries, and has expanded into transport and property.

Since 1999, Universal has been working with China to develop a product range of snack foods. Originally aimed only at the ethnic market, the company now supplies its snack range to numerous other countries. This success has allowed the company to develop certain areas off its offering within specific countries. For example, the company has branched out by working with businesses in Thailand and Brazil in terms of developing the market in cooked chicken products.

From its initial focus specialising in meat imports, Universal Meats has expanded into a group of companies with a turnover in excess of £100m.

Under managing director Alan Burke profits reached £5.3m in 2014.

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