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NORFOLK FIRMS NAMED AMONG UK'S FASTEST GROWING

Four of the region's firms have been named among the country's fastest growing companies.

Four of the region's firms have been named among the country's fastest growing companies.

Norwich-based furniture retailer Mattressman was ranked sixth in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100, which lists Britain's private companies with the fastest growing sales over three years.

Mattressman, founded by entrepreneur Andrew Kerry in 2004 and which now employs 98, featured in the list for the first time.

Originally an online only retailer, the company opened its 11th showroom in Ipswich at the end of November, and saw sales grow by an average of 174pc a year between 2005 and 2008, from £434,000 to £8.7m, which has since grown to £11m.

Mr Kerry said the growth had been down to selling well known brands at discount prices, always having items in stock and free next day delivery.

He said: "We are absolutely chuffed. We have got a good team of loyal staff, all of whom believe in the Mattressman brand.

"The success has been the result of a real team effort, and a mix of everything from delivering good customer service to a positive online experience."

Norwich oil group Acteon, made up of about 17 companies providing a range of services in the offshore energy industry, was also named in the Fast Track 100 for the third year running.

Acteon, which saw average growth in sales of 66.37pc a year over the period, ranked 70th in the list, down from 57th last year.

The company had the biggest turnover of all companies in the list, at £309.2m in the year to December 2008, employing about 1,600 staff globally.

Adventure course operator Go Ape, founded by Tristram and Rebecca Mayhew in Bury St Edmunds and which has more than 20 courses nationally including one in Thetford Forest, ranked 82nd, a fall of 11 places from last year, after average sales growth of 60.2pc.

The fourth company in the region to feature in the Fast Track 100 list was Hadleigh-based road surfacing firm Toppesfield, with average growth of 74.2pc per year, ranking 61st.

But Norwich-based online furniture seller Pinesolutions, which featured in last year's Fast Track 100 and was named business of the year in the Eastern Daily Press Business Awards 2009, was not listed in this year's table.

Mattressman and Go Ape both featured in the Eastern Daily Press Future 50 list, which recognises firms from the region with major growth potential.

For details visit www.edp24.co.uk/future50.