Wholesalers and independent retailers have ranked highly in The Sunday Times’ Top Track 250 ranking of Britain’s mid-market private companies.

Frozen food discounter Farmfoods was the top ranking independent on the list, climbing 12 to number three, with sales of £558m and profits of £17.7m in 2010. Fellow discounter B&M Retail also made it into the top 10 at number six, with sales of £538.3m and profits of £35.4m.

Other independents listed were Bargain Booze (51), Berry Bros & Rudd (95), Euro Garages (107), Booths (121), 99p Stores (150) and Snax 24, which made it on to the list for the first time at number 160.

Northern Irish company Henderson Group was the highest-ranked wholesaler, rising six places to number seven, with sales of £532m and profits of £16.8m in the year to December 2010. London-based Dhamecha Foods also made it into the top 10, at number eight, with sales of £527.2m and profits of £9.8m.

Rival wholesalers James Hall (29), Crown Crest (38), Parfetts (99), DBC Foodservice (105), HT & Co Drinks (142) and United Wholesale Scotland (233) also made it on to the ­rankings.

It was the first time James Hall and DBC Foodservice featured on the list.

With sales of £558.8m, Noble Foods was the highest-ranked food and drink company at number two, and 28 other food and drink companies also made the grade.

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