That's why we've compiled a comprehensive ranking of the biggest and best grocery retail enterprises in private ownership in the UK. We think it's an excellent way of celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit that still exists across the grocery trade ­ and highlighting some of the success stories we come across every week. Whether it's frozen food discounting, traditional supermarketing or convenience retailing, all the companies featured over the next few pages have found a niche that they are able to exploit successfully. In a handful of cases, venture capitalists own a majority stake in the business (which we have defined as greater than 51%) and they are listed separately from those where the operators are also the owners. What that leaves, therefore, is a comprehensive ranking of the 50 biggest privately owned grocery retail chains. The listing can be found overleaf. We have also identified the biggest operators in Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as the top regional operators in England and Wales. That's not all. Our special report identifies the country's fastest growing grocery chains in private ownership and the biggest players in the different retail channels. Before reading on, here are a couple of figures to digest. First: the companies in our listing generate combined annual sales of £3.3bn ­ which represents just over 3% of the entire UK grocery market. Okay, that's not massive when compared with Tesco's 16% share ­ but it should not be sniffed at either. Second, these chains employ well over 54,000 people. Take what you will from these figures. If nothing else, we think they help demonstrate that life does not necessarily begin and end with the big multiples. There are plenty of other companies out there doing some really neat things ­ and in the process they too are generating jobs and providing vital services for local people. Our thanks then to the companies who took part in this project. Those that have made it onto our listings can take pride from the fact they are the biggest and, by our reckoning, the best independents in the business. {{COVER FEATURE }}