Swindon-based retailer Oak Furniture Land’s stellar expansion has lifted it further up a prestigious league table of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses.
The privately owned firm, founded in 2004 by managing director Jason Bannister, is the only company to appear in the annual Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 for a fifth time. 
It has also climbed further up the rankings this year – from 37 last year to 30. Two years ago it was placed at 51.
It is unprecedented for a business to achieve such strong growth that it not only stays in the highly competitive table but climbs it year on year.
Oak Furniture Land’s annual sales have grown by an average of 78% over the past three years and last year reached £191.5m. It now operates 66 showrooms which it supplies from its 300,000 sq ft head office and distribution centre at South Marston. The firm employs 880 staff.
Jason Bannister initially set up the firm to sell imported furniture on eBay. It expanded into a major online business selling through its own website before bucking the retail trend and opening its own stores, backed by extensive TV advertising.
He said: “Appearing in Fast Track 100 five times is something I’m really proud of. It is tangible recognition, and I want to thank my staff.”
It launched a dedicated sofa brand – SofaStore.com – on Boxing Day last year. SofaStore.com has a stand-alone website, four dedicated showrooms and concessions in most Oak Furniture Land stores.
Published this weekend, the 19th annual Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table ranks Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing sales over three years.
Oak Furniture Land is included on the list alongside high-growth fashion retailer Missguided, restaurant operator Bill’s, brewery BrewDog, and premium cycling clothing brand Rapha.
The league table and awards programme is sponsored by Virgin, Barclays, BDO and BGF, and is compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company.
Sir Richard Branson of Virgin, the title sponsor for all 19 years, said: “This year’s Fast Track 100 is packed full of entrepreneurs and family businesses tackling many different challenges head-on and thriving thanks to their team spirit and togetherness.
“Entrepreneurship and family values are at the heart of everything we do at Virgin. Like many on the Fast Track 100, we’ve turned a family business into a business family. Working with family works.”
Top-ranked of the six South West companies in the table is Bath-based superfood wholesaler Supernutrients, which appears for a second consecutive year, at No 26.
Founded in 2010 by Martin Kemp, it supplies Holland & Barrett and Waitrose. Rising demand for healthy and natural foods helped sales grow 86% a year to £12.5m this year.
