CSL, which has 16 stores in the North of England, has been bucking the trend in its sector by growing turnover 51 per cent to £72.5 million and pre-tax profits 586 per cent to £4.8 million last year.

Managing director Jason Tyldesley, who took over the business from his father ten years ago, says CSL has won customers from its competitors by offering a more pleasant in-store experience, with a ban on “hard-sell” tactics.

Other rising stars in Business XL‘s ranking include pottery maker Portmeirion, which swelled profits 236 per cent to £3.7 million on sales up 36 per cent to £43.2 million, and Vitamin D testing specialist Immunodiagnostic Systems, which reported sales 49 per cent higher at £37.2 million and profits up 130 per cent to £11 million in its last results.

The ranking was compiled by taking into account companies’ growth in profitability and sales over the past two years, using data from Companies House.

Click here for more details and to see the full list.