Sunday Times International Fast Track award is not the end of ProCook's growth plans

Incredible growth at retailer ProCook has not gone unnoticed at The Sunday Times, which has named the Gloucester business on its coveted International Fast Track 200.

The annual listing ranks Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing international sales, and the online and high street retailer has won its place in the spotlight after an incredible sales period.

On track to turn over £50m this financial year, with £10 million profits, the 500-staff-strong business has also enjoyed growth of 300 per cent in international sales over the past three years.

‘This is external, independent recognition that confirms what we’ve known for a while – international markets provide huge opportunities for brands that have the ambition and grit to pursue them,’ said ProCook’s founder Daniel O’Neill, who announced in January 2021 he was also seeking an investment partner to support his vision for further international expansion.

‘We have only scratched the surface with international export and have big plans for 2021 that will see us moving into new markets, as well as expanding our presence in the countries we are already in.

‘The Sunday Times Fast Track is renowned for picking rising stars and if previous winners are anything to go by, we’re in great company.’

In March 2021 ProCook celebrates 25 years in the kitchen and dining ware market.

With own-brand stores across the UK and an ecommerce site, the brand is said to have a strong international presence in several European markets and designs, manufactures and supplies its own products.

Despite most stores being closed for the November and December 2020 lockdowns, ProCook’s total company sales reached £21m in the run up to and including Christmas 2020.

Like-for-like sales grew 132 per cent for the period, partially offset by an expected drop of 21 per cent in retail sales due to lockdown restrictions.

The brand’s store growth strategy for 2021 includes up-sizing some of its existing units to develop the in-store experience as well as testing a new concept with a cookery school.

By Andrew Merrell

Follow SoGlos on LinkedIn and sign-up to the weekly SoGlos business newsletter for the very latest Gloucestershire business news stories.