Two Lancashire firms listed in the Export Track 100 league table

Two Lancashire-based firms have been listed on the Sunday Times Heathrow SME Export Track 100 league table, which ranks Britain’s private SMEs with the fastest-growing international sales.

Skelmersdale-based online pharmacy, Chemist 4 U, ranked 47 after seeing annual international sales growth over the last two years at 66 per cent - a total of £4,133,000. Treatments for hair loss and bad breath are among the 16,000 parcels the firm dispatches on a daily basis.

Blackpool-based toy maker, Casdon, ranked 86 after seeing annual international sales growth over the last two years at 40 per cent - a total of £3,146,000. Replica vacuum cleaners have helped the firm grow their sales massively in Japan.

Both firms make strong contributions to their local economies, employing 64 staff between them, with their international sales a combined total of more than £7m. The league table reflects the importance of Europe to Britain’s SME exporters, with 80 of the companies selling to the continent, the most popular market, followed by North America (71) and Asia (45).