Mark and Yvonne Tweddle Jupiter Group

Co-directors of Jupiter Group, Mark and Yvonne Tweddle

High-flying Shropshire fruit supplier Jupiter Group has been listedas one of the fastest-growing mid-market private companies in the UK for the second year running.

Based in Newport, the grower and breeder has seen its rapid international sales continue in the past year, however the company slipped slightly in the Sunday TimesInternational Track 200 list for 2019 from 17thto 22ndplace.

Chief executive Mark Tweddle said the achievement was a “great honour” for Jupiter Group, which continues to fly the flag for Britain on a global stage and is the second-largest independent employer in Newport.

“What a fabulous start to 2019,” he added. “We were over the moon to enter the list for the first time last year, so to make it a second consecutive year and to remain in the top 25 is amazing and a great honour.

“It’s also a reflection of all the hard work and effort our Jupiter team continues to put in across the globe as we continue to build further on our successes.”

The company has enjoyed average annual sales growth of 107 per cent over the last two years, acquiring South African citrus producer Bonaire in November 2018 and recently harvesting the first of its new table grape varieties.

The CEOs of the 200 companies that appear in the Sunday Times list have been invited to a special ceremony in London in May.

To make the list, companies must reach total sales of between £25 million and £200m, international sales of between £1m and £100m, average two-year international sales growth of between 15 per cent and 300 per cent, and staffing levels of between 10 and 1,000.