Benfield Motor Group is the highest placed North East based company on the latest Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250.

The table ranks Britain's leading private mid-market companies by sales in their latest available accounts.

Newcastle-headquartered Benfield leads the way for the North East at number three rising from 16 the previous year, with sales of £622m in the year to December 2013.

The league table complements the Sunday Times Top Track 100 league table of Britain’s private companies with the biggest sales, listing the next 250 biggest companies – provided either sales or operating profits have increased by at least 10% on the previous year.

The family-owned business is delighted with its leading position.

Chief executive Mark Squires said: “We are again delighted to be flying the flag for the North East’s privately-owned businesses in the top 250 league table.

“It is vital the region’s businesses continue to work together for the good of the region and its economy. It is also particularly pleasing therefore to see several other leading North East businesses prominently placed in this high profile listing.” 

The Benfield Motor Group is an independently owned family business with 30 retail outlets throughout the North East of England, across a portfolio of 12 car retail brands.