Bristol-based Bryan Brothers has returned to the AM100 at No75 after a 55% increase in turnover to £85.4m. The group, which dropped out of the AM100 last year after finishing 63rd with a £95m turnover in 1999, was a victim of network restructuring, losing its Ford, Toyota and Lexus franchises in the South-west. It also halved its Iveco-Ford portfolio to two outlets.

Bryan Brothers recovered by forging relationships with Seat, Citroen, Fiat and Alfa Romeo, for which it covers the Bristol territory, and now trades from eight dealerships split between car and commercial vehicle divisions.

Chief executive Richard Bryan is believed to be targeting a £94m turnover next year as the company consolidates its position in the South-west.

Lifestyle Ford, the group formed by ex-HMG directors Marc Matthew and Peter Isted, has ambitious plans for a £100m turnover.

The four-site network, consisting of the Stormont Ford outlets in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge in Kent, and the Hancock Ford dealerships in Horsham, West Sussex, and Redhill, Surrey, currently turns over £85m, placing it in 76th position in the AM100.

Mr Isted, joint managing director, said Lifestyle Ford would focus on reclaiming and extending its retail business through “keen pricing and high standards of customer care”.

The group also includes the Stormont Ford Parts Centre in Tonbridge, which covers two Ford customer marketing areas.

City Motor Holdings has made the biggest impact on the AM100 – climbing from 84th to equal 47th – after acquiring four former Whichford dealerships in Basingstoke, Hants, from Valley. The group, which turned over £120m, has ambitious plans for further expansion.

Listers of Coventry, which climbed six places in the AM100 to equal 31st on turnover of £195m, was the only motor retailer named in the Sunday Times' poll of Britain's fastest profit-growth companies.

The 17-outlet group, ranked 51st in the poll, is quoted as having a 39.1% annual profit growth.