SHEPHERD Building Group, the York-based builder, manufacturer and developer is again among the top 100 biggest unquoted companies in Britain.

But this year, with sales of £557 million, the organisation which employs more than 4,000 and is wholly owned by the Shepherd family, slipped slightly in the Sunday Times KPMG rankings from 43rd last year to 50th. Last year's sales were £539 million.

Climbing up the ladder was Dunnington-based convenience store franchisor Costcutter, owned by tycoon Colin Graves and his family, which employs more than 1,000 people nationally. Its £300 million sales last year eased up £360 million causing it to go from 95th last year to 92nd.

The two organisations were among just ten in the North which made it into the Top 100. Top of the tree in the North was Littlewoods retailer chain of Liverpool, owned mostly by the Barclays brothers with a 95 per cent stake, the remainder by the Bank of Scotland. Its sales were £1.907 billion.

Maintaining its overall national No1 status was the John Lewis Partnership, of London. Wholly owned by its employees its sales improved from £4.027 billion last year to £4.246.

Updated: 10:59 Monday, June 30, 2003