Wales accounts for approximately 3.1% of the UK's active companies, including several household names that originated here. Iceland Foods Ltd launched in 1970, moneysupermarket.com became a price comparison giant, and Coffee #1 grew from a single café into a nationwide chain.

We examine Wales' current business environment, from the companies leading growth to the wider trends influencing activity across the nation.

Understanding the Welsh Business Landscape

Before exploring the companies that made our rankings, let's examine Wales' broader business environment.
Wales currently hosts 155,000 active companies. Of these, 46,100 are headquartered in Cardiff, representing approximately 30% of the total.

Industries and Sectors

Analysis of Wales' key industries reveals overlap with England and Scotland, particularly across three sectors, two appearing in all three nations' top three, and one featuring in two.

Application software, which ranked second in England, holds fourth position in Wales (matching Scotland's ranking) at 5.5%.

Company Foundations and Cessations

Welsh company formation and closure patterns diverge from those observed in England and Scotland. Through 2025, Wales has experienced a record number of cessations, 62,600, substantially higher than last year's 48,600. Cessations have been climbing rapidly since 2023.

Company formations tell a similar story. Welsh foundations increased annually from 2016 to 2023, when the nation reached an all-time peak of 62,600. However, formations have since declined year-on-year, with only 18,200 company foundations recorded in 2025 to date.

Equity Investment in Wales

Our recent report, The State of UK Investment, examines all equity investment into UK companies during H1 2025.

The report found that Wales secured 2% of UK deals and 1% of total capital invested during H1 2025, third place behind England and Scotland, but ahead of Northern Ireland. However, this represented a 34% decline in deal volume and an 80% drop in capital invested compared to H2 2024.
For detailed UK equity investment analysis, read the full report.

Wales' Fastest-Growing Companies

To compile our ranking of Wales' high-growth companies, we've used Beauhurst platform data, which contributed to the Sunday Times Hundred research. This ranking, published in the Sunday Times on 29th June, ranks Britain's fastest-growing companies by sales growth over a three-year period.

Seven Welsh companies made the 2025 list, here's the lineup:

7. LITELOK
Location: Swansea | Growth Rate: 59.2%
Founded in 2013 by engineer Neil Barron, Litelok tackles bike theft through innovative, lightweight security solutions. The Swansea-based company manufactures products in a solar-powered Welsh factory and has expanded rapidly, earning placement on The Sunday Times Hundred.

Litelok's standout innovation is Barronium®, a ceramic composite developed with Swansea University that resists angle-grinder attacks by damaging the tool itself. The company also offers wearable belt-style locks and lighter everyday models, all independently security-rated.

With sales exceeding £5m in 2024 and significant international market growth, Litelok has established itself as a leader in high-security bike and motorcycle locks.

6. Brand Hatchers
Location: Cardiff | Growth Rate: 80.1%
Founded in 2019 by father-daughter duo Chris Howarth and Emily Griffiths, Brand Hatchers is a Cardiff-based brand-building agency with global ambitions. Their journey began revitalising Brain Blasterz, a sour-candy brand acquired in 2019. Through branding refresh, product innovation, and global distribution, it's now a leading European and Middle Eastern sour candy.

Building on that success, Brand Hatchers has launched two additional brands: Nurture by Nature (personal-care gifting) and Guitar Lab (guitar accessory gifts).

Beyond The Sunday Times Hundred appearance, the company has featured on Wales Fast Growth 50 and received The King's Awards for International Trade.

5. Tŷ Nant
Location: Bethania | Growth Rate: 100%
Tŷ Nant is a natural mineral water company based in Bethania, Ceredigion, at the Cambrian Mountains' edge. The spring was first identified in 1976, with commercial introduction at London's Savoy Hotel in 1989.
The brand gained recognition for distinctive cobalt blue glass bottles, which won design awards and later expanded into red glass, PET plastic, and the TAU range in clear glass. Today, Tŷ Nant water is drawn from a protected 300-acre site and bottled at the Bethania facility.

Recent years have seen expansion through acquisitions. Late 2024 brought purchases of Fonthill Water and Decantae Mineral Water, followed in 2025 by Strathmore Water's acquisition from A.G. Barr.

4. Solar Buddies
Location: Cwmbran | Growth Rate: 141%
Solar Buddies is a sunscreen company founded in 2011 by Kelli Aspland and Laura Waters, who remain directors and primary shareholders.

The Solar Buddies concept originated from Kelli and Laura's shared concern for children's sun safety. They developed a refillable, child-friendly sunscreen applicator simplifying and reducing mess during sun protection application, particularly within school environment constraints.
The company appeared on Dragons' Den in 2023, securing £80,000 investment from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden.

3. Coffi Lab
Location: Cardiff | Growth Rate: 156%
Coffi Lab is a coffee shop chain based in Wales and southwest England. Entrepreneur James Shapland launched the brand in 2021, having previously founded Coffee#1 and sold it in 2011.
Since then, Coffi Lab has expanded to operate ten stores, including several in and around Cardiff, Monmouthshire, and parts of England.

December 2024 brought £1.70m investment from the Development Bank of Wales. Beyond The Sunday Times Hundred, the company has featured on Wales Fast Growth 50 and FEBE Growth 100.

2. Hair Syrup
Location: Pembrokeshire | Growth Rate: 167%
Headquartered in Pembrokeshire, Hair Syrup specialises in natural, plant-powered pre-wash hair oil treatments formulated to nourish the scalp, improve shine, and address concerns including breakage, dryness, and itchiness.

The brand experienced substantial growth through social media, particularly TikTok. A viral video of founder Lucie Macleod's homemade routine garnered hundreds of thousands of views, driving customer demand skyward. Consequently, Hair Syrup entered retail partnerships with Boots, Superdrug, ASOS, and Beauty Bay.
Lucie Macleod also appeared on Dragons' Den without securing investment, but the publicity triggered a 66% sales boost alongside surging social media followers and expanded media interest.

1. de Novo Solutions
Location: Newport | Growth Rate: 187%
de Novo Solutions is a digital transformation consultancy based in Newport, founded in June 2021 by Mark Sweeny and Tim Warner. The company specialises in implementing and supporting Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow technologies, focusing on enhancing Finance, HR, Payroll, and Procurement operations for public and private organisations.

Since inception, de Novo Solutions has experienced significant growth. By May 2025, the company reported annual sales of £9.8m, marking a 187% three-year increase. The firm has expanded its global presence, including an India office opening in March 2025.

In recognition of rapid growth and entrepreneurial success, de Novo Solutions ranked eighth in The Sunday Times Hundred, and first on our Wales fastest-growing companies list.

Access Live Data on the UK and Beyond

To stay ahead and monitor Wales' most exciting scaleups, plus fast-growing businesses across the UK and major European hubs like Germany, Beauhurst delivers everything you need. Our platform provides up-to-date intelligence on ambitious companies, helping you identify organisations driving tomorrow's economy.
With advanced search functionality, real-time company alerts, and extensive UK high-growth landscape coverage, now complemented by full German economy and innovation scene coverage, you'll always maintain an inside track on opportunities others might miss.

GS Verde Group: Strategic Advisory for Wales' High-Growth Businesses

Wales hosts some of the UK's most dynamic businesses, with technology, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors driving remarkable growth.

However, rapid growth introduces complexity. Whether securing investment, managing acquisitions, or planning for long-term sustainability, businesses require more than ambition, they need specialist guidance to navigate fast-moving markets with confidence.

GS Verde Group partners with ambitious Welsh companies, providing expert legal, financial, and strategic advice. By combining corporate finance, law, tax, accountancy, and communications under one roof, our multi-discipline model delivers integrated support helping businesses scale effectively, attract investment, and achieve successful exits.

From high-growth tech firms and energy innovators to established manufacturers embracing expansion, GS Verde supports Welsh businesses at every journey stage. Our goal is straightforward: empowering you with the expertise needed to transform opportunity into lasting success.

Further insights: Explore companies making an impact in Wales at: https://www.beauhurst.com/blog/fastest-growing-companies-in-wales/