by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Freight operation Pentagon Holdings is the county's
fastest-growing firm - but will not be making any fuss of a stellar
performance.

The Orpington-based company that serves the oil, gas and
petro-chemical industry was unveiled as the winner of the ninth
annual Kent and Medway MegaGrowth 50 awards.

They were presented at a special breakfast event attended by
more than 100 guests in the newly-expanded Orangery at Turkey Mill,
Maidstone.

The
awards are backed by Reeves, the accounting firm with offices in
Canterbury, Chatham Maritime, Gatwick and London, and Lloyds TSB
Commercial, in partnership with the KM Group.

See the full list of fastest-growing firms
below

The winner, with 170 per cent growth and sales of £138m, is not
planning a song and dance about its triumph. Finance director Tim
Spittle said: "We are well known in the industry but very little
outside. We tend to deal with a lot of clients on the basis of
confidentiality. Because of the way we are, we probably won't
celebrate. We are a very quiet company and that's the way we will
carry on."

Mr Spittle was presented with a large framed certificate. "We
will tell the team and put this on the wall," he added.

Pentagon, founded in 1974, has appeared in the MegaGrowth list
in each of the past four years, rising from 10th last year to top
the table.

International expansion and oil price rises have boosted sales,
with around 80 per cent generated overseas. Apart from its head
office operation, very little is generated in the county. Globally,
Pentagon employs 500 people, including 100 in the UK and 26 in
Orpington.

Oil also fuelled 159 per cent growth at runner-up
Gillingham-based Wozair which designs, manufactures and installs
ventilation systems on oil rigs.

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Firms gather for the
Megagrowth ceremony

Allsands Supplies of Alllington, near Maidstone, was third with
144 per cent growth. The family firm is a major supplier of around
3,000 product lines to DIY enthusiasts, builders' merchants and
small housebuilders.

Clive Stevens, managing partner at Reeves, said the credit
crunch had affected businesses and the make-up of the list had
changed quite a lot from last year. "But it has been encouraging to
see that many of you have continued to grow in tough times. Phil
Beales, area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Kent and East
Sussex, added: "All the companies celebrated at the MegaGrowth
awards have always been impressive and we are proud to be sponsor
for the last nine years."

Geraldine Allinson, KM Group chairman, said: "Well done to all
50 companies. I look forward to seeing many of you at our 10th
anniversary awards next year."

Others in the top 10 were: 4. Hobson Prior International,
Tunbridge Wells. 5. Morgan Jones, Broadstairs. 6. Bordeaux Wine
Investments, Sevenoaks. 7. Full Circle Asset Management, Sevenoaks.
8. Marlin Chemicals, Tonbridge. 9. Foresight Group, Sevenoaks. 10.
Gray and Dungate, West Wickham.