East Lancashire kitchen and bedroom manufacturer J & J Ormerod has won national recognition after being announced as one of the UK's best performing companies.

The Stacksteads-based company has been listed on the Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 - the table which lists 100 of the best performing companies in the UK.

Stephen Greenhalgh, joint managing director, said the acknowledgment had helped put the company and Rossendale on the map. It's one of the Valley's oldest and largest firms, with more than 400 employees at four sites in the area. Mr Greenhalgh said: "Everyone is naturally delighted with the news, which reflects how well the company has performed in recent years.

"Being listed on Profit Track 100 is a great credit to all our staff and management."

He said the secret behind the firm's success is that profits are ploughed back into the company to invest in new plant and machinery.

"Last year we invested £6million on an extension to our Olive Mill factory and offices, which has increased our ability to compete with manufacturers in the UK and Europe," he added.

J & J Ormerod has also developed its own showroom in Stacksteads - Rossendale Interiors, which features more than 40 contemporary displays. Investment in the company has also helped create new jobs and helped protect the long-term futures of the existing workforce.

Turnover for the last 12 months was £31million up from £29million in the previous year and the signs are good this year, with turnover in March up 25 per cent on the same month last year.

Mr Greenhalgh added: "In 2002 we took a long hard look at the business and decided to concentrate on more middle-market products. There was clearly an element of risk, because it meant phasing out bottom-of-the-range models, which until then made up 20 per cent of our turnover.

"But the results proved it was the right move at the right time. The future looks bright for the company and for our employees in what is a highly competitive market."

J and J Ormerod designs, manufactures and supplies kitchens and bedrooms to independent high street furniture stores throughout the UK and into Europe.

The company has been invited to The Profit Track 100 awards event and dinner, to be held at the Langham Hilton, London, on June 15.