Applied Nutrition, the sports-supplement manufacturer backed by JD Sports, is accelerating its preparations for a £500 million-plus float in another sign of a fledgling revival on London’s beleaguered stock market.

Tom Ryder, the 40-year-old founder of Liverpool-based Applied Nutrition, has met 27 City fund managers in recent weeks before a likely listing in the fourth quarter.

“We have realised that it [going public] ticks all our boxes. We firmly believe we could be the company that kicks the doors in on the London Stock Exchange this year,” said Ryder, who added that no firm decision had yet been taken.

Applied Nutrition sells protein products and collagen powders, as well as pre-workout supplements under its ABE brand

APPLIED NUTRITION

Ryder grew up on a Liverpool council estate and trained as a scaffolder aged 16. A keen gym goer, he sold supplements on the side and