• Total Booker sales including Budgens and Londis up 10.6% in fourth quarter
  • Total sales up 5% to £5bn in full year
  • ‘Good progress’ being made on integration of Budgens and Londis

Booker, the food retailer and wholesaler, has posted a rise in sales helped by last year’s acquisition of Budgens and Londis.

Booker posted a 10.6% increase in total revenues, including the Budgens and Londis convenience stores operations, in its fourth quarter.

Excluding Budgens and Londis, Booker’s like-for-like sales were down 2.5% in the period to March 25.

For the 52 weeks to the same date, total sales including the contribution from Budgens and Londis rose 5% year on year to £5bn. Booker like-for-like total sales slipped 1.9%.

In the fourth quarter, Booker’s wholesale and cash-and-carry businesses’ sales of goods other than tobacco edged down 0.7% like-for-like.

Booker reported: “These sales were impacted by deflation in food prices and many customers reporting weak consumer demand during the period.”

Tobacco sales were impacted by the ban on small stores displaying such products and fell 6.1% like-for-like.

Booker chief executive Charles Wilson said: “Overall, 2015/16 was a good year. Customer satisfaction scores were strong, sales and profits were the best we have ever achieved.

“We made good progress on the integration of Londis and Budgens. We continue to improve choice, prices and service to our customers. Booker Group remains on track to focus, drive and broaden the business.”

Topics