Sales at UK wholesaler Booker increase 7.3%
Total like-for-likes are up by 6.1% with non-tobacco sales up by 5.1% and tobacco sales up by 7.8%. Customer numbers increased by 5% to 481,000 with internet sales up by 21% to £635m.
“Booker continues to make good progress,” said chief executive Charlie Wilson. “Customer satisfaction for choice, price and service has improved and we are serving 22,000 more customers than last year. This has helped the group increase sales by over £260m in the past 52 weeks. Our plans to ‘focus, drive and broaden’ the business remain on track.”
Stuart Hyslop, sales director – catering said: “The fourth quarter has remained tough for our catering customers. However, customers are telling us that we have made some good progress with our satisfaction score improving but we understand we have more work to do.
“Fresh sales continue to perform well with our fruit & vegetable ‘Super 6’ long term price being particularly popular with customers. Our continued focus around events has helped our customers have a successful Mother’s Day, St Patricks Day and make the most of sporting events like the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Six Nations.
“Although the outlook remains challenging, the summer presents some exciting events for our customers to really increase their sales and profits. The Jubilee, Euro 2012 and Olympics could be the perfect opportunity for our catering customers to have a great summer trading.”
New distribution network Chef Direct has won its first national account with Inventive Leisure which runs 66 Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba bars across the UK.
