Food retailer and wholesaler Booker’s first-quarter sales were bolstered by Budgens and Londis, but the group reported a drop in like-for-likes.
Booker Group reported a 10% rise in total sales including the contribution from Londis and Budgens stores for the 12 weeks to June 17 2016, when sales of tobacco products increased 6.4% and non-tobacco items were up 11.7%.
However, like-for-like sales, excluding Londis and Budgens but including the Makro cash-and-carry division, dipped 2.9% over the period.
Non-tobacco like-for-likes fell 0.7%, which Booker attributed to “deflation in food prices and many customers reporting weak consumer demand”, while tobacco like-for-likes slumped 7.7%.
Chief executive Charles Wilson said: “Overall, Booker Group had another solid quarter.
“Booker Direct, Chef Direct, Ritter and Booker India performed as we expected. Premier continues to grow and we made good progress with the integration of Budgens and Londis.
“Our plans to focus, drive and broaden Booker Group are on track.”
The wholesale and retail group, which acquired Londis and Budgens from Musgrave for £40m last September, said it is on course to meet its full-year profits expectations for the year.
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