Booker Group's third-quarter sales rise boosted by Londis and Budgens

Sales made through Booker’s 1,630 Londis stores and 167 Budgens fascias drove total sales up during the 16 weeks to January 1. Non-tobacco sales rose 11.9%.

It comes after the group completed a £40m deal to acquire the convenience specialists from Musgrave last September.

However Booker’s like-for-like sales, which stripped out Londis and Budgens but included its Makro cash and carry division, slipped 3.1% during the period. Non-tobacco sales were down 1.3% on a like-for-like basis, impacted by food price deflation and “weak consumer demand.”

Booker chief executive Chares Wilson said: “Booker Group continued to make progress in a challenging market.

“Budgens and Londis are settling into the group well as we continue to improve choice, prices and service for all our customers.”