AF Blakemore reports a 1.4% sales increase

Peter Blakemore, chairman of AF Blakemore & Son, said that trading for the financial year to 30 April represented a “good, solid result during a period of intense change across the food retail and wholesale markets”.

Like-for-like profit was £7.4 million – little changed on the previous annual figure of £7.5 billion, which was for 53 weeks. Sales rose by 1.4% to £1.3 billion.

The SPAR operation performed well in terms of both company-owned and independent stores.

Blakemore commented: “Customer spending patterns are rapidly changing. Consumers are shopping more frequently for smaller quantities of food for immediate or same-day consumption.

“We have placed great emphasis on our store operations to meet these growing trends through changing our product range and developing our food-for-now and prepared food-to-go offering.”

Over the past year, the company invested £19.2 million in store and business improvements; a further £27.5 million is earmarked for the current period.

Blakemore’s statement makes no mention of the 13 C&C/wholesale depots in membership of Landmark Wholesale or the foodservice business.

Tel: AF Blakemore & Son (01902) 366066