Booker sales decline by 1.8% to £8.99 billion

Booker’s overall like-for-like sales declined by 1.8% to £8.99 billion in the 52 weeks ended 22 February 2025.

The results reflect an ongoing decline in tobacco sales (-8.8% to £1.69 billion) and lower Best Food Logistics volumes (-5.1% to £1.44 billion) due to ‘weaknesses in parts of the fast-food market’.

However, Booker did see 0.9% like-for-like growth in core retail to £3.23 billion, supported by a further 566 net new retail partners in the year, taking the total to just under 8,000.

“Whilst the independent convenience sector is seeing some trading softness, Booker’s symbol brands performed strongly, supported by our targeted promotional plans and improvements in availability,” said the trading statement. “Booker retail customer satisfaction continued to improve, with gains year-on-year.”

There was also a 2.1% like-for-like uplift in core catering to £2.62 billion. This was “driven by stronger volumes, as customers responded well to our value campaigns throughout the year, with prices now locked on over 700 products until June 2025,” said the trading statement.

“Customer satisfaction levels remained high, growing year-on-year, and availability improved even further to circa 98% by the end of the year.” Booker availability is an internal measure, based on the customer’s online order versus delivered.

In June 2024, the group acquired Venus Wine & Spirit Merchants, enabling Booker to offer its on-trade catering customers an even larger selection of spirits, wines, lagers, ciders and ales. “The integration of Venus is progressing well, and we are continuing to expand the customer base, with strong progress towards increasing its geographic presence,” said the trading statement. A new Venus distribution hub opened at the Makro branch in Manchester.