More being delivered from Booker cash & carries

The value of goods being delivered from Booker and Booker/Makro combined sites continues to rise. Last year the figure was £1.82 billion, against £1.39 billion in the previous 12 months.

Booker checkout

Collected orders from Booker cash & carries are down, but deliveries from the branches are up.

That compares with £3.17 billion for ‘collected’ orders at the cash & carries – down from £3.36 billion.

Chief executive Charles Wilson believes that delivered business will continue to grow, although he does not foresee it overtaking the C&C side in the medium term.

In the financial, year to 25 March, pre-tax profit grew from £138.8 million to £150.8 million on sales ahead from £4.75 billion to £4.99 billion.

One of the growing aspects of the business is contractual arrangements with high street restaurant chains. Last year Booker signed long-term agreements with Prezzo, Carluccio’s and Ed’s Easy Diner, worth around £25m a year.

Continuing a progression since 2008, web sales last year grew from £874 million to £979 million.

The company also continues to fine tune the retail chains it acquired last year.

Budgens, with sales of £292 million from its 150 stores and a projected figure of £450 million, has introduced a ‘Spend & Save’ scheme for customers as well as a new own-label range.

Londis’ near 1,500-store chain aims to increase from the current £444 million sales figure to £700 million.

The most ambitious project centres on the Family Shopper chain, whose 42 outlets have a combined turnover of £19 million, but with a target of 300 stores and £300 million within three years. One of the leading proprietors is about to open his fifth branch under the Family Shopper name.

Tel: Booker Group (01933) 371000

Published Date: May 26, 2016
Category: Wholesale Industry News