Booker sees sales increase by 0.2% to £9.04 billion and profit rise by 0.7%

In its preliminary results for 2025/6, Booker saw like-for-like sales increase by 0.2% to £9.04 billion. Adjusted operating profit increased by 0.7% to £292 million, with adjusted operating margin at 3.2%.

Booker’s owner Tesco reported that a record ‘Save to Invest’ contribution more than offset operating cost inflation. Save to Invest aims to drive efficiency and reduce costs within the business, with the savings reinvested to offer lower prices for customers and higher pay for employees.

“Booker like-for-like sales grew 0.2%, with robust growth in core retail and catering offset by the continuing decline in the tobacco market,” reported Tesco. Tobacco sales were down by 9.5% to £1.53 billion.

“Best Food Logistics delivered like-for-like growth of 0.6% [to £1.45 billion] despite continued weakness in parts of the fast-food market.”

The company added: “Core retail grew by 2.2% [to £3.3 billion], including the impact from the ending of a lower-margin national account in August 2025.

“We continue to see strong growth in our core symbol brands with a further 369 net new retailer partners across the year, and we saw further improvements in customer satisfaction scores across our retail customer base.”

In addition, more than 300 retailers are now using Scoot, Booker’s rapid delivery service.

In relation to sales to caterers, Tesco said: “Core catering performed well with like-for-like sales growth of 3.8% [to £2.75 billion], supported by a strong contribution from Venus, our specialist wine and spirit merchant, and good weather over the summer.

“Customer satisfaction scores also improved in catering, and we continued to deliver great value and availability.”