Booker like-for-likes up 3.8% driven by festive season

Food wholesaler Booker has seen like-for-like sales rise 3.8% as a result of a good festive season.

In the 16 weeks to 29 December non-tobacco sales rose by 5.9% with non-tobacco sales down 2.6%. Non-tobacco like-for-likes were up 6.2% while tobacco sales were down 2.1%.

As a result, total sales rose by 3.4% and like-for-likes were up 3.8%.

The catering and retail sides of the business both made progress, with Booker supplying to Shell and MRH forecourt businesses in December 2017. Internet sales also pushed revenue with an increase of 14% to £381m.

Stuart Hyslop, managing director catering and small business, said: "Our catering business has made strong progress and our customers have told us they had a good festive season. Our Food & Drink Guide has been well received and this has helped to improve our customer satisfaction which remains our focus. We will continue to listen to our customers to deliver great value for them and I am looking forward to further supporting our customers during the coming months."

In January 2017 Booker announced a planned merger with Tesco. On 20 December 2017 the Competition and Markets Authority published its decision granting unconditional clearance of the merger.

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