Charles Wilson CEO Booker Group

Wilson: Plans for bringing Booker and Makro together are on track

Booker has posted a rise of 17.3 per cent for its full-year turnover to £4.7 billion for the 52 weeks to 28 March.

Like-for-like sales, excluding Makro and tobacco, were up by 4.4 per cent in the same period.The Northamptonshire-based company also said its wholesale sector achieved its best-ever customer satisfaction scores.

Like-for-like sales, including tobacco, to retailers fell by 0.5 per cent, but rose 7.1 per cent to caterers, while customer numbers, excluding Makro, rose 5 per cent to 529,000. Iinternet sales jumped 10 cent to £777 million.

The Group had around £150 million net cash at the end of the year, compared to £77 million a year ago, and a statement said that profits for the year “remain in line with expectations”.

It also announced Q4 results for the 12 weeks to 28 March, and a statement said that Booker Wholesale had reported a good quarter.

Booker chief executive Charles Wilson said plans for bringing Booker and Makro together are on track, after the consolidation was announced last April.

“This was a good quarter with non tobacco like-for-likes up 3.4 per cent,” he added. “In this last quarter we achieved our best ever customer satisfaction scores in Booker and Makro as we continue to improve the choice, prices and service to catering, retailing and small business customers in the UK.”

Booker Group comprises Booker Wholesale, Makro, Booker Direct, Classic Drinks, Ritter Courivaud, Chef Direct and Booker India.