Demand for fresh produce at Booker Wholesale has helped the business sales growth in last weeks of 2011 that many of the retailers it supplies could only dream of.
In the 16 weeks to 30 December, Booker's like-for-like sales rose by 6.7 per cent on the same period in 2010.
This success was driven by a 17 per cent increase in like-for-like sales of fruit and vegetables for the same period.
Encouraged by its success, the group is stepping up its expansion in the food service market with the launch of "Chef Direct", a service run from what Booker calls a state-of-the-art distribution centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, due to become operational in June of this year.
"Chef Direct will combine Booker's scale and logistics capabilities with Ritter-Courivaud's expertise in catering and speciality foods," the company said in a statement.
Booker also plans to continue expanding into India, with its second and third branches set to open in Mumbai in early 2012.
"Our plans to focus, drive and broaden the group are on track and we are pleased to be developing Chef Direct to serve major food service customers," said Charles Wilson, Booker's chief executive.
The outlook for profits and net cash for the year remains in line with expectations.
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