Booker Group, which recently announced the purchase of Budgens and Londis from Musgrave, has announced a total group sales increase of 0.2% in the first quarter of the year.
The wholesaler released the figures for the three months to 19 June today (8 July), the day of its AGM, adding that non tobacco like-for-likes (including Makro) were up 1.0%.
Commenting on its performance, Charles Wilson, chief executive said, "Booker Group continues to make good progress. Our plans to Focus, Drive and Broaden Booker Group are on track. We continue to enhance choice, price and service for our retail, catering and small business customers."
On the Londis and Budgens acquisition, it said that "the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently considering the Londis and Budgens acquisition and we will update shareholders when the CMA stage 1 review is complete."
Commenting on its performance, Shore Capital Stockbrokers said "Booker is an ever-improving, high quality business ran by one of the retail in our view. In market conditions that present many challenges, Booker is toughing it out in the deflationary UK grocery market whilst building its presence and capabilities in catering and the small business segment."
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones
