Booker reports further growth

Booker’s recovery is showing no signs of faltering with it reporting like-for-like sales rose 6.7% in the 16 weeks to January 1, compared with 2.7% for the same period last year.

Non-tobacco like-for-likes rose by 6% (prior year 5%), while like-for-like tobacco sales increased by 7.9% (prior year: 0.9%).

Following enhancements to the range, fresh departments showed strong growth with fruit and vegetables up 59% and meat up 20%.

Reporting on the depot in Mumbai which opened in October, it said performance in India was encouraging, with good customer numbers and spending levels, and it was increasingly confident it could serve the Kirana stores, street traders, caterers and suppliers of India.

Booker chief executive Charles Wilson said: “Booker continues to make good progress, with both customer numbers and customer satisfaction improving further.”

Booker will be staging an event to say ‘thank you’ to its customers in all its branches on January 21-22. It will include ‘mega deals’, products tastings and free stock to thank customers for their business during 2009.