Bestway turnover tops £2bn

Bestway Group’s turnover has topped £2bn for the first time, it has announced, with its wholesale business contributing the majority of sales.

Group turnover for the year ended 30 June 2009 increased by 8.6% to £2.05bn, up from £1.89bn in 2008, and profit before tax for the year ended 30 June 2009 was £80.6m, compared with £63.9m in 2008, an increase of 26.1%.

Group chief executive Zameer Choudrey commented: “During the year our businesses showed robust performance, both in the UK and Pakistan, with all group businesses continuing to enhance their respective market shares during the year. We are very proud to have broken the £2bn barrier for the first time.”

Turnover in the wholesale business was £1.92bn, up 5.2% from £1.83bn in the same period last year, and profit before tax increased to £39.9m, compared with £34.1m in 2008, an increase of 16.8%. Batleys’ profit before tax increased by 35.4% to £12.1m from £8.9m in 2008.

Choudrey added: “The group’s core activities of wholesale distribution of food and drink ensure that we are not as susceptible as other sectors to the recession pressures engulfing the wider UK economy. Despite the economic challenges, we are confident that by putting into practice the board’s well articulated policies, we shall continue to build our market share in the short term as well as in the long term.”