16th Jan 2014 09:56
LONDON (Alliance News) - Booker Group PLC said Thursday total sales for the 16 weeks to January 3 2014, including its Makro business, were up 19.1% on last year, as the firm continues to align the Booker and Makro businesses into a single unit.
The food wholesaler retailer said Booker like-for-like total sales, excluding Makro, were 2.0% higher
with non tobacco like-for-like sales up 4.1% for the period.
Booker said in an interim management statement Thursday that Booker Wholesale, its cash and carry division, had a good quarter, with customer numbers were up and sales were in line with expectations.
The Booker Direct, Ritter, Classic and Chef Direct brands also had a good quarter, said Booker. Chef Direct, the foodservice business launched in 2012, is now supplying over 250,000 meals a day. Sales in India are continuing to make progress from its six branches, it said.
The continuing turnaround of the Makro brand is progressing well, said the company. Non-tobacco sales were down 5.9% in the 16 week period as the business has stopped selling some consumer ranges, such as televisions. Cash and profits at Makro were in line with expectations, it said. Unlike Booker, Makro also offers a range of non-food items and serves retail and small-business customers, as well as the trade customers that are Booker's focus.
Overall, the outlook for profits and net cash for the year remains in line with expectations, said the firm.
Charles Wilson, Booker Chief Executive, said, "This was a good quarter with non tobacco like-for-likes up 4.1%. Our plans for bringing Booker and Makro together are on track. We continue to improve the choice, prices and service to catering, retailing and small business customers in the UK."
Shares in Booker Group were trading down 1.69% at 157.2 pence per share Thursday morning.
By Alice Attwood; [email protected]; @AliceAtAlliance
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