Booker’s retail sales excluding tobacco grew by 14.2% compared to the previous year, with the wholesaler’s parent company Tesco making a £523m investment improving distribution and warehouse capacity.
The figures for the net increase in stores was revealed in parent company Tesco’s interim results for the six months ending 26 August where it referenced growth of 20% year-on-year for entry level own label across Booker, as more than 40,000 retailers purchased from the value range. Like-for-like sales in tobacco were down by 5.9% in the period.
The firm is also gearing up to expand its distribution capacity to support Booker stores, as capital expenditure during the six-month period rose by £75m to £523m.
Read more: Tesco boss confirms expansion of catering ranges at Booker depots
Tesco group chief executive Ken Murphy said: “Booker once again delivered an exceptionally strong performance with very strong growth across both retail and catering.”
Meanwhile,Booker has unveiled two new colleague networks that overlap with National Inclusion Week, and follows the launch of Women at Booker earlier this year.
The networks executive sponsors include Booker’s chief financial officer Ves Bandev; Booker’s chief operating officer for race and ethnicity Jonny McQuarrie; Booker’s managing director of retail Colm Johnson; and Booker’s managing director of best food logistics for LGBTQ+ Paul Whyte.
Raymond Acquah, area manager and chair of race and ethnicity, said anyone can be a part of the network.
“I am really excited about how we can support, inspire and motive our ethnically diverse colleagues so they really can be at their best at Booker,” he continued.
