Benefits of Booker’s Makro deal start to show as profits rise 17pc
Cash and carry group Booker reported higher first half sales and profits yesterday thanks to its recent acquisition of Makro, which the group said was helping to broaden the business.
Sales in the 24 weeks to 13 September rose 16.5 per cent to £2.2bn on profits up 17 per cent to £58.1m.
The food wholesaler added that group sales in the current half were ahead of the same period last year.
“Our plan to focus, drive and broaden Booker group is on track. The team at Makro have settled into the group and are making a real contribution,” chief executive Charles Wilson said. “Through working together Booker and Makro are improving the choice, price and service for our retail, catering and small business customers.”
He added that improved customer satisfaction helped drive non tobacco like-for-like sales up by five per cent.
Total like-for-like sales increased by 2.3 per cent, while tobacco sales declined by 2.2 per cent.
Booker bought Makro UK, the struggling wholesale business of German retailer Metro, last year in a £140m deal. The group expects to deliver £26m of savings from the turnaround of Makro this year.