Booker Retail sales up 14%

Booker Retail has recorded an annual sales increase of 14% for the 19 weeks ending 9 January, 2021.

The trading result were revealed in Tesco UK’s latest financial report released on 14 January. Sales within Booker overall during the 19 weeks rose by 12.4% annually to £2.47bn. Commenting on the growth within Retail, Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy told RN the increase was driven by increased footfall into Booker’s symbol group stores during the pandemic. “The principal driver were the banner brands of Premier, Budgens and Londis. They’ve been really strong over the period.”

In comparison, catering sales within Booker fell by 49% during the Christmas period due to covid restrictions on the hospitality industry. Despite that, Tesco claimed Booker was outperforming the catering sector as a whole.

Within Tesco’s own stores, total sales throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland for the 19 weeks rose by 8.5%. Murphy added stores in city centres had been hit by the lack of footfall caused by government restrictions.

Last year the government announced plans to roll out mass covid testing at food manufacturing sites. When asked whether Booker warehouses had participated, Murphy told RN: “We are keen to get rapid testing to our distribution sites, but we’ve had no delays to our distribution.”

Murphy added Tesco and Booker had respectively supported each other in Brexit preparation. He said the two companies had experienced no issues due to Brexit, but added categories which could face disruption are ready meals with short shelf life and citrus fruits.