Booker retail sales rose by 19.4% on a two-year like-for-like basis to £2.3bn during the six months to the end of August.

The growth was revealed in Tesco’s half year results on 6 October. On a one-year like for like basis, the £2.3bn sales figure represents a 2.8% decline. Tesco attributed the decline to an increase in the number of customers shopping nearer to home through the initial stages of the pandemic last year.

During 2021, more than 350 Budgens, Londis and Premier stores opened alongside 100 One Stop stores. However, the results did not specify how many of the 100 One Stop openings were franchise.

Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy said: “We also have a strong presence in the second fastest growing food retail channel – convenience – with the combination of our 1,941 fully-owned Express convenience stores, our 710 owned and 233 franchised One Stop stores and our wholesale relationship with around 90,000 Booker retail customers.

“This gives us a strong platform from which to accelerate growth through capital-light opportunities to open new space and continuing to add new franchisees and symbol store operators, leaving us well-placed to benefit from the continuing trend towards more frequent top-up shopping.”

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