Booker is believed to be planning to increase the top tier of its Spend and Save rebate scheme for Premier retailers by 1%.

According to sources, the increase will allow Premier retailers to earn up to a 5% rebate on their weekly spend, with the reward paid monthly.

The changes will bring the rebate scheme for Premier retailers closer to what Budgens retailers earn, which is up to 6%. Londis retailers earn up to 4%.

Under the current scheme, Premier retailers receive a 1% rebate for spending £10,000 to £19,999, 2% for £20,000 to £29,999, 3% for £30,000 to £39,999 and 4% for anything above £40,000.

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One retailer, who asked not to be named, confirmed to Better Retailing that Booker reps had begun communicating the upcoming change to the scheme to store owners, but had not been told the date it would be made active or what the required spend for the 5% rebate would be.

Explaining the impact of the change to their business, one store owner said: “The change will
be hugely beneficial for Premier retailers because it means they could potentially earn an additional several thousand pounds a year.

“The decision for the increase has likely been made because Premier retailers have been asking Booker for a higher margin for some time now.”

Another retailer added that the higher tier of the scheme has been much easier to hit as a result of increased demand during the coronavirus pandemic. They told Better Retailing: “The additional 1% would be massive, especially with the amount we’re spending with Booker currently.

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“The extra money we get from the rebate can go towards wages or anything else to help with our overheads. Anything like this is good in our book.”

Another retailer added: “I’m making much more now than I did before the start of lockdown, and Booker as a group is making decisions that will benefit me.

“We were at the lower end of the Spend and Save scheme, but the pandemic has helped move me to the higher end.”

A Booker spokesperson said: “We do not comment on rumour or speculation.”

The news comes as Nisa began trying out a rebate scheme similar to Booker’s Spend and Save system with no delivery charge.

Nisa had previously determined its rebate scheme by weekly spend, store standards and loyalty.

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