Booker has outlined plans to open 150 Budgens stores this year, boosting its estate to nearly 500.

According to The Grocer, the symbol group has launched 36 sites in 2022, with a further 84 set to begin open for business. Speaking to the title, Booker Retail Partners sales director Stewart Fenn said: “It was an aggressive target, but we’ve had a record start to the year and we have a lot of people knocking on our door.”

Commenting further on own label, he added that the current cost-of-living crisis would drive more demand for the category.

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