Booker profits from fruit and veg
A 34 per cent rise in fruit and vegetable sales has helped food wholesaler Booker Group increase revenue and profit.
The Wellingborough-based business reported a 7.6 per cent rise in total sales for its second quarter of the year covering the 12 weeks to 9 September 2011.
It said non-tobacco sales were 7.6 per cent higher than a year ago while tobacco sales also rose by 7.6 per cent.
On a like-for-like basis total sales rose by 5.6 per cent with non-tobacco sales up by 4.5 per cent and tobacco sales rising by 7.6 per cent.
The company praises its fresh departments as performing "particularly well" given the increase in fruit and vegetable sales.
The business said that total sales in the 24 weeks to 9 September 2011 rose by 8.5 per cent on the same period last year.
Booker said Classic and Ritter Courivaud, the two businesses it acquired in October 2010, were also performing well and its Mumbai branch in India is "trading well". A branch in Pune, India, is set to open next week with a second branch in Mumbai set for December.
Charles Wilson, Booker chief executive, said: "Amid a challenging economy Booker has continued to improve the choice, prices and service we provide to customers. "Customers have rewarded us with an increased share of their spend and the number of customers has increased. Our plans to drive and broaden Booker are on track."
