Booker Group plans to grow sales to £6bn

The company’s Booker Direct and Chef Direct businesses also works with pub companies including Charles Wells, Star Pubs & Bars, Enterprise Inns, Shepherd Neame, Robinsons, Admiral Taverns, Greene King and Inventive Leisure’s Revolution bars sites.

The company, which has 172 Booker sites and 30 Makro, plans to grow sales from £4.7bn of sales to £6bn by 2017 through its online, delivery and cash and carry businesses.

The company merged with Makro last year​ and is planning eight depots, where Makro and Booker will operate from the same site.  Its Sheffield site is already operating in this format. There are also plans for new markets for Booker in Makro sites such as Belfast.

One-stop​

Best-selling product ranges from both Makro and Booker Wholesale are being introduced into both.

Stuart Hyslop, sales director – catering, said: "The biggest benefit to pub caterers of the merger is the increase in ranges available under one roof. With the sites becoming a one-stop."

The company reported a 2.3% rise in like-for-like sales in the 24 weeks to 13 September, with non-tobacco like-for-likes up 5%, on sales up 16.5% to £2.2bn. Profit before tax (pre exceptionals) increased 17% to £58.1m.

Sales to caterers increased by 8.7% and on-line sales were up 11% in the period to £369m, with 295k active customers.

Sales of fresh fruit and vegetables under the company’s Farm Fresb range, where produce is bought direct from farms, has increased by 18%. The company has trained 58 staff into greengrocers in the past three years.

Choice​

The company has renamed its Booker Basics range to Chef’s Essentials to better reflect the quality of the products. The company also offers an All About Food book to help catering customers with menu inspiration and profitability of their food offer.

Charles Wilson, chief executive of Booker, said: "Our plan to focus, drive and broaden Booker Group is on track. The team at Makro have settled into the group and are making a real contribution. Through working together Booker and Makro are improving the choice, price and service for our retail, catering and small business customers."