It has been a week of mixed fortunes for Booker, which has received the green light to snap up two corner-shop chains but reported falling sales.
Britain’s biggest cash-and-carry wholesaler said in a trading update yesterday that a government ban on small stores displaying cigarettes had depressed sales by 2 per cent in the ten weeks to August 28 — tobacco sales were 6.5 per cent lower and non-tobacco sales up 0.1 per cent.
The group brought forward its September trading update after the Competition and Markets Authority cleared its acquisition of Budgens and Londis from Musgrave Retail Partners. Booker hopes the £40 million purchase will boost its high street presence, which includes Premier and Family Shopper.
Charles Wilson, chief executive of the Booker Group