Budgens at Shell

Shell has agreed a partnership deal with Booker after it stepped in to supply its UK stores following Palmer & Harvey’s collapse.

The deal will see the wholesaler deliver goods to 500 stores for the next three years.

It comes after Booker filled the void to deliver goods to the oil giant’s filling stations after previous supplier P&H went bust last month.

Booker MD Steve Fox said: “We are really excited about this new partnership and it is a privilege to serve Shell retailers. The whole team are looking forward to working with Shell to increase footfall, sales and profits for their stores.”

Last week Shell told The Grocer it had “activated a contingency plan” but admitted there could be the “possibility of interruption” to the supply of products following P&H’s demise.

P&H supplied more than 90,000 outlets, including forecourts and motorway service companies like Welcome Break and Moto.

“We are very pleased to be working with Booker to ensure that there is a safe and reliable supply of products to our service stations to provide our customers a wide choice of goods and services,” said Shell general manager David Moss.

In September, Shell agreed a deal to add a further 20 Booker-owned Budgens c-stores at its filling stations, following a trial at four of its sites.