Booker Wholesale posted a rise in sales and profits in the first half of 2025, driven by its core retail division.
Total sales increased by 2.4% to £4.73bn in the 26 weeks to 23 August, while like-for-like sales grew by 1.7%. Booker’s core retail like-for-like sales increased by 4.1%, with particularly strong growth in its Premier symbol brand.
The Tesco-owned wholesaler added 257 net new retail partners in the period across symbol brands Premier, Londis, Budgens and Family Shopper.
Adjusted operating profit edged up 0.6% to £162m. Core like-for-like catering sales also increased, by 5.7%.
“The underlying growth rates for the out-of-home market and for retail are pretty robust in the half, and Booker has performed ahead of our expectations. We feel very good about Booker,” said Tesco CEO Ken Murphy during a financial results call.
Tesco CFO Imran Nawaz said Booker “saw a further increase in customer satisfaction” as the business “continued to invest in price competitiveness”.
“Good-weather tailwind and cost efficiencies from our Save to Invest programme helped mitigate significant industry-wide operating cost pressures. I am pleased with the contribution Booker makes to the group and see further opportunity for growth in the years to come,” he said.
M&S ended a long-term supply deal with Booker last month, appointing Blakemore as its primary wholesale partner instead.
Booker had been M&S’s branded supplier for more than 15 years. It is understood the decision to end the deal was influenced by Blakemore’s ability to deliver to M&S’s regional distribution network seven days a week versus five days by Booker.
Speaking on the impact to the wholesaler, Murphy said: “It’s not that material. It is going to have an impact but not a material one. Booker continues to grow share in retail and catering, so we’re not concerned about that.”
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