Cook Trading enjoyed another “pleasing year” thanks to its focus on new stores, online subscriptions and improvements in its manufacturing capacity.
Overall sales at the posh ready meal maker and retailer grew by 10% to £131.7m in the year to 31 March 2025, according to latest accounts published at Companies House.
Cook opened seven new stores and added 170 new concessions during the year. Like-for-like sales were up 2.2%, compared with the previous year’s like for like growth of 11.8%. Although this was “a little lower” than expected, “excellent” performance at its new stores had made up for it, Cook said.
Furthermore, Cook had improved its cost of sales, allowing it to grow margins, as a result of improvements at its Sittingbourne manufacturing facility. Cost of sales was reduced to 48.2% from 49%, the business said.
Overall EBITDA grew 12% to £9.7m, which was above expectations. Profit for the full year was £1.8m, flat on the previous year.
“We look back on our 2024/25 financial year with a sense of satisfaction,” said Cook CEO and cofounder Ed Perry, in a Dolly Parton-inspired trading statement peppered with quotes from the legendary country singer.
“We’ve delivered another year of sales and profit growth, always with our driving purpose – To Nourish People & Planet – front of mind. As always, heartfelt thanks to our teams, customers and partners for making it possible. Cook is a business built on community.”
Cook, which is part-backed by Associated British Foods, invested £6.7m into its stores and supply chain. Further improvements are planned this financial year.
Looking to the year ahead, Cook will ramp up investment into further improving its supply chain. It includes a major new project – dubbed Vanilla – to construct a new cold storage store at its Sittingbourne HQ. The site is set to come online in late 2026, replacing Cook’s current cold store in Gillingham.
The Grocer understands that the project will double the capacity of Cook’s cold storage.
“Cook is now in its 28th year,” Perry continued. “Mature by business standards but otherwise young and full of vim and ambition. We know what makes us tick, why we’re doing what we do and are clear on the challenges ahead. Needless to say, Dolly puts it best: ‘Find out who you are and then do it on purpose.’ Amen to that,” he added.
In October, ABF increased its stake in Cook. Filings posted at Companies House, not included in the financial period covered by the latest accounts, show the giant now owns more than a quarter, but less than half, of the business.
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