The UK's leading food wholesaler, Booker Group has posted its full year results to 19 May 2016, that show pre-tax profits rose by 9% to £150.8m on the back of a 5% increase in revenues to £4.9bn.
Like-for-like sales to caterers was up by 0.6%, and to retailers LFL sales fell by 2.2%. Non-tobacco sales were up 6.3% and tobacco sales up 2.2%. Like-for-like total sales fell 1.9%.
For the period, the company also reported that internet sales were up by 12% to £979m (excluding Budgens and Londis).
The group said trading in the first seven weeks of the current financial year was ahead of last year.
Booker Group stated, 'However, we anticipate that the challenging consumer and market environment will persist through the coming year and the UK's food market remains very competitive.
'Whilst there is increasing price competition in the UK grocery and discount sectors, we will continue to deliver our plans to offer our customers even better choice, prices and service supported by the continued delivery of our efficiency programmes.
'We are on track to deliver an outcome for the new financial year in line with our plans and to make progress in this challenging environment.'