Booker prized by chefs

The group, which supplies businesses including Loch Fyne Restaurants and Angus Steak House, said sales to caterers climbed 8.7 per cent to £712m during the 24 weeks to September 13. Fresh food performed well, with fruit and vegetable sales climbing 18 per cent.

Booker said it will hand shareholders a £60m windfall next year, after cash reserves swelled and underlying pre-tax profits climbed to £58.1m.

Booker, which serves 1.5m customers, has grown sales to caterers every year since 2008, helped by its expanding range.

It also has a growing online delivery service, which serves customers ranging from prisons to cinemas and restaurants, and improved sales 11 per cent to £369m.

Like-for-like sales increased 2.3 per cent during the half, and stripping out the impact of a 2.2 per cent fall in tobacco sales, they were up 5 per cent.

Chief executive Charles Wilson said its turnaround of the Makro business is making good progress, with the chain offering a “real contribution” to the group.

The Competition Commission formally cleared Booker’s £140m takeover of Makro UK in April – more than a year after the acquisition was completed.

The takeover combined Makro’s 30 UK stores with Booker’s 172 branches.

It helped drive Northamptonshire-based Booker’s total sales up 16.5 per cent to £2.2bn.

Mr Wilson: “Our plan to focus, drive and broaden Booker Group is on track.”