Hot weather boosts Booker sales
Cash and carry chain Booker today shrugged off competition concerns surrounding its takeover by Tesco to reveal a hot weather-fuelled surge in sales.
The group, which has two Booker sites in Wolverhampton and one in Kingswinford, said non-tobacco like-for-like sales jumped by 9.6 per cent in the quarter to June 16, thanks to fair weather and this year's later Easter.
Tobacco sales remained under pressure amid tighter regulation, down 7.9 per cent, which left overall like-for-like sales 4.2 per cent higher in the first quarter.
Analysts at Shore Capital branded the sales performance "outstanding".
The figures come as Booker holds its annual general meeting for shareholders, which is expected to be dominated by questions over its tie-up with Tesco.
Tesco and Booker asked the competition watchdog last week to "fast-track" its investigation into their £3.7 billion merger, with the deal expected to face an in-depth probe.
The Competition and Markets Authority had been expected to complete the first phase of its investigation by July 25, but the two firms have requested it speeds up referral to a more in-depth second phase.
Booker also owns Makro including a store in Halesowen.
