Can anyone steal Booker’s crown? The cash & carry giant has won the wholesaler of the Year award for an incredible three years on the bounce, and for the fourth time in five years. And while rivals upped their games, so did Booker, only more so.

The judges were impressed by the wholesaler’s ability to continue to grow across the business. But it wasn’t just the fact that Booker introduced new ranges for both catering and retail customers and gained new customers through its acquisitions of fine food supplier Ritter-Courivaud and on-trade delivered business Classic Drinks. With Booker, the sum always seems to be greater than the parts.

It now boasts the biggest symbol fascia in the UK, with more than 2,700 Premier and Premier Express’ - store numbers increased 4.3% in the past 12 months, with sales up 11%. And Booker is also enjoying a boom in clicks. Internet sales soared to £635m in 2011 versus £525m the previous year - a 21% uplifht .

What’s more, there’s plenty still to come from the wholesaler, with the launch in March of a new foodservice arm Chef Direct, which will be serviced by a new, state-of-the-art 250,000 sq ft distribution centre in Didcot, further expansion of its Indian operation, where Booker currently has three branches and circa 120 Happy Shopper stores, and now, the acquisition of Makro.

Earlier this month, the cash & carry giant unveiled a 27% hike in full-year pre-tax profits to £90.8m, with sales up 9.4% to £3.9bn. Like-for-like sales jumped 6.1% with tobacco sales up 7.8% and non-tobacco sales up 5.1%. Will it win again in 2013? You wouldn’t bet against it.

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