Bestway Wholesale has recorded a 10% rise in turnover to £2.66bn for the year to June 2021.
The wholesaler said operating profit was £37.2m over the period, up from £7.3m the previous year and attributed its strong performance to its agility in responding to changing customer behaviours in response to the coronavirus pandemic. During the period it also completed the acquisition of Costcutter.
“Aside from Covid-19, market conditions in the wholesale sector remained challenging, with supply chain issues, staff availability and inflationary pressures. We have also had to absorb the continued impact from the National Living Wage increases, as well as additional costs and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit,” said Bestway Wholesale MD Dawood Pervez.
“Despite these challenges, we remained committed to our strategic plans of offering improved service and convenience to customers and we continued to improve and manage availability of products during this period which resulted in a positive impact on sales.
“Despite the economic turbulence and challenges faced during 2021, the results are a testament to our strategic approach and operating model, which has increasingly positioned us as the home of choice for the entrepreneurial retailer, whether affiliated or unaffiliated, and with a fascia to suit every retailer, regardless of size or location.
“I would like to sincerely thank all of our employees for the dedication and commitment they have shown during a very difficult period.”
Pervez told The Grocer that Bestway was also enjoying a further strong uplift in sales in the current financial year.
The wider Bestway Group also reported a 10% sales increase to £3.75bn with operating pre-tax profit of £350m.
The Group’s portfolio includes Bestway Wholesale, Well Pharmacy and the second largest cement manufacturer (Bestway Cement) and second largest private bank in Pakistan (UBL) as well as significant property investments in both the UK and Pakistan.
“The group and all its subsidiaries have shown immense resilience in 2021 and we are confident that we will continue to gain share during 2022,” said Bestway Group CEO Lord Zameer Choudrey.
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