Booker has reported a 13% increase in full-year pre-tax profits.
Profits rose from £89.7m to £101.4m in the year to 29 March, on sales up 3.5% to £4bn, the cash & carry wholesaler said.
It also reported a £3m exceptional charge in stamp duty and deal fees relating to its acquisition of Makro last year.
On Makro, Booker CEO Charles Wilson said the “real merits of the transaction will appear in the next few years”.
“I am pleased that Steve Blan and the team at Makro are settling into the group,” Wilson added.
“We are delighted to have Metro as a strategic partner and major shareholder. We can see opportunities with Metro and to share expertise to the benefit of our UK business.”
Booker’s full-year results do not include Makro, but Wilson predicted that in the year to March 2014, Booker’s operating profits would increase by around £10m as a result of the acquisition. This was based on Makro recording a loss of £16m and group synergies of around £26m.
Booker also revealed a 3.3% increase in like-for-like sales over the period. Sales to caterers rose 6.2% and sales to retailers by 2%. Delivered sales rose 9.5% to £1.15bn and internet sales by 10.9% to £704m.
It added that trading in the first seven weeks of the new financial year was ahead of last year and it remained on course to meet its expectations for the year.
“Our plan to focus, drive and broaden the business remains on track,” Wilson added. “Customer satisfaction continued to improve and we grew sales by over £135m.”
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