UK: Booker and Makro to share space
Subject to competition clearance, Booker said it would open cash and carries within about half of the 30 Makro branches. Some 35% of space in the new-look depots would be given over to Booker Wholesale, while Makro would retain 45% of the space and 20% would be turned into a delivery area. The new set-up will be trialled at Makro Sheffield.
“Our customers will see better availability and more delivery and internet capacity,” said Booker chief executive Charles Wilson. He said Booker would remain purely a ‘trade only’ wholesaler, whereas Makro would continue to be open to both trade and other small businesses.
The news came as Booker revealed a 3.3% increase in sales for the six months to 14 September, although like-for-like sales to retailers were up by only 2.2%.
Sales through the group’s Premier symbol group rose by 9%, thanks in part to a net gain of about 40 stores, taking the total to 2,735.
Steve Fox, sales director for retail, said: “Our Mega Deal promotion continues to drive extra sales and footfall into stores, with sales reaching £1m each promotion.”
He added that the Euro Shopper own-brand range continued to go “from strength to strength” with sales up by 17%.
But Fox said the market would remain “challenging” as shoppers continued to watch their spending.
Source: talkingretail.com
