Booker has posted a 2.5% drop in like-for-like sales for the fourth quarter, while total sales including Budgens and Londis rose by 10.6%.

The group’s decline in like-for-like sales for the 12 weeks ending 25 March was driven by sluggish tobacco sales, down 6.1%, while non-tobacco like-for-like sales fell 0.7%. It blamed the continuing downturn in tobacco sales on the enforcement of the display ban in small stores.

For the year to March 25 like-for-like total sales were down by 1.9% and total sales including Budgens and Londis were up by 5.0% to £5.0bn.

Booker chief executive Charles Wilson said: “Overall, 2015/16 was a good year. Customer satisfaction scores were strong, sales and profits were the best we have ever achieved. We made good progress on the integration of Londis and Budgens.”

Booker Retail managing director Steve Fox added: “We are pleased with the progress that our retail business has continued to make. We remain committed to improving choice, price and service to help our customers make more profits.

“The retail channels of Premier, Family Shopper and Retail Club and the integration of Londis and Budgens is on track and going well. I would like to thank our customers for choosing Booker.”