Booker Wholesale has announced annual growth of 7.6% in like-for-like sales for the 12-week period to September 11, 2009.

Non-tobacco like-for-like sales were up 8.5% on last year, while like-for-like tobacco sales increased by 6.2%.

Booker chief executive Charles Wilson attributed the growth to increasing customer numbers. He said: “Booker is helping more customers compete by improving our choice, prices and service. Our customer numbers have increased and customer satisfaction has improved, resulting in stronger Booker sales.”

He added that Booker was “looking forward to continuing to help independent caterers and retailers prosper in the difficult economic environment”.

Booker also announced that its net debt has been cut from £28.9m to £4m in the past 12 months.