Booker has reported a sales growth of 1.7%, fighting off the decline of the tobacco category.
In the Tesco interim results for 2025/26, Booker reported overall like-for-like sales growth of 1.7%, with increases in core retail and catering offset by the continuing decline in the tobacco market.
Booker’s core retail like-for-like sales increased by 4.1% year-on-year, driven by a strong growth in symbol brands (Premier, Londis, Budgens and Family Shopper). Meanwhile, core catering like-for-like sales increased by 5.7%, with volume growth supported by good weather. Its adjusted operating profit was £162m, up +0.6% year-on-year.
It also added that Booker continues to make “good progress” in integrating Venus, a specialist wine and spirit merchant acquired in June last year..
The interim report highlighted that Booker customer satisfaction has increased year-on-year, with over 600 prices locked over the summer and new catering ranges launched with support from group product development teams, and that it had added 275 net new retail partners across its symbol brands of Premier, Londis, Budgens and Family Shopper.
Across the wider Tesco convenience estate, it reported that like-for-like sales, which include sales from One Stop stores, grew by 1.4%. Within this, Tesco Express like-for-like sales were up 1.8%, including a particularly strong performance in fresh food volumes.
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