Booker Group

Infobox_Company
company_name = Booker Group plc
company_type = PLC
parent =
company_
slogan =
foundation =
location = Wellingborough, England
key_people = Richard Rose, Chairman
Charles Wilson, CEO
num_employees =
revenue = £139.9Million
operating_income =
num_employees =
industry = Cash & Carry
products = food
homepage = [http://www.premier-stores.co.uk www.premier-stores.co.uk] |

Booker Group plc is the United Kingdom's largest food wholesale operator, offering branded and private-label goods to over 400,000 customers including independent convenience stores, grocers, pubs and restaurants.

History

Originally a family company, Booker sold its local store format retail businesses to concentrate on food wholesale distribution via a series of large footprint warehouses, across the UK.

After a series of failed expansion and takeover plans, Booker was purchased by Iceland Supermarkets, via its Big Food Group vehicle. However, again the group suffered financial problems, and in 2005 was bought by acquisitive Icelandic group Baugur.

In June 2007 Booker reversed into AIM-listed wholesaler of groceries Blueheath, to form Booker Group plc. [Cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/05/12/cnbaug12.xml|title=Baugur profits plunge by more than two thirds Box Head arrow to line with head|publisher=Daily Telegraph|date=12th May, 2007|accessdate=2008-04-06] Established in 2000, Blueheath was the UK's first internet based delivered wholesaler. The Blueheath offering includes both branded and private label goods to over 1,200 customers. Blueheath operated from two main UK national distribution centres in Thurrock and Wrexham, which between them have a combined area of approximately convert|100000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. The enlarged group combined Booker's scale, customer base, catering expertise, coverage and brands; with Blueheath's technology and delivery expertise to form one of the UK's leading food wholesalers.

Format

Booker currently lists over 20,000 lines of product, comprising a fully comprehensive range covering branded and own label grocery, fresh & frozen food, beers, wines, spirits, tobacco and non food items. Booker currently trades from 172 branches in the UK. The average size of these branches is approximately convert|47000|sqft|m2|abbr=on.

In 2007 Booker began stocking Euroshopper, a range of 31 exclusive value lines, providing retailers with products at low prices.

Premier brand

Booker offer its independent retail customers the opportunity to trade under its Premier brand which provides the benefits of a national symbol group whilst retaining the personality and entrepreneurial spirit of the independent retailer. Premier was voted symbol group of the year at the Retail Industry Awards 2006. At 30 March 2007 there were over 2,000 Premier branded stores in the UK.

Catering

Booker had approximately 259,000 catering customers. This is a key area of growth as the outlook for the catering market is favourable and the profitability is attractive.also my dad works for booker cash and carry. it is not a good salary and he is the manager.

Booker Prize for Fiction

Booker began sponsoring the famous Prize for Fiction award in 1968 and although the award is now under different sponsorship and known as the Man Booker Prize the common name Booker Prize is retained to this day.

References

External links

* [http://www.booker.co.uk Booker Cash & Carry Homepage]
* [http://www.baugurgroup.com/ Baugur Group Homepage]
* [http://www.premier-stores.co.uk/ Premier Stores Symbol Group]