At a presentation of the company's annual results he also revealed that its delivered business had just won the contract to deliver food and catering products to the 260 licensed premises in the Charles Wells Pub Company.

Wilson said the delivered business turnover was now over £500m with an 80:20 split between retail and catering business.

Sales through the revamped website had also grown strongly he said, climbing from £44m to £109m for the year ended March 28.

Wilson said Booker was now beginning to succeed in its aim to be the suppliers preferred route to market in the UK, and revealed that Booker had been chosen to launch several new products in the UK, including Pepsico's Gatorade energy drink.

The results demonstrated that Booker was sustaining its recovery, with pre-tax profits of £36.2m, up 27% on the previous year.

Sales were up 2.3% to £3.1bn, including 43 weeks contribution from Blueheath, and net debt was reduced by 38% to £47.2m.

Like for like non tobacco sales were up 3.3% (versus -1.2% last year), but tobacco was down 5.4% (-0.3% last year). Sales to caterers increased by 2.2% (-0.2% last year) and sales to retailers were down1.5% (-1.1% last year).

Wilson said that tobacco sales to retailers were down 6% and sales to caterers were down 30%.

l See page 24 for more about Booker's catering offer

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