Food wholesaler Booker Group PLC (BOK.L) Thursday reported higher earnings for the full year, largely for a rise in revenue.
For the period, the company posted profit before tax of 101.4 million pounds, up from 90.8 million pounds reported last year. Profit after tax for the year was 83.1 million pounds, higher than 74.9 million pounds posted for the year-ago period.
Profit before exceptional charges related to Makro acquisition costs was 86.1 million pounds.
On a per share basis, earnings were 4.84 pence compared with 4.74 pence posted last year.
Revenue for the year climbed to 3.992 million pounds from 3.932 million pounds last year. Non-tobacco like-for-like sales increased by 4.5 percent while like-for-like tobacco sales increased 1.3 percent.
The company further said it is recommending a final dividend of 2.25 pence per share, payable on July 12 to shareholders of record on June 14.
Looking forward, the firm said the economy is expected to remain difficult in the year ahead and the food wholesale market remains very competitive. It however expects to continue to make progress in this challenging environment. The Booker Group said trading in the first seven weeks of the current financial year is ahead of last year and that it remains on course to meet its expectations for the year.
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