Booker is the UK's largest food wholesaler operator offering branded and private-label goods to over 400,000 customers including independent convenience stores, grocers, pubs and restaurants.
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 47,000 sq ft.
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.
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.
In June 2007 Booker reversed into Blueheath to form Booker Group plc.
Blueheath is a wholesaler of groceries to independent and multiple retail and leisure outlets within the UK. 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 operates from two main UK national distribution centres in Thurrock and in Wrexham which, between them, have a combined area of approximately 100,000 sq ft.
The enlarged group combines 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.
– Extracted from AIM Admission document, 9th May 2007