Grocery wholesaler Booker (BOK) made good progress over the third quarter in turning around the Makro business that it acquired last year, which contributed to a 19 per cent rise in group sales over the period.
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Underlying sales, excluding tobacco, rose 4.1 per cent, while at Makro, non-tobacco sales fell 5.9 per cent as the business stopped selling certain unprofitable lines, such as TVs. The cash and carry division enjoyed a rise in customer numbers while the catering division also reported solid trading. Overseas, Indian operations made progress and chief executive Charles Wilson said the outlook for group profit and net cash remain unchanged.