Booker Group
A British food and business wholesaler operating as a Tesco subsidiary.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Booker Group is a British wholesale distributor serving independent retailers, convenience stores, licensed retailers, caterers, restaurants, pubs, schools, and other business customers. Its activities center on the procurement, warehousing, cash-and-carry sale, and delivery of food, drink, tobacco, household goods, and other business supplies. The group has historically operated under several formats, including Booker Wholesale, Makro, and brands supporting independent convenience retailers such as Budgens, Londis, Premier, and Happy Shopper. The business began in 1835 when George and Richard Booker acquired a ship and established the Booker Line. The company initially focused on shipping and trading, but gradually moved away from maritime operations and toward distribution and wholesale. By the late 1970s, the business had more than 100 warehouses in the United Kingdom and was trading as Booker McConnell. Its earlier history also included extensive involvement in the sugar industry of British Guiana, now Guyana. That part of its history is associated with colonial economic power, indentured labor, and compensation claims connected with slave ownership by members of the Booker family; these legacies remain an important and contested aspect of the company's historical record. Under chairman Jock Campbell, beginning in 1952, Booker McConnell developed a more socially oriented public image and became involved in cultural activities. Its Authors' Division acquired or controlled rights associated with writers including Ian Fleming, Georgette Heyer, Dennis Wheatley, and Agatha Christie. Revenue from those publishing interests helped establish the Booker Prize in 1968. The literary operation and the prize later became independent of the wholesale company, although the Booker name remained attached to the award. Booker subsequently concentrated more heavily on food distribution and convenience retail support. It acquired Nurdin & Peacock in 1996, bringing the Happy Shopper brand into its portfolio. In 2000 it became part of the Big Food Group through Iceland Supermarkets, before later ownership changes separated Booker from Iceland. In 2007, Booker combined with AIM-listed grocery wholesaler Blueheath and became Booker Group plc. The company expanded its cash-and-carry activities, including an entry into India in 2009, and acquired the United Kingdom operations of Makro from Metro Group in 2012. It agreed to purchase the Budgens and Londis grocery chains from Musgrave Group in 2015. Tesco announced an agreement to acquire Booker in 2017 for approximately £3.7 billion. Following shareholder and regulatory processes, the transaction completed on 5 March 2018. Booker was consequently delisted and became a Tesco subsidiary. The Booker business continues to serve trade customers through wholesale branches, delivery operations, and retail-support brands, while operating within Tesco's wider supply-chain and sourcing structure. Its strategic role is to connect large-scale procurement with the fragmented United Kingdom independent-retail and food-service markets.
History
Booker Group traces its origins to 1835, when George and Richard Booker established the Booker Line after acquiring their first ship. The enterprise began as a shipping and trading concern. Over time it diversified into distribution and progressively disposed of its maritime fleet, developing a stronger focus on wholesale goods and food distribution. A substantial part of the company's nineteenth- and twentieth-century history was connected with the sugar industry in British Guiana, now Guyana. Booker operated ships and controlled a dominant position in the territory's sugar economy. This influence was sufficiently extensive that the territory was sometimes colloquially associated with the company. The business's colonial history also involved exploitative systems of labor, including indenture, and members of the Booker family received compensation connected with slave holdings after abolition. These historical legacies complicate later descriptions of the company as a benevolent employer or social institution. Jock Campbell became chairman in 1952 and promoted a more interventionist and socially minded approach to the company's operations. During the subsequent decades Booker expanded its distribution infrastructure. By 1978 it reportedly had more than 100 warehouses in the United Kingdom and was trading as Booker McConnell. The group also developed interests outside wholesale distribution, particularly through its Authors' Division. It acquired rights associated with several prominent authors, including Ian Fleming, Georgette Heyer, Dennis Wheatley, and Agatha Christie. In 1968, the company helped establish the Booker Prize for literary fiction. The prize was later transferred to the independent Booker Prize Foundation and obtained new sponsorship, while the Authors' Division's assets were progressively separated or sold. Booker's corporate structure changed repeatedly from the 1990s onward. In 1996 it acquired Nurdin & Peacock, gaining the Happy Shopper convenience-store brand. In 2000 it was acquired by Iceland Supermarkets through the Big Food Group. Big Food Group was later acquired by Baugur, after which Booker and Iceland were separated. In 2007, Booker reversed into AIM-listed grocery wholesaler Blueheath, creating Booker Group plc. Baugur disposed of its remaining Booker cash-and-carry assets in 2008, shortly before the wider Baugur group collapsed during the Icelandic financial crisis. The company expanded beyond the United Kingdom when it opened a cash-and-carry store in Mumbai in 2009 and considered broader Indian expansion. In 2012 it acquired Metro Group's United Kingdom Makro operations and stores in a transaction involving cash and Booker shares. Competition authorities reviewed the transaction and cleared it in 2013. Booker then broadened its independent-retail network by agreeing in 2015 to acquire Budgens and Londis from Musgrave Group. Tesco announced its proposed acquisition of Booker in January 2017. The transaction, valued at approximately £3.7 billion, was completed on 5 March 2018 after the required corporate and regulatory processes. Booker was delisted and incorporated into Tesco's group structure, although the Booker name and operating activities continued. The modern business remains focused on supplying independent retailers, caterers, and other trade customers through wholesale branches, delivered distribution, and retail-support brands.
- 2018
Tesco acquisition completed
[1]Tesco completed its acquisition of Booker, making the wholesaler a subsidiary and ending its separate stock-market listing.
- 2015
Agreement to acquire Budgens and Londis
[1]Booker agreed to purchase the Budgens and Londis grocery chains from Musgrave Group.
- 2012
Acquisition of Makro United Kingdom operations
[1]Booker acquired Metro Group's United Kingdom Makro stores and operating assets.
- 2009
Entry into India
[1]Booker opened a cash-and-carry store in Mumbai and announced plans for expansion in India.
- 2007
Combination with Blueheath
[1]Booker combined with AIM-listed grocery wholesaler Blueheath and formed Booker Group plc.
- 2000
Booker joins the Big Food Group
[1]Iceland Supermarkets acquired Booker through its Big Food Group vehicle.
- 1996
Acquisition of Nurdin & Peacock
[1]The acquisition brought the Happy Shopper convenience-retail brand into Booker's portfolio.
- 1968
Booker Prize established
[1]Booker helped establish the literary prize that later became the Booker Prize.
- 1952
Jock Campbell becomes chairman
[1]Jock Campbell took the chairmanship and influenced the company's social policy and cultural activities.
- 1835
Booker Line established
[1]George and Richard Booker acquired a ship and began the trading and shipping enterprise that became the foundation of Booker Group.
Products and positioning
A broad-line, trade-focused wholesaler emphasizing purchasing scale, availability, cash-and-carry access, delivery, and support for independent retailers and food-service operators.
Foodservice and grocery wholesale
Booker Wholesale
Booker's core wholesale operation supplies groceries, beverages, tobacco, household goods, catering products, and other trade merchandise to independent retailers and food-service customers. It combines cash-and-carry branches with delivered wholesale services and is designed for business rather than household purchasing.
Cash-and-carry wholesale
Makro
Makro was Metro Group's United Kingdom cash-and-carry business before its stores and operating assets were acquired by Booker in 2012. The format serves professional customers with bulk food, drink, catering, and business supplies.
Convenience-store private label · 1996
Happy Shopper
Happy Shopper is a convenience-retail product and support brand associated with Booker and acquired through Nurdin & Peacock. Its products are distributed to independent convenience stores and licensed retailers supplied by Booker.
Convenience grocery retail brand · 2015
Budgens
Budgens is a grocery and convenience-store brand acquired by Booker from Musgrave Group as part of the 2015 transaction. It forms part of Booker's network of retail brands and services for independent and franchised operators.
Convenience grocery retail brand · 2015
Londis
Londis is a convenience-store brand acquired by Booker from Musgrave Group in 2015. The brand supports independent retailers through a recognized fascia, wholesale supply, and retail merchandising arrangements.
Controversies
Colonial sugar and labor legacy
Booker's historical dominance in British Guiana's sugar industry has been associated with colonial exploitation, indentured labor, and compensation claims connected with slave ownership by members of the Booker family.
Criticism from independent retailers
Critics have accused Booker and its Tesco parent of using pricing and supply practices that could contribute to the closure of local shops or disadvantage independent retailers, including claims concerning higher wholesale prices and reduced availability of some products.
Marketing campaigns
- 1968Booker Prize
United Kingdom · International literary market
Booker established and funded a major literary prize for fiction through its Authors' Division and publishing-rights interests. The award became one of the best-known English-language literary prizes.
Outcome. The prize was transferred to the independent Booker Prize Foundation in 2002 and retained the Booker name under later sponsorship.
Brand decisions
2017
Tesco agrees to acquire BookerM&ABackground
Tesco sought to strengthen its position in food retail, wholesale, and supply to independent businesses.
Action taken
Tesco announced an agreement to merge with Booker for approximately £3.7 billion, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The transaction completed on 5 March 2018. Booker became a Tesco subsidiary and was delisted.
Transaction value. Approximately £3.7 billion (2017 announcement; completed 2018)
2015
Acquire Budgens and LondisM&ABackground
Booker sought to expand its network of independent convenience and grocery retail brands.
Action taken
Booker agreed to acquire Budgens and Londis from Musgrave Group.
Aftermath
The transaction added two established convenience-store fascias to Booker's wholesale and retail-support portfolio.
Purchase price. £40 million (2015)
2012
Acquire Makro United Kingdom operationsM&ABackground
Metro Group sought to sell its United Kingdom Makro cash-and-carry business and operating assets.
Action taken
Booker acquired the operations in exchange for Booker shares and cash. Competition authorities reviewed the transaction and cleared it in 2013.
Aftermath
The deal expanded Booker's cash-and-carry network and incorporated the Makro format into its wholesale portfolio.
Consideration. 9.99% of Booker's share capital plus £15.8 million in cash (2012)
Recent events
- 2018
Tesco completes Booker acquisition[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Tesco completed the acquisition, after which Booker became a Tesco subsidiary and ceased to be separately listed.
- 2017
Tesco announces agreement to acquire Booker[1]
M&A
Tesco announced a proposed merger with Booker valued at approximately £3.7 billion, subject to approvals.
- 2015
Booker agrees to acquire Budgens and Londis[1]
M&A
Booker reached an agreement with Musgrave Group to acquire the Budgens and Londis grocery chains for £40 million.
Sources3 sources
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