Booker is setting out plans to open 150 new Budgens stores this year, pushing the company to almost 500 sites across the UK.
The symbol group has so far signed up 36 stores which are “up and running”, with another 84 stores on the way.
The 150-store target, which falls in line with the symbol group’s 150-year anniversary, comes as Booker puts greater focus on value through its Jack’s own-label range.
The discounter brand will be replacing Booker’s own-label ranges Happy Shopper, Discover the Choice, and Farm Fresh.
READ MORE: Booker saves 300k meals from going to waste with Too Good to Go partnership
Budgens has also relaunched its Fit For The Future initiative, which acts as a guide to help retailers save more money, such as via new ranges, exclusive deals and service partners.
“It was a really aggressive and ambitious target, but we’ve had a record start to the year and we have a lot of people knocking on our door,” said Booker Retail Partners sales director Stewart Fenn.
He added: “About two or three years ago, we knew we had a real challenge on our own label and when we looked at our competition and listened to our retailers, we knew we needed a credible range.”
“Own brands are becoming more and more important based on what’s going on with the economy at the moment, so in hindsight we couldn’t have timed it any better.”
