Booker's interims match forecasts

Cash and carry firm Booker's half-year numbers have come in as expected, with like for like sales up 7.7% and profit up 12.1% on the year before.Profit before tax for the 24 weeks ended 11 September 2009 jumped to £29.7m from £26.5m in 2008 on total sales up 7.7% to £1.6bn. The increase in like for like sales was made up of a 9.4% increase in non-tobacco and 5.1% growth in tobacco.Booker said its plans to 'broaden' the business are going well, with a further 10 branches converted to the 'Extra' format since its last report, taking the total to 81. Another 14 are due in the second half.These branches, which offer a broader range and better environment for customers, recorded a sales uplift on the prior year of 3% more than non-converted branches, achieving payback of conversion costs in about a year.The interim dividend goes up 20% to 0.24p a share. A third quarter trading update for the 16 weeks to 1 January 2010 will be published on 14 January.