Tesco plc owns Booker (often referred to as Booker or Booker Group) today.

Who owns Booker right now?

Booker Group Limited is a wholesale distributor in the UK that operates cash- and-carry and wholesale grocery businesses; it is a subsidiary of Tesco. Tesco agreed to acquire Booker in 2017 in a deal valued at about £3.7 billion, and the acquisition/merger was completed in March 2018, bringing Booker fully under Tesco’s ownership.

Quick history snapshot

  • Booker began as a trading and shipping business in the 19th century and evolved into a major wholesale food distributor in the UK.
  • Over time it owned or acquired several wholesale and retail brands, including cash-and-carry depots and convenience store fascias like Budgens and Londis.
  • After regulatory and shareholder approval, Tesco completed its merger with Booker in 2018, and since then Booker has operated as Tesco’s wholesale arm, while still trading under the Booker name in the market.

Related recent context

In recent years, Booker has continued to function as Tesco’s wholesale division, supplying independent retailers, symbol groups and foodservice customers. Some retail partners have changed wholesalers (for example, Marks & Spencer moved from using Booker as a wholesale partner to a different supplier), but this did not change the fact that Tesco remains the owner of Booker.

Do you mean Booker the UK wholesaler, or were you thinking of a different “Booker/Bookers” (for example a software company or another brand with a similar name)?