Across the board revenue increases for Convivality

Wholesale alcohol and impulse products distributor Convivality pushed its unaudited revenue 9.2% ahead of the same time a year earlier thanks to an increase in sales across all of the group's business units.

Convivality revenue hit £836m the six months leading to 29 October thanks to a 6.9% increase in its direct sales to £540m, a 10% boost in retail sales to £203m and a 9.6% uptick in its trading sales to £93m.

Trading strengthened within Convivality's direct sales wing as orders from existing customers rose in volume on average 5.7%.

In the retail market, where the firm operated 708 outlets, Convivality witnessed a growth in like-for-like sales in line with board expectations at 2.3%, excluding tobacco products.

Convivality also announced on Tuesday that it had decreased its net debt from £139m at the same time in 2016 to £134m a year later.

The firm said that it continued to perform in line with the board's expectations for its full financial year, but noted that due to the phasing of cost savings, profits for the year would likely be more weighted to the second half of the year.

Diana Hunter, chief executive officer of Conviviality, said, "This performance is a direct result of the support and engagement of our valued customers and Franchisees across our entire business, our suppliers and global producers and the talented teams who work closely with them."

"During this period the Company has undergone significant change as we continue to implement systems that will ultimately serve to future proof our business and enable us to continue to deliver the outstanding service that our customers and franchisees expect from us," she added.

As of 0945 GMT, shares in the UK firm had retreated 3.77% to 408.00p.