LONDON, March 12, 2026, 18:51 GMT
Bunzl plc ended Thursday at 2,256 pence, picking up 32 pence despite the FTSE 100 falling 0.4% as oil prices jumped and inflation jitters returned. Shares fluctuated between 2,212p and 2,298p.
This is significant for Bunzl, a distributor of packaging, cleaning, and safety supplies. Shares remain far from their 52-week peak of 3,094p. The board acknowledged in its annual report that both operational performance and the share price in 2025 “did not meet expectations.” Reuters
Thursday saw a notable show of resilience. Oil was back in the spotlight, with Reuters pointing to prices climbing near $100 a barrel. Danni Hewson at AJ Bell flagged that any extended disruption could push up energy bills, feed inflation, and increase the odds of higher rates.
Bunzl’s March 2 results remain in the spotlight. The company reported 2025 revenue at £11.85 billion, with adjusted operating profit hitting £910.3 million, and stuck to its outlook for 2026.
Frank van Zanten, the chief executive, described Bunzl’s response to a “challenging year” as agile, adding that the company’s steady 2026 guidance remains in place to back long-term profitable growth. Speaking to Reuters, van Zanten also noted that tariff volatility made “no positive impact” on results. Bunzl
Bunzl is holding to its outlook for 2026, calling for moderate revenue growth once currency moves are accounted for. The company also projects its group operating margin will dip just below the underlying 7.6% reported for 2025. That figure—essentially the slice of sales left after operating costs—has drawn investor attention following last year’s slip.
The turnaround isn’t there yet. Bunzl pointed to sluggish demand from North American food processors and convenience stores—plus its foodservice and grocery units in Mexico—as holding back improvement in the second half, despite management shakeups and further adjustments at its core U.S. distribution business.
A Wednesday director-dealing notice showed UK & Ireland managing director Dale Stokes collecting share awards and selling some stock. Shares rebounded Thursday, but they’re still stuck far closer to the year’s 1,982p low than the 3,094p high.
