Budgens bosses cash in options

JOHN VON SPRECKELSEN, chief executive of Budgens supermarket group, made pounds 350,000 from the exercise of share options last year, the company's annual report shows. His pay rose from pounds 242,000 to pounds 264,000. Graham Rigby, the finance director, and Christian Williams, the executive director, both made pounds 220,000 on share options.

Mr von Spreckelsen said yesterday that, contrary to some reports that he was in line to become chief executive of Booker, the cash-and-carry chain in merger talks with Somerfield, he knew "of no shortlist" for the job.