Bunzl's diversified and resilient business model has delivered strong growth, with Group revenue in the third quarter up 18.8% at actual exchange rates and 8.7% at constant exchange rates. At constant exchange rates, underlying revenue growth, which is organic growth adjusted for trading days, was 6.1%, with one fewer trading day than the comparable period negatively impacting revenue by 1.3%1. Acquisitions contributed further growth of 3.9% at constant exchange rates. Negotiations with our largest customer by revenue are ongoing.
Underlying revenue growth of 6.1% was driven by the base business, which contributed 10.4% growth, benefitting from inflation as expected. This was partially offset by the expected decline in sales of the top Covid-19 related products, which impacted underlying revenue by 4.3%.
Despite a slowing macroeconomic environment, the Group's guidance remains unchanged at constant exchange rates, with the Group expecting very good revenue growth in 2022, driven by good organic revenue growth and the positive contribution of acquisitions announced in the last 12 months. We continue to expect Group operating margin in 2022 to be higher than historical levels and only slightly lower than that achieved in 2021.
Additionally, in October the Group acquired Enviropack, an online distributor of reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging products to foodservice customers in the
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