Preston supermarket chain Booths on track for record expansion

North West retailer Booths recorded solid year end results against the backdrop of a difficult retail market.

Despite no new store openings, the business recorded a sales growth of just over 1% with total sales of £282 million with profits before tax rising by 6.9%.

The welcome news comes as Booths prepares for the largest and most ambitious expansion in the group’s history, opening 5 new stores by 2016, starting with Barrowford in December, and Hale Barns in April 2015.*

The results were attributed to robust Christmas trading figures, where Booths drove sales ahead of the market by 6.1%, followed by impressive seasonal marketing activity with the launch of their 1st Christmas Book.

Booths also introduced over 200 own label lines with a concerted effort to put Booths high quality products at the core of their offer.

This season, Booths have expanded on their plans for Christmas, and for the 1st time in the history of Booths, goods in their sumptuously produced book will be available for delivery nationwide.

Chairman Edwin Booth said, “Booths has always been a Northern secret, and this year we’re delivering Christmas to the nation. The Christmas range focusses on the very best seasonal food and drink from Goosnargh goose, to award winning mince pies made by a craft baker in Cumbria; food made with care, integrity and pride.”

Close relationships with suppliers has always been core to the Booths brand and earlier this year, Booths launched “Fair Milk,” an initiative which assures Booths pays their milk producers the highest farm gate price on the market.

Chairman Edwin Booth said, “Against the backdrop of some of the most challenging trading conditions of my career, I am proud that Booths has remained true to its core values and expressed these in a modern approach to retailing.

“Booths competes against large national and international competition by being swift on their feet, inspirational to our customers and offering the best quality goods available.”

“Selling top quality produce served by first class assistants was the aim of the first Edwin Booth; that formula still works for us in an increasingly competitive market.”