Northern retailer Booths achieves best Christmas in 169-year history

Booths, the family-owned food and drink retailer, has achieved its best Christmas sales figures to date.

During the festive week, the Preston-headquartered firm saw sales top £10m – the highest in its 169-year history.

For the three weeks to January 7, total sales rose by 1.8% while like-for-like sales were up 2.6%.

Booths chief exec Chris Dee commented: “Customers have always sought out the finest quality food and drink at Christmas and this year is no exception.

“Booths’ reputation for finding specialist products made by local and artisan suppliers means we come into our own in the festive period.”

Sales of Champagne leapt 28%, port 12%, craft ales 29% and artisan gin 30%. Among Booths’ food range, salmon was one of the biggest gainers at 126%, with Christmas desserts up 8%.

The company’s own Great Northern Christmas Book, meanwhile, lead to home delivery and click-and-collect sales growing by 6.9%.

Speaking further, Chris said: “We have been delivering Christmas to our customers for over a century – whether by grocer’s bicycle in 1847 or by courier today, our customers have always valued the extra special service Booths provides at this time of year.

“It is heart warming to see customers up and down the country discovering that they too can experience a Great Northern Christmas wherever they live.”