Dee-light as Booths promote to board
FAMILY-owned supermarket group E H Booth & Co has appointed only the second-ever non family member to the board in its 165-year history.
The Preston-based company, which has shops in Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Yorkshire and most recently at MediaCityUK, has promoted trading director Chris Dee to the role of chief operating officer.
Mr Dee, who joined Booths 17 years ago as a wine buyers, assumes resonsibility for retail operations, trading, IT and supply control.
In his new role he will also be responsible for steering to business to pursue its strategic aims which includes sustainable expansion while remaining true to the original aims of the first EH Booth, to “Sell the best goods available, in attractive stores, staffed with first class assistants.”
Chairman Edwin Booth said: “We’re delighted with the new appointment to the family board and confident that Chris has the skills, dedication and drive to take our business to another level. The directors look forward to supporting Chris in his new role.”
Mr Dee added: “Booths occupies an interesting place in the retail market, our regional roots and relative small size help us to forge close relationships with our farmers and producers.
“We’re able to source exceptional food and drink from small scale producers who would normally avoid supplying the supermarkets. We remain committed to giving producers a fair price and shoppers great food.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges of making Booths a better business while remaining true to the core aim of selling great food coupled with exceptional service.”
The other non-family member on the board is finance director John Vandermeer.
