Profits up by 7% at Booths

UPMARKET supermarket chain Booths has recorded a steady rise in annual sales and earnings.

The Preston-based chain said sales were up by 1% to £282m in the year to the end of March, a period when there were no new openings.

Pre-tax profits grew by 6.9% to £3.9m.

Booths, which has around 30 shops, said it had enjoyed a good Christmas when sales were ahead of the market by 6.1%. This year it ies extending Christmas deliveries to the whole of the UK for the first time.

The group is planning to open five new shops by 2016, starting with Barrowford, near Colne, and Hale Barns in April. Stores in Burscough, St Anne’s and Poulton Le Fylde.

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.”