Booths hits gold

FAMILY- owned grocer Booths has won a prestigious industry honour, writes Annie Murray.

The Preston-based firm was named Independent retailer of the year at The Grocer Gold Awards in London.

Booths has more than 30 food and wine stores across Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria.

The awards were judged by a panel of industry leaders, which praised the performance of Booths in a highly competitive supermarket sector.

As many larger rivals have suffered against a backdrop of price deflation and competition from the likes of Aldi and Lidl, Booths has grown its sales and profits. In 2014 sales increased 1% increase in to £282, and profits grew 6.9% to £3.9m.

Booths also pioneered a Fair Milk scheme in 2014, a pledge that farmers supplying Booths’ own-label range are permanently paid the highest price in the market. The scheme was well received across the industry.

Chairman Edwin Booth said, “We’re delighted with this award, it’s a brilliant testament of the quality of our staff, our suppliers and our customers.  

“We’re a proudly independent retailer and we’ve keep true to the roots of the original Edwin Henry Booth’s vision; to sell the best available produce in shops staffed by first class assistants. In a challenging and changeable retail market, this vision resonates now more than ever.”

The company opened a store in Hale Barns in April and has plans to open three additional stores in Burscough, St Anne’s and Poulton Le Flyde by 2016.