Booths celebrates an award-winning record-breaking Christmas

Family-owned independent retailer Booths delivered another record Christmas performance with like-for-like (lfl) retail sales increasing by +4.9% in December.

The key three-week trading period ending January 3rd saw like for like sales increase by 3.8 per cent, a third consecutive year of record Christmas sales for Booths and representing a 24 per cent growth in sales over three years.  

Nigel Murray, managing director, said: “I’m delighted to report growth on growth figures for a third consecutive year. 

"Christmas at Booths is a true team effort, 365 days in the planning and preparation. 

"I’m particularly proud of the number of unique award-winning products developed and made by Booths, with the support of wonderful artisan suppliers.

"The quality of our offer was the best yet and as ever, was served up with the warmest of Northern welcomes.”

This year’s eagerly anticipated edition of the Booths Christmas Book landed in early October full of inspiring centre-pieces, treats and delights available for customers to pre-order and collect in-store. 

LFL sales through this channel increased by 9.5 per cent with 50 per cent of sales coming from Booths cardholders. 

Investments in new supply chain technologies earlier in the year helped to make this the best yet for customer availability.

The traditional British turkey found favour with customers with sales up by 12 per cent with Booths birds winning top taste tests.

Booths colleagues at Cheese counters delighted customers with great service, products and knowledge boosting sales by four per cent.

Booths pigs in blankets were up 4.6 per cent all hand rolled in house at Booths own manufacturing facility in Preston.

Christmas bakery sales were boosted by 4.6 per cent with multiple award-winning lines with sales of mince pies increasing by 5.3 per cent. 

Booths continued investment in café and hospitality experiences supported like for like sales growth of 12.3 per cent with the introduction of new seasonal products.

Nigel Murray said: “Sharing an infectious love of great food and drink is at the very heart of the Booths ethos. 

"I would like to thank every colleague, supplier and customer for their continued trust in Booths. 

"We constantly strive to deliver the very best food and drink and we can be extremely proud of what we have achieved this year.”