Northern retailer Booths is predicting major growth ahead of 'the largest and most ambitious expansion in the group's history'.
The company will be opening five new stores by 2016, the company revealed as it announced sales growth of one per cent for the year to £282 milllion, with pre-tax profits rising 6.9 per cent.
The improved performance, in a year in which no new stores were opened, was attributed to strong Christmas sales figures. Booths recorded above-market figures of 6.1 per cent growth over the seasonal period, crediting the launch of its first Christmas Book and the introduction of 200 own-label lines as key elements to the success.
Goods promoted in the 2014 Christmas Book will be available for delivery nationwide for the first time this year, the company said.
“Booths has always been a northern secret, and this year we’re delivering Christmas to the nation,' said chairman Edwin Booth. 'The Christmas range focuses on the very best seasonal food and drink from Goosnargh goose, to award winning mince pies made by a craft baker in Cumbria; food made with care, integrity and pride.”
Booth also stressed that close and fair relationships with suppliers were key to the company's approach. “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,' he added.
'Booths competes against large national and international competition by being swift on our feet, inspirational to our customers and offering the best-quality goods available.
“Selling top-quality produce served by first-class assistants was the aim of the first Edwin Booth; that formula still works for us in an increasingly competitive market.”
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