Booths
Encyclopedia
Booths is a chain of supermarkets in Northern England
. Most of its branches are located in Lancashire
, but there are also branches in Cheshire
, Cumbria
, Greater Manchester
, North Yorkshire
and West Yorkshire
. Booths is targeted at the middle class market and competes on quality as opposed to just value. It has been developed on the motto "to sell the best quality goods in shops staffed by first class assistants".
. In 1863, he added the sale of wines and spirits, and branches were opened in Lytham in 1879 and Blackburn in 1884. Edwin's son John opened cafes in the stores in 1902 and invited all staff to become shareholders in 1920.
It has remained owned by the Booth family ever since, the current chairman being the fifth generation. It became a private limited company
in 1896. From humble beginnings as a tea shop in Blackpool
, Booths grew into the first chain of supermarkets in the area, and even though it has now been eclipsed by bigger supermarkets such as Tesco
and Sainsbury's, it boasted 29 stores across the region in 2011.
, and asked to rank their favourite food retailers from anywhere in the world. They were impressed by the quality of the company’s offer, its focus on local sourcing and head for innovation. Simon Bell, retail director of foodservice firm Leathams, voted Booths’ Chorley store first above Selfridges in London. He applauds its excellent customer service, knowledge of products and friendly staff.
In June 2005, the current Chairman, Edwin J Booth, was awarded the BITC (Business in the Community
) Prince of Wales
Ambassador Award for North West England. This is given to individuals whose leadership and commitment to responsible business practice and the actions they have taken personally have created a positive impact both inside their company and on the wider society.
A new head office was custom built and opened in early 2006. It is in Ribbleton
, Preston and includes a wealth of environmentally friendly features, such as using rainwater to flush the toilets.
In 2008, Booths and Waitrose
, which share similar policies on food quality and customer service, formed a buying alliance allowing the companies to benefit from larger economies of scale.
Booths and Waitrose
, along with small independent shops, are now the exclusive stockists of the Duchy Originals range of products, after Waitrose agreed an exclusive agreement in September 2009. The products were rebranded as Duchy Originals from Waitrose at the beginning of August 2010.
, Penwortham (Liverpool Road), South Shore, Lytham (Market Square) stores, and its oldest store in St. Annes, it is also opening new stores. In January 2009 the chain announced it was to take a unit in the proposed redeveloped Square shopping centre in Hale Barns
, Greater Manchester. Locations for future stores are also believed to include Hesketh Bank
and Burscough
. Peel Media has submitted a planning application on behalf of Booths for a 23000 sq ft (2,136.8 m²) store in Salford Quays. It is expected to be complete by 2011. Construction work started in Autumn 2010 on a new store in Penrith
.
A new store in Barrowford
is due to open in 2013.
This has included a new store logo, new uniforms, redesigned carrier bags, and new look packaging on products to incorporate the new colours.
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
. Most of its branches are located in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, but there are also branches in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
and West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
. Booths is targeted at the middle class market and competes on quality as opposed to just value. It has been developed on the motto "to sell the best quality goods in shops staffed by first class assistants".
History
E.H. Booth & Co. Ltd was founded in June 1847 when 19-year-old tea dealer Edwin Henry Booth opened a shop called The China House in BlackpoolBlackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
. In 1863, he added the sale of wines and spirits, and branches were opened in Lytham in 1879 and Blackburn in 1884. Edwin's son John opened cafes in the stores in 1902 and invited all staff to become shareholders in 1920.
It has remained owned by the Booth family ever since, the current chairman being the fifth generation. It became a private limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
in 1896. From humble beginnings as a tea shop in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Booths grew into the first chain of supermarkets in the area, and even though it has now been eclipsed by bigger supermarkets such as Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
and Sainsbury's, it boasted 29 stores across the region in 2011.
Booths today
In 2006, Booths achieved second place in the list of the World's Greatest Food Retailers. The panel of top designers, architects, analysts, journalists, suppliers and retailers was brought together by national trade publication, The GrocerThe Grocer
The Grocer is a British market leading magazine devoted to grocery sales, published by William Reed Business Media. It has been published since 1862. Its readership encompasses every aspect of the industry, from directors of the large multiples to independent retailers...
, and asked to rank their favourite food retailers from anywhere in the world. They were impressed by the quality of the company’s offer, its focus on local sourcing and head for innovation. Simon Bell, retail director of foodservice firm Leathams, voted Booths’ Chorley store first above Selfridges in London. He applauds its excellent customer service, knowledge of products and friendly staff.
In June 2005, the current Chairman, Edwin J Booth, was awarded the BITC (Business in the Community
Business in the Community
Business in the Community is a British business-community outreach charity promoting responsible business, CSR, corporate responsibility, and is one of the Prince's Charities of Charles, Prince of Wales....
) Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
Ambassador Award for North West England. This is given to individuals whose leadership and commitment to responsible business practice and the actions they have taken personally have created a positive impact both inside their company and on the wider society.
A new head office was custom built and opened in early 2006. It is in Ribbleton
Ribbleton
Ribbleton is a suburb and ward of the city of Preston, Lancashire, England. It is located to the east of the city centre, between the A59 New Hall Lane and the B6243 Longridge Road. The M6 motorway also runs through the area...
, Preston and includes a wealth of environmentally friendly features, such as using rainwater to flush the toilets.
In 2008, Booths and Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
, which share similar policies on food quality and customer service, formed a buying alliance allowing the companies to benefit from larger economies of scale.
Booths and Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
, along with small independent shops, are now the exclusive stockists of the Duchy Originals range of products, after Waitrose agreed an exclusive agreement in September 2009. The products were rebranded as Duchy Originals from Waitrose at the beginning of August 2010.
Cumbria
- KendalKendalKendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
, home of the new 'Artisan' restaurant/shop. Artisan champions passionate local people who are truly committed to producing quality crafted and specialist foods. - KeswickKeswick, CumbriaKeswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park...
- Kirkby LonsdaleKirkby LonsdaleKirkby Lonsdale is a small town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, on the River Lune. Historically within Westmorland, it is situated south east of Kendal along the A65. The parish had a population of 1,771 recorded in the 2001 census.Notable buildings include St...
- UlverstonUlverstonUlverston is a market town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria in north-west England. Historically part of Lancashire, the town is located in the Furness area, close to the Lake District, and just north of Morecambe Bay....
- WindermereWindermere (town)Windermere is a town and civil parish in the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England. It has a population of 8,245. It lies about half a mile away from the lake, Windermere...
- PenrithPenrith, CumbriaPenrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
Lancashire
- Ansdell
- BarrowfordBarrowfordBarrowford is a large village and civil parish in the Pendle district of Lancashire, England. It is situated to the north of Nelson on the other side of the M65 motorway, and forms part of the Burnley/Nelson conurbation. It also comprises the area of Lowerford and sometimes gets confused with its...
, store due to open 2013 - CarnforthCarnforth- References :...
- ChorleyChorleyChorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
- ClitheroeClitheroeClitheroe is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is 1½ miles from the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for tourists in the area. It has a population of 14,697...
- FulwoodFulwood, LancashireFulwood is an unparished area of the City of Preston, Lancashire, England, about north of the city centre. It had a population of 33,171 in 2001.- Economy and society :Fulwood remains a distinctive division of Preston...
, Preston: The Fulwood branch is sited opposite the Royal Preston Hospital - GarstangGarstangGarstang is a town and civil parish within the Wyre borough of Lancashire, England. It is ten miles north-northwest of the city of Preston and eleven miles south of Lancaster, and had a total resident population of 4,074 in 2001....
- Hesketh BankHesketh Bank-Economy:Due to the village's position on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain it has a rich soil, suitable for the farming of flowers and vegetables - this is still the main economic activity in the area.A Booths supermarket opened on 11 November 2010.-Transport:...
- Lane Ends, Preston
- LongridgeLongridgeLongridge is a small town and civil parish in the borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is situated north-east of the city of Preston, at the western end of Longridge Fell, a long ridge above the River Ribble. Its nearest neighbours are Grimsargh and the Roman town of Ribchester , ...
- LongtonLongton, Lancashire-External links:**...
, near Preston: The current Longton store relocated a few hundred yards down the road from its original site at the junction of Liverpool Road and Franklands, and now occupies the site of the former Mansion House public house. - Lytham, Haven Road: Large Supermarket on edge of town. Opened 14 Sept. 2007 Also includes another 'Artisan' restaurant. In April 2009 Haven Road opened the "Worlds First" and Booths first Self Service Juice Bar. .
- Marton, BlackpoolMarton, BlackpoolMarton is a settlement on the coastal plain of the Fylde in Lancashire, England, most of which is now part of the seaside town of Blackpool. Marton, which consisted of Great Marton, Little Marton, Marton Fold and The Peel, was originally part of the parish of Poulton-le-Fylde, before the...
- Normoss, BlackpoolBlackpoolBlackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
- PenworthamPenwortham-Landmarks:Penwortham Priory was built for the Rawsthorne family and redesigned by the Cumbrian architect George Webster. The priory was demolished due to the rapid expansion of the area and the need for new housing...
, near Preston: There were, until recently, two Booths stores in Penwortham, one on Liverpool Road, and a larger store on Millbrook Way. The Liverpool Road store has since closed and was occupied by a branch of rival chain Somerfield which shut in 2008. - Poulton-le-FyldePoulton-le-FyldePoulton-le-Fylde is a market town in Lancashire, England, situated on the coastal plain called the Fylde. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 18,264. There is evidence of human habitation in the area from 12,000 years ago and several archaeological finds from Roman...
- ScotforthScotforthScotforth is a civil parish and a suburb in the south of the city of City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It is home to Scotforth St Paul's Church of England Primary School and St Paul's Church. The parish had a population of 239 recorded in the 2001 census.Parts of Lancaster were made up of...
, LancasterLancaster, LancashireLancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
Including Butchers, Deli and Hot Counter, with Cheese Specialist in store. New store due to open summer 2013. - TorrisholmeTorrisholmeTorrisholme is a village near Morecambe, Lancashire, on the North West coast of England. In the 2001 census the Torrisholme Ward had a population of 6,758 living in 3,118 households.Torrisholme was referred to as Toredholme in the Domesday Book....
, MorecambeMorecambeMorecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
North Yorkshire
- RiponRiponRipon is a cathedral city, market town and successor parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located at the confluence of two streams of the River Ure in the form of the Laver and Skell. The city is noted for its main feature the Ripon Cathedral which is architecturally...
, Booths opened successfully on 25 June 2009 and is situated just two minutes walk from the heart of the city centre and will also include the supermarket's second self service juice bar as well as "Cafe 1847" - SettleSettleSettle is a small market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is served by the Settle railway station, which is located near the town centre, and Giggleswick railway station which is a mile away. It is from Leeds Bradford Airport...
The future
Although the company has recently closed its LeylandLeyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
, Penwortham (Liverpool Road), South Shore, Lytham (Market Square) stores, and its oldest store in St. Annes, it is also opening new stores. In January 2009 the chain announced it was to take a unit in the proposed redeveloped Square shopping centre in Hale Barns
Hale Barns
Hale Barns is an affluent village in Altrincham in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Cheshire, Hale Barns lies about south of Manchester city centre, 2 miles west of Manchester Airport and close to the River Bollin...
, Greater Manchester. Locations for future stores are also believed to include Hesketh Bank
Hesketh Bank
-Economy:Due to the village's position on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain it has a rich soil, suitable for the farming of flowers and vegetables - this is still the main economic activity in the area.A Booths supermarket opened on 11 November 2010.-Transport:...
and Burscough
Burscough
Burscough is a village and civil parish within West Lancashire in North West England, to the north of both Ormskirk and Skelmersdale.-Growth:...
. Peel Media has submitted a planning application on behalf of Booths for a 23000 sq ft (2,136.8 m²) store in Salford Quays. It is expected to be complete by 2011. Construction work started in Autumn 2010 on a new store in Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
.
A new store in Barrowford
Barrowford
Barrowford is a large village and civil parish in the Pendle district of Lancashire, England. It is situated to the north of Nelson on the other side of the M65 motorway, and forms part of the Burnley/Nelson conurbation. It also comprises the area of Lowerford and sometimes gets confused with its...
is due to open in 2013.
Artisan restaurant and cafe bar
The Artisan speciality food shop and restaurant is a recent development by Booths. The first one was located at the Kendal store, its range is mainly local produce from small producers. The second opened in 2007 at the Haven Road store in Lytham.Rebranding
Booths has largely concluded re-branding the company. This has involved replacing the former 'Booths the grocer' image, based on green and orange; with a newer look, based upon wine, lavender, olive and saffron colours.This has included a new store logo, new uniforms, redesigned carrier bags, and new look packaging on products to incorporate the new colours.