Booths Celebrates 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 3-week trading period ending January 3^rd saw lfl sales increase by 3.8%, a third consecutive year of record Christmas sales for Booths and representing a 24% growth in sales over 3 years.  (+9.5% 2024, +8.8% 2023 in same 3-week period). 

Warm, Friendly and reliable service coupled with innovative and award-winning products are credited with the success. Booths customers recognised this and shared their joy as Booths achieved a Net Promoter Score* of 80% for the key 3 weeks of December. (77% in 2024)

Managing Director Nigel Murray 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% with 50% 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% with Booths birds winning top taste tests. Booths colleagues at Cheese counters delighted customers with great service, products and knowledge boosting sales by 4%. Booths pigs in blankets were up 4.6% all hand rolled in house at Booths own manufacturing facility in Preston.

Christmas bakery sales were boosted by 4.6% with multiple award-winning lines with sales of mince pies increasing by 5.3%.  Sales of Christmas biscuits increased by 14%.   Unique to Booths ranges, including the Booths British Porchetta, prepared by Booths own butchers found favour with customers and taste testers alike, winning awards in Olive, Good Food, and Woman and Home magazines. 

Booths continued investment in Café and Hospitality experiences supported like for like sales growth of 12.3% with the introduction of new seasonal products. Food to Go sales increased by 9.5% driven by sales of the infamous Booths Hot Festive Baguette (+25%) and the launch of the Booths festive sausage roll, made and freshly baked in store.      

Nigel Murray continued “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.”

* NPS scores measure customer satisfaction ranging from -100 to +100. According to global NPS standards, a score of above +50 is good and above +70 is outstanding.