Family-owned supermarket chain Booths has reported a third consecutive year of growth in Christmas sales.
It said like-for-like retail sales increased by 4.9% in December, with the key three-week trading period ending January 3 saw like-for-like sales increase by 3.8%, a third consecutive year of record Christmas sales for Booths and representing a 24% growth in sales over three years.
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 edition of the Booths Christmas Book landed in early October.
Like-for-like 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 firm said.
The traditional British turkey found favour with customers with sales up by 12%. Cheese counters saw sales boosted by 4% and 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 sales of mince pies increasing by 5.3%. Sales of Christmas biscuits increased by 14%.
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 Booths Hot Festive Baguette (+25%) and the launch of the Booths festive sausage roll.
Booths has stores in Keswick, Penrith, Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale, Milnthorpe, Ulverston and Windermere.
