08 July 2008, 19:14 PM
  • Booths, the northern supermarket chain, is setting the pace with its combination of local foods and community retailing with a 30% surge in profits, up from £6.9 million in the previous 12 months.

Edwin Booth the fifth generation family member to lead the company said its ethical and environmental policies had boosted sales by four percent to £243m, despite competition from major supermarkets. He also stated that its more ‘human touch’ was contributing to its success. “That’s one thing all our competitors find it hard to replicate,” he said. “When you go into a Booths store, you feel you belong and there is a sense of community.”

Profits rose after a £3m investment in warehousing and distribution. The company has also carried out an environmental audit to reduce carbon emissions.

Earlier this year retail analysts Verdict Research cited Booths as a company that was able to compete with ease with the larger multiples, pointing to its “solid growth in recent years trading on its local heritage, and focusing on its core customers.

“Other small operators can follow this model, providing customers with a tailored offer leveraging the flexibility that smaller operations have over larger national competitors.”