Booths
Booths is a privately owned, premium supermarket chain concentrated in Northern England.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Booths, formally E. H. Booth & Co., Limited, is a privately owned supermarket chain based in Northern England. The business is best known for premium grocery retailing, a strong emphasis on regional products, knowledgeable service, and stores located primarily in Lancashire, with additional outlets in Cumbria, Cheshire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. Because of its upmarket assortment and northern geographic focus, it is frequently characterized in British media as the “Waitrose of the North,” although it remains an independent family- and employee-owned company rather than a division of Waitrose or another national supermarket group. The company traces its origins to June 1847, when 19-year-old Edwin Henry Booth opened a tea shop called the China House in Blackpool. Tea remained central to the early business, but the range expanded over time. Booths began selling wines and spirits in 1863, opened a branch in Lytham in 1879, and established a Blackburn branch in 1884. The company was incorporated as a private limited company in 1896. Its development therefore predates the modern supermarket format and reflects the evolution of a specialist grocer into a broader food retailer. Family succession has been a defining feature of the business. Edwin Booth’s son John introduced cafés into the stores in 1902, creating an element of hospitality that remains visible in the company’s café and restaurant concepts. In 1920, staff were invited to become shareholders. Ownership subsequently remained distributed among Booth family members and employees, with the company reporting more than 250 shareholders in 2011 and no individual holding more than 12% of the shares at that time. Edwin J. Booth, described in the reference material as the fifth-generation chairman and later executive chairman, has represented the continuing family role in the enterprise. Booths positions itself around quality, provenance, regional sourcing and service rather than scale-based price competition. Its stores sell fresh food, groceries, wines and spirits, bakery products, prepared foods and other household provisions. The retailer has also developed concepts such as Café 1847, an artisan-oriented food shop and restaurant associated with local producers. Its own-label Fair Milk initiative sought to increase the price paid to dairy farmers, reinforcing the company’s responsible-sourcing and rural-community positioning. The chain expanded selectively during the 2000s and 2010s, including stores at MediaCityUK in Salford, Penrith, Milnthorpe, Barrowford, Burscough and St Annes. Its Ribbleton head office in Preston, opened in 2006, incorporated environmental features including rainwater use for toilet flushing. Booths also commissioned research into its carbon footprint, with the resulting report published in 2012. The business received recognition from retail and responsible-business organizations, including Independent Retail Chain of the Year at The Grocer Gold Awards in 2015. Booths has faced the structural pressures affecting premium grocery retailers, including competition from Waitrose and changing shopping patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. A MediaCityUK store closed in February 2021 after approximately ten years, and the Hale Barns branch closed in April 2024. The Ripon store closed in July 2025, leaving 26 stores according to the supplied reference material. Earlier reports that the chain might be sold for approximately £130 million to £150 million were dismissed by the company as speculation. Booths remains a regional, independently owned food retailer whose distinctiveness rests on northern identity, premium food, local sourcing and continuity of ownership.
History
Booths began in June 1847, when Edwin Henry Booth opened a tea-dealing business called the China House in Blackpool. The founder was 19 years old at the time. The original specialist focus gradually broadened: wines and spirits were added in 1863, followed by branches in Lytham in 1879 and Blackburn in 1884. The enterprise became a private limited company in 1896 under the name E. H. Booth & Co., Limited. The second generation contributed important elements to the company’s later retail identity. Edwin’s son John opened cafés inside Booths stores in 1902, linking food retail with in-store hospitality. In 1920, employees were invited to become shareholders. This created an ownership structure that combined the Booth family with the workforce and helped distinguish the company from publicly traded supermarket groups. Reference material from 2011 described more than 250 shareholders and stated that no single holder owned more than 12 percent. Edwin J. Booth, identified as the fifth-generation chairman, continued the family’s leadership tradition. During the twentieth century, Booths developed from a specialist grocer into a regional supermarket chain. Its estate remained concentrated in Northern England, particularly Lancashire, while later stores extended the business into Cumbria, Cheshire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. The company’s retail proposition emphasized premium food, fresh produce, regional specialties, service and product knowledge. This positioning led commentators to compare it with Waitrose, though the two businesses were not the same corporate entity. The company invested in infrastructure and store development during the 2000s. A new head office opened in Ribbleton, Preston, in early 2006 and included environmental measures such as rainwater collection for toilet flushing. In 2006, Booths ranked second in The Grocer’s survey of the world’s greatest food retailers, with judges highlighting its product quality, local sourcing, innovation and customer service. In 2008, reports indicated that Waitrose had considered a takeover, but the possibility was ruled out. The two retailers subsequently formed a buying group, allowing cooperation in procurement while preserving their separate identities. Booths continued selective expansion in the 2010s. Stores opened at MediaCityUK in Salford and in Penrith in 2011, followed by Milnthorpe in 2012, Barrowford in 2014, Burscough and St Annes in 2015, alongside refurbishment activity at Poulton-le-Fylde. Café 1847 developed as an artisan food-shop and restaurant format, first associated with the Kendal store and designed to showcase food from local producers. In 2014, Booths renamed its own-label milk Fair Milk and increased the average farm-gate price paid to its dairy farmers. The initiative became part of the company’s responsible-business profile and was connected with recognition in rural-action awards. The business also pursued environmental and community initiatives. Booths commissioned Small World Consulting to examine its carbon footprint, and the report was published in 2012. In 2005, Edwin J. Booth received the Business in the Community Prince of Wales Ambassador Award for North West England. He was also a finalist for the Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year award. In the 2019 Birthday Honours, he was appointed CBE for services to business and charity. Booths was named Independent Retail Chain of the Year at The Grocer Gold Awards in 2015. From 2017, selected Booths-branded products were made available through Amazon Fresh in certain areas. The chain has also experienced contraction. In 2017, press reports claimed that the company was being marketed for sale, but Booths described the reports as speculation. The MediaCityUK store closed in February 2021 after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hale Barns branch closed in April 2024, removing the company from Greater Manchester, and the Ripon branch closed in July 2025. The supplied reference material states that Booths then operated 26 stores. Despite these closures, the company remains active as a family- and employee-owned northern supermarket business, with its differentiation grounded in regional identity, premium food retailing, local sourcing and service.
- 2025
Ripon branch closes
[1]The Ripon store closes after sixteen years, leaving a reported estate of 26 stores.
- 2024
Hale Barns branch closes
[1]The closure ends Booths’ presence in Greater Manchester.
- 2021
MediaCityUK branch closes
[1]The Salford MediaCityUK store closes after the pandemic affects its trading outlook.
- 2015
Independent Retail Chain of the Year
[1]Booths receives the Independent Retail Chain of the Year award at The Grocer Gold Awards.
- 2014
Fair Milk introduced
[1]Booths rebrands its own-label milk as Fair Milk and raises the average farm-gate price paid to dairy farmers.
- 2012
Carbon-footprint report published
[1]Small World Consulting publishes research commissioned by Booths into the company’s carbon footprint.
- 2011
MediaCityUK and Penrith stores open
[1]Booths adds branches in Salford’s MediaCityUK and Penrith, Cumbria.
- 2006
New Preston head office opens
[1]The company opens a Ribbleton head office featuring environmental measures including rainwater use.
- 1920
Employees become shareholders
[1]Booths invites staff to become shareholders, contributing to its long-running employee and family ownership model.
- 1902
In-store cafés introduced
[1]John Booth opens cafés in Booths stores, establishing a continuing retail-and-hospitality element.
Products and positioning
Premium regional supermarket retailer emphasizing quality, local and British sourcing, food expertise, customer service, and responsible relationships with producers.
Private-label grocery
Booths own-label range
Booths’ own-label range covers everyday and premium grocery categories, including chilled foods, pantry products, bakery items, prepared foods and beverages. The range supports the retailer’s emphasis on quality and regional provenance rather than competing primarily through the lowest prices.
Dairy · 2014
Fair Milk
Fair Milk is Booths’ own-label milk proposition, introduced in 2014. The initiative was associated with a higher average farm-gate price for supplying dairy farmers and formed part of the retailer’s responsible-sourcing and rural-community positioning.
Foodservice and hospitality
Café 1847
Café 1847 is Booths’ artisan-oriented food shop and restaurant concept. First associated with the Kendal store, it combines prepared food and café service with a range focused substantially on local produce and smaller food producers.
Specialty grocery
Regional and artisan food range
Booths gives prominent shelf space to food from Northern England, Britain and independent producers. The range typically includes cheeses, meats, bakery products, preserves, beverages and other specialty goods, helping distinguish the chain from larger national supermarkets.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Fair Milk
United Kingdom
Booths rebranded its own-label milk and linked the proposition to higher farm-gate payments for dairy farmers.
Outcome. The initiative strengthened Booths’ responsible-sourcing profile and was followed by recognition in responsible-business and rural-action awards.
- 2012Carbon-footprint assessment
United Kingdom
Booths commissioned Small World Consulting to research the environmental footprint of its operations.
Outcome. The resulting carbon-footprint report was published in 2012.
Brand decisions
2021
Closure of MediaCityUK storeStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the trading environment for the Salford branch.
Action taken
Booths closed the MediaCityUK store in February 2021 after approximately ten years of operation.
Aftermath
The closure reduced the company’s presence in Greater Manchester.
2014
Fair Milk sourcing decisionStrategyBackground
Booths sought to emphasize producer relationships and support for rural communities.
Action taken
The retailer renamed its own-label milk Fair Milk and increased the average farm-gate price paid to dairy farmers.
Aftermath
The program became a visible part of Booths’ responsible-business positioning and contributed to award recognition.
Average farm-gate milk price. 34.4 pence per litre annual average (2014)
2008
Cooperation with Waitrose through a buying groupStrategyBackground
Booths faced competitive pressure from Waitrose, alongside reports that a takeover might be considered.
Action taken
A takeover did not proceed; Booths and Waitrose instead formed a buying group while remaining separate businesses.
Aftermath
The arrangement provided procurement cooperation without changing Booths’ independent ownership or regional identity.
- Waitrose — Waitrose participated in the buying-group arrangement rather than acquiring Booths.
Recent events
- 2025
Booths closes Ripon store[1]
Other
The Ripon store closed in July 2025 after sixteen years, reducing the reported store estate to 26 branches.
- 2024
Booths closes Hale Barns store[1]
Other
The Hale Barns branch closed in April 2024, ending Booths’ presence in Greater Manchester.
- 2021
Booths MediaCityUK store closes[1]
Other
The MediaCityUK branch in Salford closed in February 2021 after the company confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the store’s prospects.
- 2017
Booths reportedly put up for sale[1]
M&A
Reports suggested that Booths had been offered for sale at an estimated value of £130 million to £150 million. The company subsequently rejected the reports as speculation.
Sources7 sources
- 1Boothsen.wikipedia.org
- 2Booths Launches Click and Collect Servicecumbriacrack.com
- 3Booths launches community delivery service to help those in needlancasterguardian.co.uk
- 4Booths launches community delivery service to help those in need during Covid-19 crisisnwemail.co.uk
- 5Booths launches community delivery service to help those in need during COVID-19 crisiscumbriacrack.com
- 6Booths launches next day click and collect service in response to coronavirus pandemicburnleyexpress.net
- 7MyCumbria teams up with Booths to offer exclusive discountin-cumbria.com
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