Booths, the Lancashire based food retailer, is opening its first urban store concept in MediaCityUK, Salford Quays Manchester on October 19.
Chairman and 5th generation retailer Edwin Booth celebrates the opening of his 27th store in MediaCity UK this week by leading a 2 ton Aberdeen Angus Bull called Big Papa outside the BBC Offices.
Edwin Booth, Chairman of the Booths says “We wanted to bring Booths country to the city and showcasing a beautiful pedigree bull from one of our beef suppliers caused quite a sensation. You don’t see a bull outside the BBC every day. We’re not ordinary retailers—so we wanted to do something a little extraordinary to open the shop.”
“We’re renowned for our relationships with our farmers and producers and showing off some prime Cheshire livestock sums up what Booths is about, the highest quality food, first class service and support for local and regional producers. Great food at an affordable price.”
“Booths is a supermarket retailer like no other—proudly Northern, family run and independent. Our regional roots and relative small size help to forge close relationships with our farmers & producers. We’re able to source exceptional food and drink from small scale producers who would normally avoid supplying the supermarkets. We like to think we’re the acceptable face of supermarkets deeply committed to giving producers a fair price and shoppers great food.”
The two storey shop, is Booths first urban venture. The shop will provide a wide range of fresh food and groceries as well as an excellent range of wines and ales. The ground floor will offer a butcher, fishmonger, cheesemonger, delicatessen and florist, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, and daily basics.
“The vast majority of our fresh food is sourced within our region because of our commitment to working with suppliers in the four counties we operate in, Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria and Yorkshire. If you want a true taste of the country - the freshest vegetables from Hesketh Bank, seasonal salt marsh lamb from Morecambe Bay or the most traditionally produced artisanal Lancashire cheese – you need look no further,” explains Booth.
Wine is one of Booths key retailing strengths and they source their offering from smaller producers who would prefer not to supply their wines to the larger supermarkets. Similarly, the Booths range of 200 bottled beers has lead Booths to be named Multiple Beer Retailer of the Year last year.
Stephen Wild, Managing Director of Real Estate for Peel Media, said “We are delighted that Booths are opening at MediaCityUK. Booths have an established presence in the north of England and we are delighted that MediaCityUK will be their first Greater Manchester location. ”
The new store combines the best of a food hall and a supermarket with the emphasis to give the great new community at MediaCityUK a place to pick up quality and food and drink on their way home from a long day at work.
Notes on Booths:
Booths is the only supermarket to forge links with Slow Food, a global movement which celebrates heritage and artisan produce and the cultural traditions. Edwin Booth serves as a trustee to the Prince’s Countryside Fund which aims to improve the sustainability of British farming and rural communities.
Booths currently have 26 stores, media city will be Booths 27th store followed by Penrith, 28th store opening November 15th 2011
World’s Greatest Food Retailer, 1st Runner Up
The Grocer magazine named Booths as one of the world’s greatest food retailers, beating some serious competition from the likes of Selfridges and Harrods in London to take second place on the list. Booths was praised for the quality of its offer, its focus on local sourcing and its head for innovation, as well as for its excellent customer service, knowledge of products and friendly staff.
Booths has captured the attention of well regarded food writers often critical of the monopoly of the powerful big 4 supermarkets.
Alex Renton writes in The Times: “Booths, a remarkable and brave little supermarket chain in the North of England”
Tom Parker Bowles writes in the Mail on Sunday, “Booths, a supermarket chain like no other. I’m no supermarket evangelist, but Booths is consistently impressive.”
Factfile:
Booths MediaCity will create 100 new jobs in Salford Quays.
The shop covers 15,000 square ft over 2 floors featuring a butchery fishmonger, delicatessen, wine merchant, cheesemonger, and floristry.
History:
Since June 1847, five generations of the Booths family have led E.H. Booth & Co. Ltd, from humble beginnings, with just one small shop. Tea dealer Edwin Henry Booth, then aged 19 years, opened The China House in Blackpool 160 years ago, having borrowed £80 in goods from the Preston grocer who had taught him his trade, three months later he repaid the debt and made a profit of £50.
Edwin Booth's philosophy was simple “Sell the best goods available, in attractive stores, staffed with first class assistants.” This philosophy still holds true over 16 decades later under the helm of the current Edwin Booth.