About Booths

Did you know we’re nearly 180 years old and still proudly family-run?

Our story began in June 1847 when tea dealer Edwin Henry Booth at just 19 years of age secured a loan of £80 to open his first shop, The China House in Blackpool. Mr Edwin’s flair for business and advertising allowed him to repay the debt just three months later, making a profit of £50. He continued to capitalise on this earlier success by opening a second, larger shop in 1855 in the market town of Chorley.

By 1863, Edwin had developed a keen application and admiration for the quality of his goods. And, thanks to the changes in UK licensing laws, Booths added wine and liquor to their range. Three more locations were added to the estate in the following years, Preston in 1867, Lytham in 1878 and Blackburn in 1884.

Sell the best goods available, in attractive stores, staffed with first class assistants.

Booths founding philosophy

In 1899, Edwin’s eldest son John Booth took over the responsibility of running the family business. In 1896, Booths was incorporated as a private limited company and shortly afterwards a colleague bonus scheme was proposed based on company profits. By 1902, Mr John had enlarged the stores and added cafés in line with the rapidly-developing café society of the upper to middle classes, partaking in morning and afternoon tea.

Booths continued to thrive during the Great War years, and as a sign of prosperity colleagues were invited to become shareholders in 1920, a somewhat novel concept for the times. The ensuing inter-war years saw one of the fastest expansion periods in the company’s history, opening 8 new shops in twelve years.

Between the 50s and 80s Booths undertook a significant redevelopment of its estate, refurbishing cafes and relocating smaller shops to much larger premises with supporting car parks. Specialist trades were also incorporated such as bakers, greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers and confectioners.

In 1962, the first of Booths shops were converted to self-service whilst still retaining a high degree of personal customer service. New warehouses were built to service the broadening product range.

In 1970, John Booth took over as chairman from his late father, supported by his brother Michael Booth. Mr John realised that the skills required in the modern era were greater than the family alone could provide and invited three non-family members to join the board between the 60s and 70s.

In the years that followed Booths flourished expanding into new regions, opening stores at Windermere, Ulverston, Kirby Lonsdale, Knutsford, Ilkley, Settle and Hesketh Bank. Each store was unique in its own right with superlative architecture designed to blend in with neighbouring buildings and environments. Under his stewardship, the company subsequently doubled in size between 1990 and 2000.

Over 175 years later, five generations of the Booth family have successfully led E.H Booth & Co Ltd from its humble beginnings. The current chairman Edwin J. Booth became chairman in 1997 and is supported by daughter and Chief Brand Officer, Emma, and his younger brother, Graham. From a single shop to the present day the company now proudly boasts no fewer than 25 stores across Northern England, employing around 3,000 people.

In 2005, Booths moved its central warehouse production and distribution centre to state-of-the-art premises in Longridge, Preston. This helped facilitate the manufacture and wholesaling of Booths own label range which in turn has been recognised nationally for it’s superior taste and quality.

The company has been recognised as one of the best 100 businesses to work for in the country, winning countless awards. In 2006, Booths were declared second in a list of the World’s greatest Food Retailers.

Mr Edwin chaired the Advisory Board North West of Business in the Community and subsequently became Chairman of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership. He became a founder trustee of the Prince’s Countryside Fund and was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire in 2021. He has acted as a Prince of Wales Business Ambassador for the North West and was awarded an Honarary Doctrate by Lancaster University for his leadership and commitment to responsible business practices that create a positive and lasting impact in both business and the local community.

Recognising Mr Edwin’s contributions to business and charity the Queen bestowed on him the honour of CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 2019. 

We continue to be committed to offering customers a warm Northern welcome and a friendly service, working closely with our suppliers to form strong and lasting relationships and ensuring the sustainability of British agriculture and the environment for future generations.

About Booths in 2026 and Beyond

In 2026 we unveiled the latest evolution of our brand identity and strategy; refreshing how we express our heritage, quality and Northern roots as we look to share what makes Booths special with more people beyond our bricks and mortar stores. 

Our evolved brand introduces a more contemporary and confident identity while staying true to the values that have defined us for nearly 180 years. At the heart of the evolution is a sharpened ambition to be recognised as “the irresistible food and drink specialist.” 

Our new identity line, “The Family Grocers,” reflects our connection to our customers, colleagues and producers, while reinforcing our role at the centre of food-loving communities across the North.  Our refreshed identity includes a rich ‘Booths Blue’ and a more prominent use of our iconic Booths lion to reinforce the heritage, trust and quality associated with our brand. 

The evolution is designed to strengthen what already makes us distinctive — exceptional food and drink, genuine care for craft and quality, and meaningful relationships built over generations — while creating a stronger platform for growth into adjacent markets. 

Emma Booth, Chief Brand Officer and sixth-generation family member, said:

We see a significant opportunity to take what makes Booths special and share it with more customers beyond our store estate. 

This evolution gives us a clearer and more confident platform to grow the brand into new channels and markets, particularly through our Booths brand  ranges, while staying true to the quality and provenance that have defined Booths since 1847.

 Booths has always been about more than just food and drink — it’s about people, producers and the communities we’re part of. This evolution is about expressing more clearly the warmth, care and character that have always sat at the heart of Booths, while finding new ways to share that feeling with more people.

We’re particularly well known for our award-winning wine proposition, alongside our differentiated fresh foods and award-winning hospitality offer. 

As part of our growth strategy, we’re exploring opportunities to expand distribution of our Booths brand ranges, including ready meals, butchery, tea and coffee, wine and craft beers, beyond our physical stores. 

The evolved brand identity will roll out across stores, packaging and digital platforms from 2026 onwards.