Booths sales rise 4.4% in FY22

Booths has reported an overall sales improvement of 4.4% (£12.6m) to £296.7m in its full year results to 2 April 2022. 

Profit before tax rose by £1.1m to £3m, up from £1.9m the prior year, while EBITDA increased by £1.4m to £13.3m compared to £11.9m in 2021. 

The group’s trading in the period was in line with its expected underlying 2% growth. 

The news comes as the key Christmas trading period of 2021 reportedly broke sale records, with an increase of 6.5% over the three-week trading period to 1 January 2022. 

The high-end supermarket chain operating in the north of England also improved its gross margins by £0.7m, from £35.1m to £36.8m in the year. 

However, the company expects that the continued effects of the pandemic seen in the last 12 months of “extraordinary” profitability will not continue at its current high levels. 

Edwin Booth, executive chairman of Booths, said: “Just as with the advent of the pandemic, we are being fleet of foot to recognise difficulties and address them swiftly as they arise. I am in no doubt that the financial performance of the business will not be as extraordinary as in the past two years, however we will take every opportunity to present our customers with the best value possible.

“It is a privilege to lead a dedicated and stable executive team and I am confident that together we can provide the leadership and inspiration to all of our colleagues and help them face up to the difficult circumstances that affect them at work and in their home lives.”