Posh nosh sales means Booths supermarket is celebrating (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Posh nosh sales means Booths supermarket is celebrating

12:42pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Business By Helen Perkins, Reporter

NORTH West supermarket bosses are celebrating after a trend for posh house parties saw Christmas sales figures increase.

Booths saw total sales over Christmas grow by more than seven per cent compared to last year.

Like for like sales also rose by more than three per cent.

The firm reported ‘robust’ trade throughout its 28 stores, including two outlets opened last November at Media CityUK, in Salford, and Penrith.

Trading director Chris Dee said the statistics pointed to a trend to entertain impressively at home, compensating for less disposable income to eat out over the holiday.

“Entertaining has been key to our increased performance,” he said. “The figures indicate our shoppers threw a great party over Christmas and New Year. Sales of premium party food more than trebled.”

Champagne sales were up by 32 per cent, claret sales up 39 per cent and regional beers saw an increase of 25 per cent. Sales from specialist local producers like Holme Farm Venison and Furness Fish and Game also reported strong increases of 27 per cent and 32 per cent respectively, with the demand for high quality locally produced food still on the rise.

Mr Dee said: “We’ve definitely seen an increase in gastronome purchases, show-off dinner party entrees like specialist cured smoked salmon, dressed crab, striploins of venison and three-bird roasts met an enthusiastic reception with our customers. It’s clear they were shopping for something exceptional and impressive to serve.”