AN upmarket supermarket chain with stores in Clitheroe, Longridge and Chorley has celebrated their best ever Christmas results with a total sales increase of more than six per cent.

Booths recorded its best ever sales on December 23 in its 166 year history.

The Preston-based chain has said that the increase in sales was due to a number of factors including customers planning ahead, selecting the best and using the reserve and collect service.

The company, which is planning to open a new store in Halstead Lane, Barrowford, this year, posted turnover of £279m last year, a rise of two per cent.

Chairman Edwin Booth said: “We launched our Christmas marketing campaign early this year with the delivery of our Christmas Book, which inspired customers to plan ahead and order early.

“The 180 page book illustrated our Christmas lines beautifully and resulted in a pre-order sales increase of 22 per cent with customers ordering in advance for Christmas Day.

“Customers care about quality and provenance at Christmas, they want to know they are buying the best, they want something exceptional to serve, made by someone who cares about the food they produce. Sales of premium turkeys and geese were robust.

“Alongside this, we achieved good growth in sales of alternative Christmas dinners like venison, Herdwick mutton, up 38 per cent, and three bird roasts, up 65 per cent. “We’ve been mindful that budgets have been tight and kept prices affordable without compromising quality.”