North’s ‘Waitrose’ chain up for sale

UPMARKET supermarket chain Booths has been put up for sale, opening the door for takeover bids by the likes of online giant Amazon.

The 170-year-old Lancashire-based firm, dubbed Waitrose Of The North, has been in the Booth family for five generations.

But after suffering losses of £6.3m last year from its 28 stores, they have called in advisers to find investors interested in taking it over.

Clive Black, retail analyst at Shore Capital, said: ‘The wild card would be whether Amazon, after buying Whole Foods in the US as a premium player, will go from online to offline.’

Analysts suggest Booths could fetch between £130m and £150m, although the family owners are reportedly looking for a substantially higher offer. A Booths spokesman said: ‘We always keep our strategic options open.’

Booths was founded in 1847 by tea dealer Edwin Henry Booth

Fifth-generation family member Edwin Booth is chairman

4pc of the company is owned by its employees

It stocks 100 cheeses, mainly from regional producers

80pc of its meat comes from nearby farms

Prince Charles is a fan and a customer