Northern supermarket Booths is celebrating a Christmas boost of 3.5 per cent.

The family-owned firm said its sales in the three-week period until January 5 were driven by orders from the Booths Christmas Book, which rose by 6.8 per cent.

Pre-orders were so successful – driving like-for-like retail sales by 2.7 per cent – it said, that Booths will now offer customers the chance to order special products all year.

Edwin Booth, chairman and chief executive, said: “Booths is a heritage retailer and our Christmas Book published in 1937 includes a quote which still resonates some 80 years on.

"'Goodwill, that immeasurable bond between buyer and seller which is born of good business is our greatest reward and encouragement.”

The chain, which has seven stores in Cumbria, in Penrith, Keswick, in Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale, Milnthorpe, Ulverston and Windermere, said it sold a million mince pies made by Bell's of Lazonby, 250,000 bottles of premium ale, saw turkey sales rise by 13 per cent and own brand party food increase by 21 per cent.

Sales of Booths brand products made by Booths manufacturing, also rose. Sales of pigs in blankets were up by 25 per cent and Booths stuffing balls up by 85 per cent. Other top performing lines included pre-prepared roast potatoes and red cabbage with port.

New Year sales were up seven per cent on last year, the firm said and business-to-business sales were up by over 50 per cent.

Mr Booth added: “I should particularly like to thank our loyal customers for their continued support and pay credit to our colleagues who work tirelessly throughout the year."

Booths also has stores in Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale, Milnthorpe, Ulverston and Windermere