UK supermarket chain known as 'Waitrose of the North' set to close store

A supermarket chain dubbed the “Waitrose of the North” is closing one of its stores. Booths is pulling down the shutters on its Ripon branch after 16 years.

The reports that the lease of the branch, which is located on Marshall Way, is likely to be taken over by . It is also understood that members of staff will be transferred to the giant.

Booths has 27 stores across the north, with the majority located in Lancashire and Cumbria. The Ripon branch is only one of three in Yorkshire. Devastated shoppers have been reacting to the news on social media.

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One person said: "I bring my mother to Ripon specifically to visit Booths. While there we also spend in the local shops and have lunch in one of the pubs. We will miss our outings to Ripon."

Another added: "Booths in Ripon is a great store, it always seemed busy too." A third shopper posted: "Booths beats all the main , hands down, so it’s very sad to see this close."

A spokesman for Booths added: “Since opening in 2009 we have worked hard to refine the offer and improve performance at Ripon, but the challenges of significantly increased operating costs have meant that we cannot see a future where the store will be profitable under the Booths model.

“It is anticipated that all jobs will be protected and transferred to Tesco during this consultation process. Closing any store is a very difficult decision however we are working to protect all jobs in this process.

“Booths would like to thank all colleagues and customers for their support since the store opened over 16 years ago. We would also like to provide some reassurance that we have no current plans to exit any of our other stores.”

Booths made headlines back in 2023 after it revealed it had axed almost all of its self-service checkouts. It marks a stark contrast compared to other UK supermarkets, which are increasing the number of self-service tills across stores.

Booths, which was founded in 1847, said it was responding to customer feedback. In a more recent update, Booths said it was launching loyalty prices in a shake-up of its rewards scheme.

The update will give shoppers discounted prices on around 300 of its own-label lines, reports The 300 products selected from its own lines are the ones customers buy the most frequently, including strawberries, vegetables, and fillet steaks.

Loyalty cardholders will also get access to more "permanent" promotions and offers, including its three for £15 meat and fish deals and 10% off four bottles of wine.