I think a few of them might now be employed to collate shopping for click and go (or whatever it’s called) and also home delivery customers.
Hopefully, but you know how the minds of big businessmen work.
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Absolutely.
I alternate between posh, Booths, the family firm that Waitrose wanted but couldn’t buy, and cheap as chips, Home Bargains, also privately owned … 
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I’ve never heard of them before Omah! I’d love to see more high-end supermarkets round here, such as Whole Foods - but only because of the quality and their policies on things like pesticides and fertilisers. Waitrose have self-imposed bans on some pesticides that are legal but where there is mounting concern. I think some of these are outlined here: https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/about-us/our-farming
Was curious to see what Booths looked liked so had a quick look on Google:
That looks like a small one - most Booths are 'Oop North and larger, for example this one in Garstang, Lancashire:
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Think there’s one in Clitheroe. But I might be remembering wrong.
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What do they look like inside Omah? I guess the closest alternative is Waitrose? How do they differ?
One thing I loved about Waitrose is years ago they were very heavily focused on organic/natural products - for instance their ‘beauty’ isle (soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, deodorants, etc) used to have some amazing organic/natural stuff - now, they just seem to carry the same range as supermarkets like Tesco or Sainsburys, which is very disappointing and takes away a big reason why so many people liked it imo.
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Indeed there is … and I’ve been there, too … in fact, I’ve been to most branches:
Full Store List
Lancashire
- Barrowford
- Burscough
- Carnforth
- Chorley
- Clitheroe
- Fulwood, Preston
- Garstang
- Hesketh Bank
- Longridge, Preston
- Longton, Preston
- Lytham
- Penwortham, Preston
- Poulton
- Scotforth, Lancaster
- St Annes
Cumbria
Yorkshire
Cheshire
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The one in Hale Barns is pretty small, but does have a nice coffee shop in it.
Used to go for a cuppa in there in between tuitions in the mighty gated houses around there.
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Light, Spacious and Airy:
Never having been to a Waitrose, I can’t compare but what I can say is that when Waitrose failed to buy Booths they formed a buying partnership instead.
Booths specialises in high end products, many being organic and local - before the pandemic, their cafés held cheese and wine-tasting events, ladies fashion and beauty shows, art exhibitions, etc. in the evenings.
It ain’t cheap … 
The Boss:
Businessman Edwin Booth wants to use his year as High Sheriff of Lancashire make a real difference.
Thursday, 18th March 2021, 12:31 pm
The Queen has appointed Mr Booth to be the new High Sheriff from April. Mr Booth is the chairman and CEO of the Booths supermarket chain and represents the fifth generation of the family to lead the business since 1847. He will take office after having signed a sworn declaration on April 11.
The office of the High Sheriff is an independent non-political year-long appointment supporting the Crown and the judiciary, lending support to crime prevention agencies, emergency services and the voluntary sector. It is often seen as a ceremonial position – but Mr Booth wants to dispel that idea. He intends to address his attentions to three issues: crime, homelessness and education.
Mr Booth said : “A lot of people probably think the High Sheriff’s role is just pomp and circumstance. “That isn’t the case. Its about influencing and trying to create a better society.”
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Looks nice Omah! I’d be interested in their policies on food standards, like do they sell grass-fed beef that hasn’t been injected with growth hormones? RAW (or non-homogenised) milk etc 
I can’t answer that question but Booths Customer Service might … 
However, as an illustration of Booths specialisation/localisation policy:
Herdwick is a traditional breed of hardy hill sheep native to Cumbria, the name originates from “Herdwyck”, meaning sheep pasture. Roaming freely on the Cumbrian hills at heights upwards of 1,000 feet, the sheep graze on wild grass and forage which gives the lamb a distinctive gamey flavour.
Our Herdwick comes to us from fifth-generation Lakeland farmer Ian Knight, who we’ve formed a unique, decade long partnership with. The farming team are a close and hardworking traditional family, everybody mucks in on the farm and supports one another. From Ian (the boss), who does everything and more to Alan (Dad – the old boss), who keeps an eye on the new boss, to Joe (the REAL boss – aged 8), who tells the old boss and the new boss where they are going wrong!
We’re proud to support Ian and his hardworking farming family by being the only major retailer to stock this heritage breed. We aim to improve the viability and profitability of upland farming, guaranteeing a fair price for local farmers. The lamb season usually runs from mid-January until mid-June, with mutton available to order at Christmas.
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There really isn’t any one particular supermarket which I use more than another although that might change (for a few years until we move at least) when Tesco open nearby because we only have a Lidl and a Co-Op locally.
The Lidl is good for some things but not fruit & veg. and the Co-Op is dire.
The nearest place with reasonable supermarkets has a selection and each has some things the other doesn’t.
I quite like Sainsbury’s but the nearest one is small or Waitrose but that is too far away, and the nearest M&S’s are an absolute pain to get to as is the nearest decently-sized Morrisons.
Fresh meat I tend to buy online from trusted suppliers and sources for a number of reasons and the same with cheese & butter and preserves & pickles too.
Decent fruit & veg. here is more limited in scope without travelling and as that and online buying isn’t practical, supermarkets are the only remaining viable option for much of that.
Oh the joys of living rurally.
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I use Tesco mostly, but the Co-op regularly, we have a corner store, handy if you run out of anyhing & it has a post office too, Asda some times, Sainsburys & M&S sometimes.
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We use Tesco for big food shops (I like Sainsbury, but Mr B thinks they’re more expensive). We also use the new Aldi just round the corner from us a fair amount, especially for a particular wine Mr B likes. And I often pop into the Co-op store for bits and bobs, but they are very expensive, so I certainly wouldn’t want to do all my shopping there!
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Home deliveries from Tesco and Morrisons.
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Aldi are springing up everywhere Sheba, there’s a new one opened up here as well, not half a mile as the crow flies…The mile walk (or jog) through the woods to Tesco is nicer though… 
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We use Aldi, Home Bargains, Tesco and Co-op,in that order. All within walking distance. We have an M&S foodstore which we never use.
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