Asda takes Booths' crown: Outrage in leafy village that is popular with Premier League stars after 'Waitrose of the North' announces it is closing upmarket store - with cheaper rival set to move in

• Booths revealed that it ‘cannot see a future where the store will be profitable’

Well-heeled shoppers in a leafy suburb are up in arms after an upmarket grocer announced it is shutting up shop – and will be replaced by an Asda.

Booths – nicknamed the ‘Waitrose of the North’ – opened its 30,000 sq ft store in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, nine years ago but has struggled to attract the required footfall.

The area is one of the most affluent in North West England and is home to Premier League footballers, former England cricketer and TV star Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, plus a host of millionaire business people.

News Booths is selling its lease to Asda, which has held the title of Britain’s cheapest traditional supermarket for 26 years in a row at the Grocer Gold Awards, was greeted with dismay.

Writing on social media, one local resident called the change ‘a big loss for Hale Barns’, adding: ‘There is no way Asda will attract the same attention.’

Booths – nicknamed the ‘ Waitrose of the North’ – opened its 30,000 sq ft store in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, nine years ago (Pictured: Stock image of Booths supermarket)

Booths is selling its lease to Asda, which has held the title of Britain’s cheapest traditional supermarket for 26 years in a row at the Grocer Gold Awards

Another local, business analyst Matt Whitaker, said: ‘Asda still won’t get the footfall Booths got and I don’t think the quality of Asda, Aldi or Lidl would entice shoppers in(to) the area.’

Karen Skelhorn wrote: ‘Oh delightful – we just need another Asda. Not!’

READ MORE: Booths removes almost all self-service checkouts and puts staff back behind tills as experts say move will cut shoplifting: ‘We listen to our customers – they want to speak to a real human’

And Linda Martin commented: ‘It’s a real shame that Booths are leaving Hale Barns. They have a great selection of regional produce that you don’t see in the larger chain supermarkets. At least they’re still in Knutsford.’

But Hale resident Zoe Colene joked: ‘Well, maybe house prices will come down once Asda takes over.’

Commenting on local news website Altrincham Today, William Davenport said he was ‘gutted’, adding: ‘Asda are not the right company to take this site over and I don’t expect them to do any better with footfall, in fact I would expect it to be less.’

Francesca Lintner wrote: ‘Devastated to hear this news; Booths is a fantastic store on our door step, I use regularly and a loyal customer.’

And retired shopworker Gillian Hollingworth, one of the first staff to work at the Booths store, said: ‘I feel terribly sad about this. I worked for Booths Hale Barns from the very beginning.

‘I met some wonderful colleagues and customers and the management were brilliant.

‘It is such a shame to see Booths depart Hale Barns. I wish all my former colleagues all the very best.’

Booths, based in Preston, Lancashire, revealed it ‘cannot see a future where the store will be profitable’.

The retailer has started a consultation process with staff about transfer of their jobs to Asda.

Residents are in dismay after hearing the news that Booths would be replaced by Asda

No closing date has yet been confirmed but Altrincham Today reported it could be ‘as soon as April’.

A Booths spokesperson said: ‘Booths have begun a consultation process with their colleagues at the Hale Barns store relating to a forthcoming transfer of the property lease for the store to ASDA.

‘Since opening in 2015 we have worked hard to refine the offer and improve performance at Hale Barns, 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 ASDA during this consultation process.

‘Closing any store is a very difficult decision and it is not a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our team at Hale Barns, or across the wider Booths business.

Booths, based in Preston, Lancashire, revealed it ‘cannot see a future where the store will be profitable’

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

Transfer of the store comes despite Booths – which has 28 stores – announcing record Christmas trading results with like-for-like sales increasing 8.7 per cent over three weeks to January 6 and a record seven-day Christmas week when sales were 8.3 per cent higher than Christmas 2022.

But the company’s accounts showed an earlier fall in turnover by 3.2 per cent to £287.3m in the year to April 2023, and a 19.3 per cent drop in gross profits to £29.7m.

An Asda spokesperson said: ‘Asda is delighted to announce we have acquired the property lease for Booths’ Hale Barns store.

‘We look forward to welcoming our new Asda colleagues and sharing more details on our plans to bring great Asda value to the local community in the near future.’

Read more