Edwin Henry Booth

Edwin Henry Booth (1828 – January 1899) was an English businessman. Initially a tea dealer, in 1847 he founded E. H. Booth & Co. Ltd, which is still in existence as the Booths supermarket chain.

Edwin Henry Booth
Booth pictured around 1880
Born	1828 Bury, Lancashire, England
Died	1899(1899-00-00) (aged 70–71) Preston, Lancashire, England
Resting place	Chorley Cemetery, Chorley, Lancashire, England
Nationality	English
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	founding Booths
Spouse	Susannah Phillips

Early life and career

Booth was born in Bury, Lancashire,^[1] in 1828.^[2] He was an orphan by the age of eleven,^[3] and ran away from home.^[4]

In 1847,^[5] at the age of nineteen, Booth was able to secure an £80 loan with which to open a shop, named The China House, in Blackpool.^[6][7]

He opened a second shop in 1855 in Chorley.^[6]

When UK licensing laws were changed, Booth was able to add wine and liquor to his range of products. The increased profit allowed him to open three additional shops, in Preston (1867), Lytham St Annes (1878) and Blackburn (1884).^[6]

His son, John, took over the businesses in 1899, three years after Booths had been incorporated as a private limited company.^[6]

As of 2023^[update], Booth's great-great-grandson, Edwin J. Booth, is the company's chairman and chief executive officer.^[3][8]

Personal life

Booth married Susannah Phillips, with whom he had had two sons, John (1857–1941) and Albert (1866–1868), and a daughter, Elizabeth (1855–1858).^{[citation needed]}

Death

Booth died in January 1899,^[9] aged 70 or 71. He is buried in Chorley Cemetery in Chorley, Lancashire. His wife survived him by two years, and was buried beside him.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Booth Family". The Lytham St Annes Art Collection. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
2. The Diaries of Anthony Hewitson, Provincial Journalist, Volume 1, 1865–1887. Open Book Publishers. 2022. ISBN 9781800642393.
3. "'I want to make a difference' says Booths supermarket boss as he awaits High Sheriff's role". Lancashire Post. 18 March 2021.
4. Martin, Jane (2006-12-22). "Interview: Edwin Booth - Foodies' favourite keeping supermarkets family-size". the Guardian. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
5. Storey, Laura (2022-05-23). "175 Years of Booths and Counting • Northern Life". Northern Life Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
6. "Booths History & Heritage | About Us". orders.booths.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
7. Atkins, Susy (2022-09-29). "The award-winning British wine retailer you may not have heard of". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
8. "Edwin Booth CBE DL". LinkedIn. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
9. Harpers Directory and Manual. Harper Trade Journals. 1920. p. 216.