Booths has been honoured in the UK’s leading awards for responsible business practice run by Business in the Community (BITC).
Out of hundreds of entries, Booths has won a coveted National Big Tick in the Rural Action category for its support of local farmers and producers. It is now down to the final two on the shortlist for the overall winner of Example of Excellence in its category.
The Big Tick award is the first level of award available to entrants of BITC’s national Awards for Excellence, the UK’s most influential, independent, peer assessed corporate responsibility awards.
The Northern Foods Rural Action Award is designed to recognise and reward companies that are helping to address issues faced by rural communities in order to maintain a vibrant and sustainable rural economy.
Booths Edwin Booth says: “We’re delighted to receive this Big Tick and to have been shortlisted for the overall Example of Excellence. Booths is nationally recognised as an industry leader for its support of regional producers.
“We’ve always been committed to working with the rural community – we’ve formed long-standing relationships with many local producers and work hand in hand with them to source the best-tasting and freshest products for our customers. In that way we can help to bring farmers closer to the consumer.”
Booths has a 160-year heritage of retailing local and regional foods. It has always placed a special emphasis on sourcing the very best seasonal and local produce and has been working with some local producers for several generations.
Booths goes further than other retailers to nurture relationships with regional producers. As a result, many of the cheeses, meats, fruit, vegetables and even confectionery that Booths stock can't be found in any other supermarket.
Now in their 13th year, the Business in the Community Awards for Excellence are the UK’s leading awards for responsible business practice. BITC received 330 entries into the national Awards for Excellence.
Raksha Pattni, regional director for Business in the Community, says: “I congratulate Booths on their success in this year’s awards. It’s been a difficult 12 months for business, but this is a sign that companies are not losing their focus on making a positive impact on people and the planet and are prepared to lead by example.
“That’s what Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence are all about – celebrating responsible business, the leadership that makes it happen, and the benefits to the business and society of doing so. Consumers need to see that businesses are proactive, visible and engaged on the big issues of the day, as Booths has demonstrated.”
Booths will be presented with its Big Tick award at a gala dinner at Ewood Park, Blackburn on Thursday 24 June and will find out if it has won the Example of Excellence for the Rural Action category at an event in central London on 5 July.