Plans to develop Booths Supermarkets have been outlined by chairman Edwin Booth, who has reported annual sales for the company to 30 April up 6.8%, from £202m to £215m.

The resulting growth could move the company from third to second place among The Grocer Top 50 independent retailers, supplanting Spar retailer Tates.

Booths expects to finish its new store at Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, in August 2007. It will have a mezzanine level with a restaurant.

The refurbishment of other Booths stores, which began last year, will take at least another year to complete, said Booth. No start date has yet been confirmed for its new-build stores in Garstang and Hesketh Bank, Lancashire, for which planning consent has already been granted.

Booth added: "We are looking at new store features, including fresh fish counters. We are also splitting our serve-over counters into individual service units, to show off products better and make it easier for people to know where to queue."

Booth said the revamp of its own-label ranges was continuing and new lines would be introduced on a staggered basis.

Booths also aims to add 10,000-12,000 wines to its everywine.co.uk website. It currently lists 26,000 wines.

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