In 1847 a young man, living in poverty, found a way to open a small shop in Blackpool. Edwin Henry Booth had been driven from home at the age of 10 and had had to make his way through life with nothing but determination to do what was right. His shop did so well that he was able to open others, running them according to the principles that had guided him, and to fund many good causes in the community.

Today the Booths chain has 28 stores across the north-west of England, and it continually seeks to encourage local suppliers and takes a pride in its staff. The company’s chairman, Edwin J. Booth, describes how in today’s competitive world, the values of its founder, his great-great-grandfather, continue to make sound business sense.