FOOD and wine retailer Booths - which has a store in Settle - has recorded solid year end results against the backdrop of a tumultuous grocery market.

Sales were down slightly by 0.5 per cent, held back by food deflation and a highly competitive retail market, but the business still recorded a modest profit.

It also made significant financial investments in a Fair Milk scheme in May 2014, vowing to pay the highest farm gate price in the market to farmers supplying Booths.

Chief executive Chris Dee said: “In a highly charged retail market, Booths has stayed true to their roots by undertaking fair practice with suppliers. Our suppliers are vital to the continued success of Booths and we remain committed to supporting small scale artisan producers and farmers.

"Because our stores are often located in rural areas, our farmers are often our customers as well as suppliers and supporting them in challenging times is part of the Booths DNA.”

“Selling top quality produce served by first class assistants was the aim of the first Edwin Booth; that 1847 formula still works for us in increasingly competitive markets. I have every confidence that our value, quality, provenance and service will sustain Booths in the current retail climate.”