FAMILY-owned supermarket chain Booths, which has an Ilkley store, is set for a record festive season.

For the first time in its 167-year history, Northern-based Booths is making nationwide grocery deliveries as the value of seasonal sales increases.

Booths has seen a 34 per cent rise in the level of Christmas home delivery and collect in-store orders and a 14 per cent increase in order value with average spend up to £72.44 from £63.58 in 2013. Average delivery orders are £116.

Orders have come from as far afield as New York, New Zealand and Australia, with expats reserving goods for their return home. The most remote delivery will be in Kilchoan, Archarale, on the Isle of Bute.

Pre-order sales of upmarket food have risen, with lobster-based products increasing by 87 per cent with a 112 per cent rise in fine dining items like Chateaubriand and caviar. Sales of smoked salmon have increased by more than 30 per cent, while pre prepared vegetable box orders have soared by 164 per cent.

Booths said its Christmas Book for store card holders, published in October, had been key to outperforming the market.

Chairman Edwin Booth said: “The Christmas Book is a worthwhile investment in print marketing that inspires people to cook at home at Christmas. Everyone wants to buy the best at Christmas and our buyers and suppliers have worked hard source some exceptional lines.”