BOOTHS supermarkets has acquired Sharrocks, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler, for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition will come into effect on December 1 and comes as Booths, which has a store in Knutsford, looks to gain greater control over its supply chain and work closer with the farmers and growers that supply its stores.

Sharrocks is a fourth generation, family business, based at Riversway, Preston, which is owned and run by the Eastham family.

It has worked with Booths for more than 40 years, as well as supplying and distributing fruit and vegetables to other independent retailers.

Booths Chairman Edwin Booth said: “This is our first acquisition of a supplier in our 166 year history.

“We have worked closely with the Eastham family for many years and we know that they share the same ethos and values when it comes to supplying customers with quality produce.

“This will only further strengthen our own offering to our customers.”

Knutsford’s Booths store is located on Stanley Road. It supplies a range of locally produced foods and houses tea rooms, a delicatessen, fishmonger and freshly made sandwiches.