Booths scraps self-checkouts in nearly all UK stores in supermarket first - 'others must follow!'

The change has been introduced in response to customer demands.

Shoppers called for more staffed checkouts and this will be put in place in 26 out of 28 Booth stores.

The branches in Keswick and Windermere will keep self-checkouts at the moment.

The decision to move away from self-checkouts is a supermarket first, and many retailers are doing the opposite.

Other supermarket chains are increasing the number of self-checkouts and even adding self-checkouts that facilitate trolleys.

Having staffed checkouts will aim to give a better experience to customers, the retailer suggested.

A Booths spokesperson said: "We believe colleagues serving customers delivers a better customer experience and therefore we have taken the decision to remove self-checkouts in the majority of our stores.

“We have based this not only on what we feel is the right thing to do but also having received feedback from our customers.”

Shoppers praised the move, taking to X to share their views.

One wrote: "If I lived near a Booths this would make me a loyal customer."

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A second said: "Well done Booths for being the first to go back to conventional tills by removing the scourge of the modern supermarket the impersonal self service checkout."

A third added: "Let’s hope a few more supermarkets go down this route."

One more said: "Booths supermarket puts staff back behind its tills - I for one hope others will follow, I’ve yet to use a self checkout that offered a faster and more pleasant experience."

This comes as supermarket chain Sainsbury's announced a thoughtful change it is making to its meal deals.