Bettys has reported its highest ever sales figures for a Christmas period with 2021 seeing a 37% year-on-year increase.
The family-owned company, with two cafes in Harrogate, described it as a “huge achievement” after facing financial and recruitment challenges during the covid pandemic.
Its five cafe tea rooms report a £1.6 million increase on previous years with similarly high numbers in its retail sales. All shops also exceeded retail targets.
The 102-year-old company received a 4.2% increase in online orders, with 40% of those from new customers.
In response managing director, Simon Eyles, said:
“The Bettys business has had to weather a few storms in its 102-year history.
“This year all the teams across the Bettys business have done a truly exceptional job in the face of the worst recruitment challenges we’ve known, and the continuing worries and concerns of the global covid-19 pandemic. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved and cannot thank them enough.”
The business is still facing a recruitment a crisis and has been forced to continue with the shorter opening hours, which were brought in last August.
In Harrogate, the current opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.30-4pm, Saturday 9-5pm and Sunday 9-4pm.
It also made the decision to close one of its York stores this year. The 50-year-old store on Stonegate, known as Little Bettys, was closed as it was no longer “commercially viable”.
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It is officially Christmas at one of Harrogate’s most famous locations.
Bettys has installed Christmas windows at its tearooms in Harrogate, York, Northallerton and Ilkley.
Father Christmas popped by the Harrogate tearoom for a sneak preview and to welcome the launch of the company’s festive afternoon tea.
It comes days after Harrogate Business Improvement District partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate to announce the start of this year’s Christmas Shop Window competition.
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