Bettys is known for its fat rascals – and, after this Christmas at least, for its fat profits!
The famous business has seen trade soar at its five café tea rooms across Yorkshire, including the flagship branch on St Helen’s Square in York.
The business achieved a year-on-year increase in sales of 37%. Food and drink at its cafés achieved a year-on-year increase of £1.6m, with festive afternoon tea the clear bestseller.
Retail sales also boomed, with florentines, fat rascals and mince pies the bestsellers.
Online sales exceeded last year by 4.2%, the company said. More than 40% of sales were from new customers and 90K orders were dispatched to homes around the world including 25K hampers and gift boxes.
It comes after the company closed ‘Little Bettys’ – the tearoom and shop on Stonegate – in September, after 50 years.
Managing director Simon Eyles said: “The Bettys business has had to weather a few storms in its 102-year history.
“When we opened our very first branch, the Great War had been over for less than a year, rationing was still in force, and it was just two months since the third wave of Spanish flu had been declared over in Europe.
“Then, as today, Bettys offered comfort. Beautiful cakes and treats were a reminder that life goes on, that pleasure can be found in small things.
“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.”