I think it is fair to say that December 2010 has not delivered the easiest of trading months. There has been the exceptionally cold weather, snow and ice that have either stopped people venturing out or delivered a deluge of customers on local stores. There have been the ongoing economic conditions and then the multiples have been more and more aggressive in their marketing.

We achieved a 5% increase on last year as we benefitted from the disruption caused by the weather but were left unusually quiet when the roads became clear enough for our regular customers to go shopping out of the village again. Although our supply chain had its problems, such as our wholesaler maintaining availability of some products, all our deliveries arrived reasonably as expected.

Our successful trading was helped by our top selling local product appearing on the first episode of Oz and Hugh Raise the Bar. Oz Clarke rated the Nyetimber sparkling wine as better than champagne. We sold 36 bottles in the final week before Christmas at £25.00 a bottle!