Timeless benefits of 'a good cup of tea' help propel Fortnum & Mason to record sales

The 311-year-old department store and grocer to the Queen has defied the high street downturn

The timeless benefits of “a good cup of tea and a biscuit” in an era of political turmoil have helped propel Fortnum & Mason to record sales and profits.

The 311-year-old department store and grocer to the Queen has defied the high street downturn with a 10 per cent rise in sales at its Piccadilly flagship and soaring global demand for its classically British products.

Chief executive Ewan Venters said the brand, which is perhaps best known for traditional fare such as Christmas treats in wicker hampers, remained an unchanging oasis in a tumultuous world.

He added: “Our domestic performance shows that in difficult times, the calming properties of a good cup of tea and a biscuit are especially important. And where better to satisfy that desire than at Fortnum & Mason?”

For the company as a whole sales rose 12 per cent to £126 million — the sixth consecutive year of double-digit growth — and profits were up by a quarter to £9.6 million.

Sales growth in the financial year to July was particularly strong in Hong Kong, where it was 55 per cent. Fortnum’s products were delivered to a record 125 countries during the year. Fortnum also has small stores at St Pancras International, Heathrow Terminal 5 and the Royal Exchange in the City.

Kate Hobhouse, chairman of Fortnum’s, said: “I am very excited about the opening of our new store and restaurant at The Royal Exchange. London is, and always will be, a great place to do business, and we have taken the quality that Fortnum’s can offer to the beating heart of the City.

“Meanwhile, we are getting ready for what we hope will be another excellent Christmas.”

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