Fortnum & Mason reports record year and predicts best-ever festive season

Fortnum & Mason, often described as the Queen's favourite retailer, has reported a record year of both sales and profits.

The Piccadilly store said sales were up 19% at £88 million for the year to July, while pretax profit rose by almost a third to £5 million.

The company, led by chief executive Ewan Venters, said that a brand new website, its recently-opened Jermyn restaurant, a new beauty floor and the addition of an outlet in Heathrow Terminal 5 had helped drive the improvement.

Online sales were 22% higher year-on-year and sales of its famous hampers throughout the year were "stronger than ever".

The 300-year-old food and gifts emporium has also profited from a successful campaign to get more locals shopping in its aisles.