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Brits have sent bubbly sales rocketing as the gloom of the recession eases up – with Brummies emerging as the UK’s new ‘Champagne Charlies’.

Since the beginning of the month demand for bubbly at Tesco stores across the UK has grown by a massive 45 per cent compared with last December.

But based on strong demand since Christmas the supermarket is predicting that sales could soar by another 40 per cent by New Year’s Eve.

Latest sales figures suggest that Birmingham will be the place to be for a New Year’s Eve party judging by the UK’s highest demand for champers and fine wine in the city.

Since Boxing Day, Brummies have been stocking up for the biggest party night of the year with sales of Veuve Clicquot bubbly and classy Chablis and Hardy’s Crest wine topping local shopping lists.

Other high sales for champagne since Boxing have been in Manchester, Kensington (London), Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Said Tesco wine category manager Andrew Carpenter: “Judging by these strong champagne sales it looks very much like people are starting to put the recession behind them and are looking towards a rosier future.

“Since the beginning of December sales of champagne across the UK are up 45 per cent on the same period last year which is a very significant rise and they show no sign of slowing down before New Year’s Eve.

“We have sold 500,000 more bottles this month than we did last December which can be viewed as a barometer of how many shoppers are feeling more confident about the finances and disposable cash than a year ago.

“Nowhere is this more evident that in Birmingham where shoppers appear to be saying goodbye to frugal times of the last few years and toasting the coming year with renewed optimism.”

At Tesco stores across the UK the average rise in demand for champagne, wine, beer and spirits from Boxing Day is 15 per cent up on the same period last year.

For more information contact Mike Baess on 01992 644645
or Tesco Press Office on 01992 644645.

Note to editors:

The UK’s top 10 places for champagne sales since Boxing Day are as follows:

1. Birmingham
2. Manchester
3. Kensington (London)
4. Newcastle
5. Edinburgh
6. Cardiff
7. Brighton
8. Leeds
9. Cambridge
10. Bristol

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