The Vino 100 concept is simple: 100 affordable select wines showcased on individual pedestals with an easy to understand information system; backed by knowledgeable staff and an expert team who travel the world searching for new wines.

Developed by seasoned franchise professionals responsible for the development of Tinder box - the US chain of cigar and gift shops - Vino 100 has transformed the traditional wine superstore into a comfortable and affordable way to buy wine. "So many of us enjoy wine, but how often do we experience the frustrations of buying it?" states Founder Gary Blumenthal. "Wine stores are often intimidating, snobbish, and expensive, or designed as 'superstores' where the quantity of wines is overwhelming and the quality of wines and the service provided is underwhelming.

"Vino 100 offers customers a comfortable, affordable and fun way to buy wine. We even guarantee our wines and stand behind each bottle we sell, which gives us credibility with our customers and actually increases their purchases. Our Vino 100 store is brilliant in its simplicity and user-friendliness. We offer great value wine and a store atmosphere that is information-based, comfortable and fun for both our employees and our customers. That our store concept is appealing has been repeatedly confirmed by the frequent return visits by our customers and their insistence that their friends and families join them when they next stop in and shop with us."

Having established 30 stores throughout the US, Vino 100 is taking its concept to European markets where the company expects the brand to be very well received. The UK alone is predicted to become Europe's biggest spender on wine: "In 2003 Britons consumed £5 billion worth of wine, which is set to rise to £6 billion by 2008 making the UK the second biggest wine consumer globally after the US.*"

Vino 100 is a people business and the company is looking for motivated, experienced business builders to develop this brand in new markets. "Vino 100 is just what the consumer is asking for," says Blumenthal. "We make sure we deliver great wines at reasonable prices. We taste hundreds of wines from vineyards all over the world. Less than one out of 200 wines we taste make the Vino 100 cut.

"Combine great wines with an innovative new merchandising system and top it off with a growing market and you have a unique and very real recipe for retail success. We are looking for great National Master and Regional Franchisees to help build the Vino 100 wine-retailing concept."