Tanners Wines is eyeing new store opportunities following the success of a pilot tasting concept launched this year.

The indie wine merchant opened the pilot - A Taste of Tanners - in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in June. The branch incorporated a ‘WineEmotion’ machine for single-glass tasters.

FD Robert Morgan said the company was interested in sites averaging 1,500 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft. It currently has six stores.

Tanners Wines reported a 7% increase in sales to £18.7m in the year to 31 May, in accounts filed at Companies House this week. Pre-tax profits soared from £1.2k to £360k. “We had a much better 2013/14 with the improvement in the economy,” Morgan added.