White cellar with recessed trap door

Spiral Cellars UK Selects Seattle for Stateside Launch
Local Climate and Growing Wine Industry Catches Eye of British Business

SEATTLE, Wash. – (April 18, 2008)—When searching for the optimal way to store and access highly prized wine collections, oenophiles can go round and round. As it turns out, for Seattleites, that may be the perfect solution: a Spiral Cellar.

Spiral Cellars, a leader in manufacturing and installing naturally ventilated, pre-fabricated concrete home wine cellars has been expanding steadily in the UK for the past quarter century. The company has tripled in growth since 2005 and is nearing $6 million in annual revenue, anticipating a 20% revenue growth in 2008.

“We’ve always known we wanted to branch out to the U.S. market,” said Spiral Cellars director Lucy Hargreaves. “We looked at several factors like climate, demographics and the economy when determining the best place to start, and Seattle was it.”

Climate is important because the cellar is dug underground and its environment is regulated by the earth’s temperature. Seattle’s temperate climate is very similar to the UK’s, (which ranges from 40? in the coolest months to 70? in the warmest) ensuring ideal cellar conditions. Also, Seattle’s growing wine interest and Washington’s booming $3 billion wine industry, which employs more than 14,000 people, were also important in determining the launch location.

“I had a terrible time finding a private cellar that would serve my needs but wouldn’t take up an entire room of my house,” said wine collector Scott Dennis who owns the first Spiral Cellar installed in the U.S. and helped convince Spiral Cellars to consider Seattle. “When I found them on the internet I basically begged them and said ‘why don’t you try it here in Seattle? We have a great wine region here.’” Dennis was so happy with his cellar and the process that he has since taken on the position of Spiral Cellars distributor for Washington State.

After demographic analysis of Washington is completed, the company will establish franchising territories across the state. Each franchisee will undergo thorough business and installation training. Once the team is trained and cellar components have been purchased the franchisee will have the ability to install one cellar per week. The potential growth for franchise is impressive, indeed. Cellar price begins at $32,000 and takes just five days to install. The highly desirable Seattle franchise territory is still available.

“We’re in a position where we can provide franchisees with a complete, straightforward solution, so they can hit the ground running,” said Hargreaves. “It’s an incredible opportunity for skilled and ambitious contractors.”

For more information about Spiral Cellars and franchising opportunities visit www.spiralcellars.com or call 1-800-598-7350.

For over 25 years, Spiral Cellars Ltd. has been dedicated to the supply, delivery and installation of prefabricated concrete wine cellars. Originally developed by George Harnois in 1978, the Spiral Cellar combines easy access and maximum space efficiency with modern and beautiful design. With over 10,000 cellars worldwide, the Spiral Cellar is the perfect solution for modern home wine storage. Spiral Cellars Ltd. is based in the United Kingdom and will be launching in the USA in late 2008. For more information visit www.spiralcellars.com