Majestic wine expands store footprint in UK

The UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, Majestic, opened a new store in Greater London’s Beaconsfield today as the group expands its footprint and plans future growth.

The move now puts the total number of stores for the specialist multiple retailer at over 200, with 88% of the adult population now living within 10 miles of a Majestic.

The new Beaconsfield store is a slightly larger unit than the average Majestic site, situated in the centre of the market town.

The latest branch also features an enlarged fine wine section, a new style tasting counter and revamped branding.

It will also act as a hub store for Majestic Commercial, the retailers on-trade business to business arm.

Following a “transformational year” according to the retailer – which has seen the launch of new branding, a 65% change in products stocked, a new website and core systems and two other new stores – the retailer is embarking on a new chapter of growth, with a refreshed bricks-and-mortar store footprint at its core.

Majestic revealed they had seen record new customers, 70% of which were recruited through stores, and significant online growth in the past 12 months.

The retailer promised to further developments that increase the link between the digital and store experience later this year, commenting that the business remains firmly committed to a nationwide network of physical stores, which also act as hubs for home delivery.

Majestic staff have been offered a bounty of £1,000 to find potential new sites in certain white space locations  which fit their warehouse-come-store model. The retailer is also focusing on refitting a large number of key sites – including the flagship Clapham store, which is due to reopen this month, and removing the pink branding as introduced during the Naked era.

CEO John Colley said: “Whilst some retailers have seen the last year as a reason to retreat from face to face retail, we’re doing quite the opposite.”