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Majestic toasts second best Christmas ever

10 January 2023 By Arabella Mileham

UK wine specialist retailer Majestic has reported its second biggest Christmas ever, with sales up slightly on last year’s levels, or 21.1% compared to pre-pandemic levels, also recording a “record” market share, the company reported.

Sales rose 0.2% compared to 2021, but the retailed pointed out that this was not due to inflationary pressure, as prices across its wines, beers and spirits were 2% cheaper than last year, which it said was in order to help consumers meet the cost of living challenge.

Key drivers of sales including English Sparkling wine (up 19%), Cava (up 29%) and ‘classic’ French regions, while the timing of the winter World Cup also drove a year-on-year increase in beer sales, it said.

CEO John Colley said that the strong performance came despite a very tough trading environment and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and achieved a significantly higher performance than pre-covid levels, praising the company’s store teams, distribution network and support centres for “pulling out all the stops” to make it a successful peak period.

Colley said that while he was “are under no illusions as to how tough the next 12 months will be,” he was “more confident than ever” that we have the right strategy and backing in place to emerge from the cost-of-living crisis as an even stronger business.”

“Even when budgets are tight, our discerning customers demonstrated that the value, expertise, quality, experience and delivery service of Majestic means we are the best place for customers to find wines they will love,” he said.