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Majestic spies 125 locations to open ‘one new store per month’

09 July 2024 By Eloise Feilden

Majestic has released a list of 125 cities, towns and villages it is eyeing up for potential new store openings, as the specialist wine retailer doubles down on bricks-and-mortar expansion plans.

Majestic spies 125 locations to open "one new store per month"

Majestic, which currently owns a portfolio of 208 shops across the UK, is considering another 125 locations across England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands for potential store openings.

The retailer aims to open an average of one new store every month over the coming years, it said in a press release this morning. The company sees headroom to open at least 50 new stores, though it didn’t give an exact timeline for the projected expansion.

Majestic set out its plans to accelerate investment into experiential bricks-and-mortar retail in 2023, boosting its property team with the creation of two new roles in December.

It hopes the focus on retail stores will “attract new customers, drive sales and win market share”, the company said in a press release.

Location, Location, Location

London and the South East are the main focus areas for the wine retailer, according to the list of prospective locations the company has released this morning. Majestic has identified 27 London areas for new sites, adding to the ‘mini Majestic’ stores in Harpenden, Crouch End and Marlow – all of which opened during its 2023/24 financial year. A further 14 sites inside the M4 have also been identified as target locations.

In the South East of England, 32 locations have been identified by the wine retailer, compared with 12 in the East, seven in the North, 16 in the South West, five in the East Midlands and eight in the West Midlands.

Wales could play host to three Majestic stores if all of its prospects pay off.

In April Majestic made its first foray into the Channel Islands with a new store in Jersey. That opening meant that 90% of the UK population now lives within 10 miles of a Majestic store. The retailer is now eyeing up Guernsey.

The wine retailer has appointed property investment firm Jackson Criss as its fully retained property agent to advise on new store acquisitions and estate strategy. Jackson Criss has already been working with Majestic, having assisted on some of the retailer’s recent openings across the UK.

The 125 locations on Majestic’s wish list for new store openings are: