Majestic Wine, the specialist wine merchant, has inaugurated two new outlets within the span of a week. This is the first time in ten years that the retailer has achieved such a feat.
The company celebrated its re-entry into Chippenham on 24th October, four years subsequent to the closure of its previous establishment in the town. The new Majestic Wine store, spanning 4,775 square feet, is strategically located at the Old Foundry on Foundry Lane. It’s conveniently situated near Waitrose and is a mere five-minute stroll from Chippenham train station.
Fast forward to 26th October, and Majestic Wine opened its largest Welsh store and the second-largest in its UK network of 207 outlets. The 6,275-square-foot Monmouth location is nestled among other retail giants like Waitrose, M&S Food, and Cook, on the bustling Monnow Street. The only Majestic store larger than this is the flagship in St John’s Wood, London.
This dual opening serves as a significant milestone for Majestic Wine. The last instance of such an occurrence was in November 2013, when the company expanded into Cheadle and Tenterden. This is a far cry from four years ago when, as part of Naked Wines plc, Majestic was closing stores and faced the risk of vanishing from the high street.
Majestic CEO John Colley stated, “Opening two stores in a week for the first time in 10 years underlines our ongoing commitment to physical, experiential retail, and offers a clear sign of how far we have progressed as a business under the ownership of Fortress. We always talk about our store colleagues as our secret sauce at Majestic – and opening more stores that provide more customers across the UK with access to our highly qualified experts and unique, quality wines is a strategy that is working. We are proud to be accelerating that pipeline of new store openings ahead of Christmas and are excited about becoming a part of even more communities across the UK in the coming months.”
Both new stores in Chippenham and Monmouth offer Majestic’s complete award-winning assortment of over 1,200 wines, in addition to beers, spirits, and a variety of non-alcoholic options. The stores also feature in-house Tasting Counters where customers can sample wines seven days a week, guided by Majestic’s knowledgeable staff.
Additional services include free glass hire for special events, quick click-and-collect options, and next-day home delivery. Majestic’s unique ‘No Quibble Guarantee’ allows for hassle-free returns, providing customers with a replacement bottle of equivalent value if unsatisfied.
The new locations will also bolster Majestic’s burgeoning B2B arm, Majestic Commercial, by supplying a wide range of wines to pubs, bars, and restaurants in Wiltshire and southern Wales.
In terms of future growth, Majestic has already opened four new stores in the 2023/24 fiscal year and plans to unveil a smaller format in London’s Crouch End in November. This is part of a broader strategy to open one new store per month.
Majestic’s commitment to physical stores has been instrumental in its growth, especially after its separation from Naked Wines plc in December 2019. With the backing of Fortress Investment Group, the retailer has opened 14 new stores and returned to a path of growth and stability. Its B2B division, Majestic Commercial, has also seen a resurgence, securing supply contracts with over 300 new venues in the first half of 2023/24 alone.
Majestic Wine’s rapid expansion in 2022/23 included new stores in Haywards Heath, Godalming, Stafford, Preston, and Harpenden. By maintaining a focus on bricks and mortar, Majestic Wine has not only survived but thrived.
