Wine retailer Majestic has opened two new stores in the same week for the first time in 10 years as it continues to prosper under private equity ownership.
The retailer returned to Chippenham on Tuesday, four years after its former store in the town was closed down by previous management. Majestic opened a new 4,775 sq. ft. store on Foundry Lane, in close proximity to a Waitrose.
Two days later, Majestic opened the doors to its largest store in Wales and the second-biggest in its entire UK portfolio of 207 shops. The 6,275 sq. ft. site in Monmouth sits alongside retailers, including Waitrose, M&S Food and Cook on Monnow Street. Only Majestic’s flagship in St John’s Wood, London, has a larger footprint than the new Monmouth store.
The last time the retailer launched two stores in the same week was back in November 2013. The group noted that it marks a stark contrast in fortunes to just four years ago when, while still a part of Naked Wines plc, Majestic’s stores were being closed, and the brand was in danger of disappearing from the high street altogether.
Majestic CEO, John Colley, said: “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 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.”
The Chippenham and Monmouth stores will also support Majestic’s rapidly growing B2B division, Majestic Commercial, supplying wines to dozens of pubs, bars and restaurants across Wiltshire and the south of Wales.
Majestic has now launched four new stores in its 2023/24 financial year, following openings in Rugby in August, and in Newark in September. It will open a smaller format in London’s Crouch End in November as part of plans to grow its store portfolio at a rate of one new store per month.
Majestic’s focus on bricks & mortar has been a key part of its growth strategy since its split from Naked Wines in December 2019. Since then, following the reintroduction of former management and with the backing of owners Fortress Investment Group, Majestic has opened 14 new stores and returned to growth and stability. Its on-trade arm, Majestic Commercial, has also seen a post-pandemic recovery, agreeing supply deals with more than 300 new bars, pubs, restaurants and leisure venues during the first half of 2023/24.
