Majestic – which currently has 201 stores across the country – says it has a wishlist of 76 locations across the UK and plans to keep expanding despite the cost of living crisis. Chief executive John Colley said: “We are calling on UK wine lovers to help us find locations so we can offer more people a place to try and discover new wines, beers and spirits guided by the specialist our staff”. The company opened new stores in Haywards Heath and Godalming earlier this month and was bought by private equity firm Fortress for £95m in 2019. Majestic recently reinstalled tasting counters to help shoppers discover new wines removed from the chain’s previous ownership. Despite online shopping growing in popularity during the pandemic and the cost of running brick-and-mortar stores rising, Mr Colley added: “None of us have a crystal ball, but we remain optimistic despite tighter consumer budgets as wine is still something that people want to enjoy and taste. “Customers are returning to brick-and-mortar stores with enthusiasm, seeking the advice of our expert staff to discover the true value of their wine choices.”
