Majestic Wine has reported a surge in Christmas sales fuelled by Champagne and sparkling wine – and the collapse of Thresher.
Booming sales of Bollinger, Veuve Clicquot and Prosecco helped the wine retailer to post an 11.7% surge in like-for-like sales.
Other popular buys included New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Chilean Merlot, as the company benefited from the decline and fall of the Thresher empire in the run-up to the festive period.
Majestic’s decision to lower its minimum purchase to six bottles at the beginning of September also helped to attract new business, the company said.
Chief executive Steve Lewis said he was ‘delighted’ with the sales increase during the nine weeks to 4 January.
‘We are encouraged by our customers’ response to the reduction in our minimum purchase to six bottles,’ he added.
‘Transaction volumes are up and we have seen a substantial increase in the number of customers trying Majestic for the first time.’
Majestic said sales of fine wine, Champagne and sparkling wine had been particularly strong.
Meanwhile, City analysts reported that Majestic had benefited from the collapse of drinks retailer First Quench, owner of Thresher and Wine Rack, with nearly 900 stores closing down over the past month.
The new six-bottle minimum purchase had helped to entice former Thresher customers to Majestic for the first time, analysts said.
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Written by Richard Woodard
