Sales of English wine are sparkling for Majestic

Sales of English sparkling wine more than trebled at Majestic last year after their showcasing at the 2012 Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

“We sold more than £1 million worth,” said chief executive Steve Lewis. “And the best seller is the £28-a-bottle Nyetimber, which just shows how much the quality of English wine has improved.”

Majestic also won the contract to supply wines to Lord’s, the home of English cricket, in the past year.

Pre-tax profits rose £500,000 to £23.7 million in the year to March despite sales falling by 2.1% to £274 million as Majestic cut back its less-profitable wholesale trade.

The average price spent by a Majestic customer on a bottle rose by 3% to £7.56, which is way ahead of the supermarkets’ average of £5.10. Majestic opened 16 new stores last year, and plans the same number this year as it gradually brings outlets to more and more market towns.

Lewis said present trading was in line with his expectations and the group was “well prepared for the key summer trading period”.