Volcanic Wine Awards | The Jancis Robinson Story | 🎁 25% off annual & gift memberships

Majestic – much still to be done

Friday 25 November 2016
Image

Andy Howard MW continues his series on UK retailers, turning his attention to the the unconventional business mix of Majestic. 

The three-year plan to transform the fortunes of Majestic Wines is still very much work in progress. The company has ploughed a distinctively different furrow since its inception in 1991, an approach that has enabled Majestic to become the largest specialist wine retailer in the UK. However, in recent years the ultra-competitive UK retail market, combined with changes to consumer shopping patterns, has seen the company struggling. 

After Majestic acquired Naked Wines for £70m in April 2015, Naked’s founder Rowan...

Become a member to continue reading
JancisRobinson.com 25th anniversaty logo

Celebrating 25 years of the world’s most trusted wine community

In honour of our anniversary, enjoy 25% off all annual and gift memberships for a limited time.

Use code HOLIDAY25 to join our community of wine experts and enthusiasts. Valid through 1 January.

Member
$135
/year
Save over 15% annually
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
  • Access 287,148 wine reviews & 15,838 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
 
Ideal for collectors
  • Access 287,148 wine reviews & 15,838 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
  • Access 287,148 wine reviews & 15,838 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
  • Access 287,148 wine reviews & 15,838 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Pay with
Visa logo Mastercard logo American Express logo Logo for more payment options
Join our newsletter

Get the latest from Jancis and her team of leading wine experts.

By subscribing you agree with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.

More Don't quote me

Tuscan Sunday lunch
Don't quote me Two fabulous weekends, and a lot of tasting. The Tuscan weekend is exemplified by the outdoor Sunday lunch pictured above...
WineGB tasting 8 September 2025 photo by Tom Gold
Don't quote me Multiple tastings and one visit to a vineyard this month. I still have a physical diary. In August I had...
Sylt beach
Don't quote me Hot, hot, hot – and much quieter than usual. Above, one of Sylt’s many (delightfully cool) beaches. This month’s diary...
Supreme Champion trophy WineGB
Don't quote me Winners and dinners and much else besides. Above, the Supreme Champion trophy at this year's Wine GB Awards. Since 1989...

More from JancisRobinson.com

Alder's most memorable wines of 2025
Tasting articles Pleasure – and meaning – in the glass. In reflecting on a year of tasting, I am fascinated by what...
view of Lazzarito and the Alps in the background
Tasting articles For background details on this vintage see Barolo 2022 – vintage report. Above, the Lazzarito vineyard with the Alps in...
View of Serralunha d'Alba
Inside information A pleasant surprise, showing more nuance and complexity than initially expected. Above, a view of Serralunga d’Alba. 2022 is widely...
View from Smith Madrone on Spring Mountain
Free for all Demand, and prices, are falling. A version of this article is published by the Financial Times. Above, the view from...
The Overshine Collective
Tasting articles The second tranche of wines reviewed on Jancis’s recent West Coast road trip. Above, the new Overshine Collective, a group...
Albert Canela and Mariona Vendrell of Succes Vinicola.jpg
Wines of the week A rosé to warm your winter, from £17.30, $19.99. Above, Albert Canela and Mariona Vendrell of Succés Vinícola. The wind...
Les Crus Bourgeois logos
Tasting articles Classic, affordable bordeaux made for pleasure and selected for an independent, reliable and regularly updated classification. For all that we’ve...
Glasses of Cape Mentelle red wine on a tasting mat
Tasting articles This month’s Singapore selection features a majority from Western Australia, including a handsome mini-vertical of Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon. As...
Wine inspiration delivered directly to your inbox, weekly
Our weekly newsletter is free for all
By subscribing you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.