Prosecco adds fizz to Majestic’s festive sales in slow December
MAJESTIC said Britons uncorked a record number of bottles of Prosecco this Christmas than last year and drank just as much as Champagne as the wine specialist posted a rise in sales over the period.
Chief executive Steve Lewis said Prosecco sales rose 20 per cent on last year while Champagne sales were flat. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc also topped shoppers’ lists.
The group said like- for-like sales grew by 1.1 per cent in the seven weeks to 31 December, a slowdown on last year when Majestic had an exceptionally strong Christmas with sales up four per cent.
Despite tough comparatives, Panmure Gordon trimmed their profit forecast to £23.5m for 2013.
Lewis said Majestic was “at the top of [its] game” but that Christmas was “challenging” and there was more last-minute shopping than ever before.
“We stocked up and staffed up for a very late Christmas,” he said.
Total UK sales, which includes the new stores Majestic opened in the period, increased 5.1 per cent.