Majestic eyes Scots weddings

By PETER RANSCOMBE
Published on 24/06/2012 01:53

DRINKS retailer Majestic Wines is beefing up its operations in Scotland by targeting the wedding venue market.

Chief executive Steve Lewis told Scotland on Sunday that he wants to increase the amount of business the firm is doing with castles, hotels and other marriage sites.

Lewis said: “Two of our highest-turnover stores in Scotland are in Aberdeen and Inverness, and one of the key drivers for that is wedding venues.

“If you are travelling up to Scotland to get married then you want to try the wine before you buy, you want it on sale-or-return so you don’t run out, you want soft drinks, ice buckets, glass hire and someone to collect what you don’t use because you’re heading off on your honeymoon. Who else can offer that?

“So we are doing very well in wedding venues in Scotland, especially in the Highlands.”

His comments came after Majestic Wines toasted a 14.5 per cent rise in full-year profits to a record £23.2 million, on the back of an 8.9 per cent rise in total sales to £280.3m.

Lewis hailed growing sales of wines from Argentina, Italy, the Languedoc in France, and Spain, while sales of “fine wine” – those priced at more than £20 a bottle – rose 18.5 per cent.

The firm expects a boost from this summer’s Olympic Games in London.