Majestic Wine

“Majestic bought Lay & Wheeler in March of last year”

“The wine retailer made a pre-tax profit of £16m in the 12 months to 29 March, up from £7.4m a year earlier.”

“Like-for-like sales, which pulls out new store openings, and the purchase of Lay & Wheeler in March of last year, were up 8.4%.”

“Since last year, its customers can buy a minimum of six bottles, down from 12.”

“Majestic's total sales for the year were up 16% to £233.2m.”

“It added that the move to a six-bottle minimum purchase had seen the number of its customers rise by 54,000 to 472,000 across its 153 outlets.”

“The average amount spent on a bottle of still wine also increased, up to £6.56 from £6.35 in 2009.”

“Majestic also announced that chairman Simon Burke would be standing down in August after 10 years on the board.”

“Its sales of wines costing £20 or more a bottle increased by 23%, and Majestic said it would now stock more expensive wines across all of its stores over the next two years.”

“The company plans to open a further 12 outlets during this financial year, with an eventual aim of expanding the group to 250 shops.”