OREANDA-NEWS. Majestic Wine, the UK's largest specialist wine retailer is pleased to announce it has won "High Street Chain of the Year" at the International Wine Challenge ("IWC") Merchant Awards 2016. 

The IWC was established in 1984 and is widely accepted as the "world's finest and most meticulously judged wine competition". The Merchant Awards celebrate the most successful businesses, which deliver an outstanding service to wine consumers across the UK. The awards are based on top quality wines and a commercially successful, viable, and proven business model.
Over the past year Majestic Wine has embarked on a transformational strategy aimed at helping customers find wines that they will love thanks to guidance from over 900 store team members who know and love wine. Driven by the "getting back to retail basics" project, a number of changes have been made to simplify the shopping experience for customers, improve the support systems of the business and to recognise our people. 

John Colley, Managing Director of Majestic Retail commented:

"Winning the IWC High Street Chain of the Year award is an incredible achievement and is especially important as it reflects all the work that has been done this year as part of our transformation plan. We are making brilliant steps in becoming a customer focused business with the best people in the trade and I'd like to not only thank the IWC for recognising how far we have come in this short period of time but also all our people at Majestic for their efforts in putting the customer back at the heart of what we do." 

The International Wine Challenge commented: 

"Majestic Wine scooped the prize for the IWC High Street Chain of the Year 2016, a huge award for a company that is still changing and evolving. One year into a three-year turnaround plan which included the acquisition of Naked Wines in April 2015, Majestic reported an increase in sales in June. They have improved their range and refreshed and rebranded their stores, and they have also done away with the minimum purchase of six bottles. They continue to ensure their staff are well trained, so they can really help the customer. This win recognises the management is absolutely on the right track." 

About Majestic Wine PLC:

Majestic Wine PLC is a leading wine specialist, operating in four separate divisions, each with the fundamental goal of delivering sustained growth in shareholder value by doing the right thing for the Group's customers, suppliers and people: 

•Majestic Retail - The UK's largest specialist wine retailer, with 210 branches in the UK and 2 in France. We help people find the wines they will love through over 900 highly trained, specialist store team members. Sales for the year ended 28 March 2016 were £244.0m. 

•Naked Wines - Funds independent winemakers to make exclusive wines at preferential prices which we pass onto customers. Naked Wines currently has 152 winemakers in 14 countries and 301,000 Mature Angels (Customers). Sales for the full year ended 28 March 2016 were £104.3m (£102.5m of this was post acquisition).