Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has kicked off a search for 150 new colleagues as it ramps up plans to deliver another Majestic Christmas for millions of wine lovers across the country.
The retailer is expanding its expert team with a combination of permanent positions and temporary festive roles across its network of 216 shops. The hiring spree will bolster Majestic’s workforce ahead of the golden quarter and help it lay the foundations for future bricks-and-mortar growth.
Majestic is recruiting for a host of store-based roles, many of which are on low-hours contracts to provide flexible employment opportunities. The positions available include delivery drivers, sales assistants, assistant managers and trainee managers, who are put on learning and development programmes to equip them with the skills and expertise required to become a store manager within 12 months. Among the permanent vacancies up for grabs are roles at Majestic’s new shop in Truro – its fifth store opening this year – which launches next week.
In addition to the new hires, Majestic will also draw on the experience and expertise of its ‘Majestic Reserves’ to help it deliver another record-breaking Christmas. More than 160 former permanent Majestic colleagues have signed up to the initiative, allowing them to take on shifts at their local stores on a flexible basis. The ability to call on its Reserves will allow Majestic to minimise the impact of unexpected absences on the customer experience during the holiday season, when its stores are at their busiest.
The recruitment drive comes as Majestic gears up to deliver another record-breaking Golden Quarter. The retailer registered the biggest Christmas in its 45-year history in 2024, serving a record number of customers and growing sales 1.9% during the six weeks to 30 December, 2024. It expects to welcome even more new customers into the Majestic family during this year’s festive season.
Majestic, which was named Happiest Place to Work at the Retail Week Awards 2024, employs more than 1,500 colleagues across its 216 stores, its Hemel Hempstead distribution centre and its Support Centre in Watford. Its highly qualified retail colleagues are the beating heart of the business, delivering on its mission to help customers discover and buy new wines, beers and spirits they will love. Majestic is one of the biggest wine educators in Europe, with all store colleagues trained to at least Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2.
All store colleagues can earn uncapped bonuses based on their store’s performance against sales targets, and win all-expenses-paid incentive trips to wineries around the world to further their wine knowledge. This year alone, around 200 Majestic colleagues have enjoyed once-in-a-lifetime trips to destinations including France, the USA and New Zealand.
Majestic’s focus on growing and developing its highly qualified teams forms a key pillar of its strategic plan. Since its separation from Naked Wines plc and acquisition by Fortress Investment Group in 2019, Majestic has returned to growth and stability, opening 26 new stores and refurbishing dozens more. Majestic Commercial, its rapidly growing on-trade supply arm, has also delivered four consecutive years of double-digit growth. It now supplies more than 3,500 gastropubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality and events venues, leveraging Majestic’s store network to deliver local, personalised service to its customers.
Majestic managing director Elizabeth Newman said: “We live for Christmas at Majestic – it’s our busiest time of year, but also our most exciting and most enjoyable. Our stores are always absolutely buzzing and our proposition really comes into its own, helping our customers discover new wines to taste with their friends and families over the festive period.
“If you love wine and want to join a passionate and fast-paced team, we could have the perfect role for you at Majestic. Our new colleagues will not only help us to deliver another Majestic Christmas for our retail and on-trade customers, but will set us up to drive further growth next year and beyond.”
