Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has won the race to become the exclusive distributor of actress and entrepreneur Blake Lively’s drinks brands – Betty Buzz and Betty Booze – across England, Scotland and Wales.
The exciting new partnership will see Majestic add seven products from the Betty Buzz premium sparkling soda and Betty Booze ready-to-drink (RTD) ranges to its retail proposition in stores and online, and the offering it supplies to partners through its fast-growing B2B division, Majestic Commercial.
The tie-up marks the latest high-profile addition to the Majestic Commercial range as the business presses ahead with its ambitious plans to become one of Britain’s largest alcohol suppliers. Its ever-evolving proposition now includes more than 200 exclusive wines, which cannot be purchased from any other UK wholesaler, or in Majestic’s stores.
The newest blockbuster addition to the Majestic offering, Betty Buzz, is a collection of healthier gourmet sparkling sodas, launched by Blake Lively in September 2021. Within just two-and-a-half years, Betty Buzz has grown to become the world’s number one premium adult soft drink on Instagram, with the most followers and highest engagement of any brand in this category globally.
Four Betty Buzz flavours – Sparkling Lemon Lime; Meyer Lemon Club Soda; Sparkling Grapefruit and Ginger Beer – are now available for customers to purchase at Majestic’s 207 stores, and online via Majestic.co.uk, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, while B2B customers can place orders through Majestic Commercial.
Betty Booze, which launched in June 2023, is a range of lower calorie sparkling cocktails, inspired by some of Blake’s own homemade recipes. It has already become the world’s second most-followed RTD brand on Instagram. All three flavours in the Betty Booze range – Sparkling Tequila with Lime Shiso; Sparkling Tequila with Oak Smoked Lemonade; and Sparkling Bourbon with Apple, Ginger and Sour Cherry – will also be available to Majestic’s retail and B2B customers by the end of March.
All products in the Betty Buzz and Betty Booze ranges are made using only the freshest fruits, herbs, juices and spices, and are free from artificial preservatives, sweeteners, colours, and flavours – provenance that has seen the brands gain mass popularity in their domestic US market. The four Betty Buzz flavours being sold through Majestic and Majestic Commercial come in slimline 330ml cans, while the Betty Booze drinks will be sold in 355ml cans.
The deal underscores Majestic Commercial’s rapidly growing reputation in the UK on-trade market. The business now supplies more than 3,000 food-led pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and events venues across the country, including Manchester City Football Club, Bone Idyll, Old Spot Pub Group, London Shuffle Club and JCB Golf & Country Club.
Majestic identified its B2B arm as a key growth driver for the group following its split from Naked Wines plc and subsequent acquisition by Fortress Investment Group in 2019, expanding at a significant pace since the Covid-19 pandemic. It started supplying more than 300 new customers during the first half of 2023/24 alone and has ambitious plans to become one of the UK’s largest wine suppliers to the on-trade and hospitality sectors within the next five years.
Majestic general manager, commercial, Maria Lopez said: “Everyone at Majestic is incredibly excited to be working with Blake Lively and her team at Betty Buzz and Betty Booze. We have been hugely impressed by their passion for the product, their commitment to using the best ingredients, and of course the taste of the drinks themselves – all of which make them a perfect fit for Majestic.
“There is a growing demand for premium soft drinks and RTDs among British consumers, and Betty Buzz and Betty Booze represent the best in the business in these two categories. We know our retail and on-trade customers are going to love them just as much as we do.”
Gareth Williams, global brand director for Betty Buzz and Betty Booze, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the UK’s leading premium off-premise retailer and wholesaler, Majestic Wine, to bring Blake Lively’s drinks brands Betty Buzz and Betty Booze to the UK. Majestic Wine pride themselves on selling premium products and offering a high standard of service to their customers, which are all values that we share at Betty Buzz and Betty Booze.
“Betty Buzz is a premium range of sparkling sodas using the finest ingredients and Betty Booze is a range of premium RTDs that are inspired by Blake Lively’s homemade recipes. With both the premium adult soft drinks and RTD sectors thriving in the UK, we are excited to bring something unique to the UK consumer in both these categories with our partner, Majestic.”
