Supermarkets Close To Shut Booze Cruise Outlets In Calais

Tue, 22 Jun 2010

 
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Tesco and Sainsbury’s, two of Britain’s biggest supermarket chains, have announced plans to close their stores in Calais which are popular stops for "booze cruise" visitors from the UK.

Sainsburys said it is to close its Calais Wine Store at the end of June, while Tesco revealed it is consulting with staff about the closure of its Tesco Vins Plus site near the French port, which has been operating for the past 15 years.

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said its joint venture with French retailer Auchan was no longer "economically viable". The supermarket is advising consumers to call before heading to the Calais outlet and has cancelled its online pre-ordering service because of limited stock.

A third major alcohol retailer, Oddbins, shut its Calais branch earlier this year and the company confirmed that it would not be renewing its franchise agreement.

The companies have blamed the store closures on the weak value of the pound against the euro and the recession, which has resulted in falling alcohol prices in the UK, thus reducing the appeal of the booze cruise for may Brits.

Majestic Wine said its three French branches are to remain open due to lower alcohol duty, despite the company experiencing a 28 per cent drop in sales in the year to the end of March.