Majestic accelerates the transition to an all-electric truck fleet
Specialist wine retailer Majestic is developing plans to convert its entire fleet of delivery vans from diesel to fully electric, supporting its accelerating sustainability drive.
Majestic aims to convert an entire fleet of 216 minivans to electric vehicles by 2030
The company will roll out 35 new Citroën ë-Berlingo and ë-Dispatch Vans before the end of the current financial year next March, with half of those expected to hit the road before Christmas. This is more than double the number of 16 light electric vehicles it had previously hoped to introduce into its fleet in 2023/24. These 35 vehicles alone will cover more than 700,000 diesel road miles each year, reducing Majestic’s CO2 emissions by up to 170,000 kg.
Majestic aims to convert an entire fleet of 216 vans to electric vehicles by 2030 – five years before a belated government ban on the sale of new diesel vehicles. This will save five million diesel miles each year and remove 1.2 million kg of CO2 emissions – reducing the retailer’s carbon footprint and supporting a wider commitment from Majestic to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Majestic vans play a crucial role in delivering orders to its online customers and growing business portfolio of over 3,000 commercial venues across the UK. Each of Majestic’s 207 stores has its own delivery van, with 60% of all orders placed through its website now being dispatched from its network of stores. Nearly a third of Majestic’s online orders are now placed through the Shop Local service, which allows customers to shop available inventory at their local store, in real time, for free pickup within four hours or next day delivery.
Majestic is also working to reduce emissions in other ways, including introducing a car salary sacrifice plan to make it easier, cheaper and more convenient for colleagues across the company to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle. All new stores opened since 2020 are equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting, and the company only procures renewable energy backed by Renewable Electricity Guarantees of Origin (REGO), which equates to 99.8% of Majestic’s total energy use. Majestic has recycled more than three million tons of cork over the past two years.
The company has also stepped up its efforts to introduce more sustainable, organic and vegan wines into its offerings.
“Majestic’s fleet of vans is among the busiest in retail, so we are keenly aware of their carbon footprint and the need to go green,” said John Colley, Majestic CEO. As a company, we are determined to grow in an environmentally responsible way, and converting our fleet to fully electric vehicles will reduce our carbon emissions by more than 1.2 million kilograms every year.
“We are committed to driving positive change for our customers, colleagues and the planet. Removing all diesel trucks from our fleet by 2030 – ahead of a delayed government ban on the sale of new diesel vehicles – is a key part of this plan.
But Colley added: “We can only do this with the right EV charger infrastructure in place across the UK, and in collaboration with our landlords to help us install charging points across our store range.”
