A SPECIALIST wine retailer has announced it will close a number of stores in a transformation plan.

Majestic Wine, which has 200 stores in the country, including in Carlisle and Kendal, will also embark on a restructuring which will see the chain rebrand as Naked Wines.

It follows a takeover of the group in 2015, with the company planning to invest a further £6m a year in the business. The specialist wine retailer did not specify where or the number of outlets it will close but boss Rowan Gormley said he has “no choice”, adding that he will aim to “minimise job losses”.

Mr Gormley added: “We also believe that a transformed Majestic business does have the potential to be a long-term winner, but that we risk not maximising the potential of Naked if we try to do both.”

“Therefore we have taken a decision to focus all of our capital and energies into delivering the long-term potential of Naked, and releasing value from Majestic.”

The News & Star contacted Majestic for a comment on the future of the Carlisle store, in Kingstown Road, but none was issued.