Wine merchant Majestic sends staff on undercover missions to buy champagne at Sainsbury’s after Nectar card deal on fizz

BOSSES at booze specialist Majestic Wine told staff to don disguises to buy bottles of posh champagne at Sainsbury’s — to cash in on a Nectar card double deal. Managers were told to dispatch staff on undercover missions to grab as much Bollinger Special Cuvée as possible. Bosses at booze specialist Majestic Wine told staff to don disguises to buy bottles of posh champagne at Sainsbury’s Credit: Getty Staff were tasked to cash in on a Nectar card double deal and grab as much Bollinger Special Cuvée as possible Credit: Alamy Sainsbury’s is selling the fancy fizz to Nectar card holders for £45 — 25 per cent off its £60 RRP — but if you buy six, you get another 25 per cent off, making each bottle less than £34. Majestic sells the top champers for £65 a pop, so each bottle sold on could make over £30 profit. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Bosses sent an email on Monday saying: “We’ve seen increasing demand for Bollinger Special Cuvée. “It’s important we maintain strong stock levels, particularly as we head into peak season. “Please visit Sainsbury’s today and buy as many as possible using petty cash. If there are fewer than six bottles available, top up the order using Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc to secure the 25 per cent discount.” Staff were also told to “park in a discreet position” to avoid being “overly visible to Sainsbury’s customers and colleagues”. They were also told to “wear plain clothing over your uniform so you are not recognisable as Majestic staff”. A source at Majestic said: “We all thought ‘this doesn’t sound right’. Most read in Money Majestic sells the top champers, down to £34 a bottle at supermarket Sainsbury’s, for £65 a pop Credit: Getty About 100 bottles were bought before bosses called a halt to it (stock image) Credit: Getty “People wondered if it was fraud or a fake email. We then got confirmation it was real and were told to go and buy as quickly as we could before shops ran out of stock.” About 100 bottles were bought before bosses called a halt to it. By law, licensed shops such as ­Majestic must buy booze from wholesalers not supermarkets or other retailers. It is thought the bottles will now be given to staff as gifts. Majestic said: “None of the bottles will be resold.” Sainsbury’s was asked to comment. Comment now