Majestic acquires Vagabond Wines

Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has bought Vagabond Wines out of administration, saving nine of its wine bars from closure. The strategic acquisition provides clarity and job security for 171 Vagabond colleagues following a period of uncertainty, after the business went into administration last month. Following the acquisition, Majestic plans to invest in the long-term future of the Vagabond business, with ambitions to open more wine bars, leverage Majestic’s CRM capability, and further develop both companies’ offerings of Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications for colleagues and customers. Vagabond was founded as a single wine shop in Fulham in 2010 and has since grown into a chain of wine bars focused on discovery and experience. Its bars offer more than 100 high-quality wines by the glass, which customers order using innovative tap-and-pour self-serve wine machines. Vagabond’s bars also host a number of regular events, including cheese and wine masterclasses, and are available for corporate bookings. According to Majestic, the Vagabond deal represents another vote of confidence from the group and its investor, Fortress Investment Group, in the future of experiential retail and hospitality offerings. The partnership will further accelerate the growth trajectory Majestic has been on since it was acquired by Fortress in December 2019. During the past four years, and with the backing of its investor, Majestic has opened 16 new stores, employed hundreds of new colleagues, invested heavily in the training and development of its people and supplied thousands of premium hospitality venues through its B2B division, Majestic Commercial. Majestic aims to open an average of one new store every month over the coming years as it bids to reach new communities across the UK. It is also growing its Majestic Commercial team at pace, with a goal to become one of the UK’s “biggest” suppliers to the on-trade and hospitality sectors within the next five years. Majestic Commercial already supplies more than 3,000 venues across the country, with high-profile partners including Manchester City Football Club, The Lucia Group, Deben Inns, London Shuffle Club and JCB Golf and Country Club. John Colley, Majestic CEO, said: “We are delighted to have secured this partnership with Vagabond Wines and are looking forward to working with the team to share our collective passion, expertise and love of wine. The completion of this deal marks the start of a long-term partnership and we are committed to investing in the Vagabond business, with the potential to open new wine bars across the UK when the right opportunities arise. “The combination of the two businesses presents exciting new opportunities for us to grow our customer base, take the Majestic brand to a younger audience and further elevate Vagabond’s product proposition by working alongside our fast-growing on-trade supply division, Majestic Commercial.” Matt Fleming, Vagabond managing director, added: “In Majestic, we believe we have found the perfect partner to enhance the unique strengths of the Vagabond business and drive a new phase of profitable growth. Vagabond’s bars help our customers discover unique, quality wines in a highly experiential setting – values that align perfectly with what Majestic’s colleagues do every single day in their stores. “We are looking forward to working with the Majestic team to accelerate our expansion, and help even more wine consumers to discover new and interesting wines."