Majestic rescues Vagabond from administration
The strategic acquisition aims to help Majestic growth its customer base, attract a younger demographic of wine consumers and enhance its business-to-business trade.
Vagabond was founded as a single wine shop in Fulham in 2010 and grew into a chain of wine bars with a focus on experience and discovery.
It offers more than 100 wines by the glass where customers order using a tap-and-pour serve wine machine. The business went into administration last month (March).
Long-term partnership
Following the acquisition by Majestic, Vagabond’s ‘underperforming’ Canary Wharf site will close while its two Gatwick Airport venues are not part of the deal.
On the acquisition, Majestic CEO John Colley 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.”
Expansion acceleration
Majestic is aiming to open one new venue each month over the coming years in a bid to reach new communities.
It is also growing its Majestic Commercial team, aiming to become one of the UK’s biggest on-trade and hospitality supplies within the next five years.
Vagabond managing director Matt Fleming said: “In Majestic, we believe we have found the perfect partners to enhance the unique strength 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.”
