Tesco is reportedly among the bidders for Majestic Wine, as owner Fortress Investment Group runs a formal sale of Britain’s largest specialist wine retailer.
Sky News reported at the weekend that a number of suitors are in the running. Their identities have not emerged. The sale process began several weeks ago, around six months after Fortress appointed Rothschild & Co to explore its options.
No price has been disclosed. Analysts quoted by Sky said Majestic’s recent performance points to a deal worth hundreds of millions of pounds, with completion possible in early 2027. Neither Tesco, Majestic nor Fortress has confirmed the process.
A deal would be a rare big move for Tesco, whose last acquisition on this scale was the £3.7bn purchase of wholesaler Booker in 2018. It would also push the grocer much deeper into specialist wine.
Fortress bought Majestic for £95m in 2019. Since then it has added wine bar chain Vagabond, bought out of administration in 2024, and premium distributor Enotria&Coe in 2025. The business now has more than 200 stores across the UK and Jersey and over 1,000 staff, plus its Majestic Commercial on-trade arm.
Trading has held up. Majestic served almost 11 per cent more customers over Christmas 2025 than a year earlier, and it has committed £4m to its store estate, including four new openings in 2026/27. CEO John Colley has said the group is “continuing to invest significantly” in its growth plan.
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