V

Vicampo

eCommerce & Marketplaces · Mainz, Germany · Founded 2012

Vicampo.de GmbH operates as an e-commerce platform in the German online wine retail market. Founded in Mainz, Germany, in 2012 by brothers Felix and Max Gärtner, alongside Daniel Nitz, the company established a digital marketplace for wine. The founders had previous experience in the sector, having co-founded the shopping club Wine in Black before deciding to pursue the more expansive marketplace model offered by Vicampo. The initial idea stemmed from Felix Gärtner's experience running a local online shop for Rheingau wines, which highlighted the logistical and capital challenges of maintaining a physical inventory. The company's business model functions as a marketplace that connects consumers directly with a wide array of wine producers, from small, local wineries to renowned international estates. This model allows Vicampo to offer a vast selection of wines, many of which were previously only available directly from the vintner. Revenue is generated through the sale of these wines via its platform. To facilitate logistics, particularly for smaller producers, Vicampo utilizes a hybrid system where wines are shipped either directly from the winery or from Vicampo's own warehouse. The company also curates special tasting packages, selected by an in-house team of experts, to help customers discover new wines tailored to their preferences. Throughout its history, Vicampo successfully raised capital to fuel its growth, including a Series A round in 2016. By 2019, the company reported its first net profit. A significant milestone occurred in August 2021 when Vicampo was acquired by the Swedish Viva Wine Group for an undisclosed amount, although the deal was valued at $152M. This acquisition brought Vicampo under the same holding company, Viva eCom Group, as its former offshoot, Wine in Black, and another online retailer, Vinexus. Following the acquisition, founders Max and Felix Gärtner remained with the business, taking on management roles within the new parent holding company to oversee the combined German operations. Keywords: online wine retailer, e-commerce platform, German wine market, wine marketplace, direct-to-consumer wine, vintner wines, wine curation, digital wine sales, wine logistics, wine tasting packages, European wine e-commerce, Mainz, Felix Gärtner, Max Gärtner, Daniel Nitz, Viva Wine Group, wine discovery, specialty retail, online beverage sales, winery direct