MVC Group, the parent company behind Castelli and Sportful, has confirmed its purchase of Tailfin, a Bristol-based manufacturer specializing in high-end bikepacking gear. According to MVC Group, this move marks a major step forward in its expansion plans and slots neatly alongside its existing cycling brands.
Tailfin was established in Bristol in 2017 by Nick Broadbent and has built a reputation for premium bikepacking bags, racks, and accessories. The firm develops its core technologies internally, safeguarding them through a portfolio that includes more than 20 patents, both granted and pending.
Beyond the appeal of its proprietary technology, Tailfin has posted impressive financial results. The company has sustained average annual growth of roughly 50% and is projected to approach €10 million in revenue for 2025. The bulk of that income—over half—comes from customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. With MVC Group operating in 75 countries, Tailfin now has a global infrastructure to support its continued expansion.
MVC Group notes that beyond strengthening Castelli and Sportful, the acquisition brings advantages to its triathlon and outdoor brands, Zoot and Karpos.
Emilio Foà, CEO of MVC Group, explained the strategic reasoning behind the deal: “With Tailfin, we are not simply adding a new product category: we are integrating a leading brand whose positioning around excellence and strong focus on innovation are fully aligned with our own brands, while also being complementary to their offering.
“We are also integrating a strategic asset: the company’s distinctive technological expertise and extensive intellectual property, which could generate product innovation across the different disciplines in which we operate, from cycling and triathlon to outdoor sports.”
Broadbent, who serves as Tailfin’s CEO and works as a mechanical engineer and product designer, shared his perspective on the partnership: “Since Tailfin was founded, we have invested heavily in innovation to develop products that set the standard within the rapidly growing category of bikepacking and adventure cycling.
“Joining MVC Group will allow us to accelerate this journey further, leveraging the Group’s industrial strength and international presence, while preserving the identity, autonomy and innovation culture that have made Tailfin so successful.”
This acquisition represents the fourth expansion move MVC Group has completed within the past year. In July, the company opened its tenth international subsidiary in the UK. It also established MVC Benelux after acquiring Wolvenberg, and Zoot took over its European distributor last October.
MVC Group states that this latest deal contributes positively to its broader development strategy and its three-year industrial plan, which sets a revenue target of €150 million by 2028.
