FRANCE: Fauchon Paris eyes Champagne stake buy

By Stuart Todd | 9 April 2010

Fauchon Paris looks to add some fizz

French gourmet grocer Fauchon Paris plans to acquire or buy into the Champagne sector as it looks to reorganise its wines and spirits offering.

Fauchon currently sells Champagne supplied by several producers and bottled under its own brand name.

“An acquisition or shareholding is one option we are considering and the process is well-advanced in that we have identified a number of potential candidates and also received offers,” Frédéric Brochet, the director of Fauchon's wines and spirits division, told just-drinks this week.

He said Fauchon was aiming to sign a deal in time for the 2010 harvest.

“It is no simple task securing supplies at the right price while meeting criteria on quantity and quality and a direct presence in the Champagne vineyards would provide scope to achieve this,” said Brochet.

Last autumn, Fauchon said it would launch a range of top wines on international markets.