FRANCE: Q3 sales maintain upwards curve for Laurent-Perrier

Laurent-Perrier has seen its third-quarter sales growth slow, but has hailed “dynamic” sales abroad.

The Champagne house, which is listed on the French stock exchange, said late last week that sales in the three months to the end of December came in 8.2% up on the corresponding period a year earlier, at EUR91.1m (US$120.9m). Although sales growth in the first and second quarters came in at 11.5% and 14.8%, respectively, the company was cheered by the trend towards its more premium namesake brand from its other brands. Volumes were flat in the quarter, down by 0.4%.

Over the first nine months of the fiscal year – April to December- sales were up by 10.7% at EUR183.1m.

The Laurent-Perrier brand delivered double-digit activity growth, the company said. “As a continuation of the first-half performance, sales in leading export countries were again dynamic, notably in the US and Japan, but also in Europe, where no marked slowdown in demand was observed.”

Looking to its final quarter, to the end of March, Laurent-Perrier said it should benefit from the “sustained investment” that will commemorate the group's bicentenary this year.

As well as Laurent-Perrier, the company sells ths Salon, Delamotte, and Champagne de Castellane brands.

Laurent-Perrier will release its full-year results at the end of May.

For coverage of the company's H1 performance, click here.