The German wine direct marketing company, WIV Wein International AG, posted sales of €524.5m (US$557.96m) for 2002, down from €528.6m (US$562.3m) in 2001.

The company attributed the fall in sales to lower domestic wine sales. The German market accounts for 47% of WIV Wein International’s turnover, while the company has subsidiaries in 20 other countries. The company expects to generate sales of €553m (US$588.3m) in 2003 and is aiming to boost turnover to €1 billion by 2010.