Market research
- Half-year net profits rise by 4.9% to EUR11.3m (US$12m)
- Sales in six months to end of September increase by 7.6% to EUR101.6m
- Operating profits up by 1.3% to EUR20.5m
- Former Hermès International chief exec joins board as deputy chairman
Laurent-Perrier has posted rises in both sales and profits in the first half of its current fiscal year, thanks mainly to a good performance in Europe.
Laurent-Perrier's first half of fiscal-2016 has continued where full-year 2015 left off
Net profits in the six months to the end of September were up by almost 5%, on a 7.6% lift in sales. The half-year numbers followed a similar set of results for the Champagne house's fiscal-2015, when profits were up by 6% and sales increased by 5%.
The group credited the sales lift to "strong European business activity", while an ongoing policy of premiumisation saw its higher-end offerings account for almost 40% of brand Laurent-Perrier's sales, up from 37.5% in the corresponding period a year earlier.
Chairman Stéphane Dalyac said: "The first-half results reflect the relevance of the group's strategy and the deployment of the new Laurent-Perrier brand's growth plan."
At the same time, the company confirmed the appointment of Patrick Thomas to its board as deputy chairman. Thomas, who headed up Hermès International between 2003 and 2014, replaces François Philippoteaux, who has stepped down for personal reasons.
To read the company's official results release, click here.
Sectors: Company results, Wine
