Remy Cointreau boosted by brand strength

In a trading statement released today, the group said that organic turnover for the six-month period ending 30 September was up by 9.8 per cent year-on-year to €374.5m The group's optimism highlights the growing demand for spirits and champagne brands particularly in emerging markets like Europe and Asia. However, it was cognac that continued to be the group's key income segment with sales up by 13 per cent to €167.5m over the same period last year. Rémy Cointreau said that the increase had been driven mainly by demand for its premium higher value lines in Europe and Asia. Sales also benefited from recent investments in the group's logistics operations in Shanghai, the company added. The launch of the Coeur de Cognac brand last month is another step taken by the company to further consolidate its presence in the European market for the product. In the liqueurs and spirits segment, sales rose 4.9 per cent on an organic basis with growth throughout the company's entire product portfolio.​ The company highlighted Rémy Cointreau's flagship brand, Passoa and sales of Metaxa in Eastern Europe and Russia as key growth drivers for the segment. Champagne posted the most significant growth over the period, with organic revenues up by 14.8 per cent to €60.3m for the segment. The company said that the US and European markets showed great potential for growth, with strong sales of its Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck champagne labels driving profitability in the segment. Of Rémy Cointreau's partner brands, Imperia vodka in the US, along with further development of the Scotch whisky and Californian wine markets contributed to organic sales growth of 3.7 per cent to €44.6m.