Champagne sales pop a record as 312 million bottles sold

Champagne sales are set for a record year, driven by solid demand from export markets, favourable currencies and stabilising sales in France, the fizzy drink's home market.

Industry estimates show that about 312 million bottles were dispatched in 2015, up between 2 and 3 per cent from 2014.

Revenue has risen 4.4 per cent to €4.7 billion in 2015. In 2007, the record year so far, revenues reached €4.56 billion.

The 2015 sales estimates reflected efforts to promote higher-priced products such as special blends and fine vintages, as well as growing demand for Rose Champagnes in Japan and the US, Champagne’s second export market after Britain.

Bouyant demand

In Britain, a solid economy underpinned buoyant demand while austerity-hit Italy and Spain were starting to see signs of an upturn.

Economic woes in Champagne’s home market of France have taken the fizz out of global sales since 2010, but sales were stabilising this year and could even show a slight rise.

"France is on a recovery path. Consumption stabilised," said Bruno Paillard, chief executive of Lanson BCC, the number two Champagne house behind luxury group LVMH.

Sales were improving in French hypermarkets as well as in specialised stores.

“Consumers need to enjoy life,” said Mr Paillard, adding lower energy prices and interest rates may have helped consumer purchasing power.

Official figures for 2015 will be published next month.

Champagne, which can be produced only in the region of the same name, is facing tougher competition from Spain’s cava and Italy’s prosecco, sold for as little as a third of the price

–(Reuters)