Rémy Cointreau sales ‘return to growth’

French drinks group Rémy Cointreau has celebrated a return to growth in the first nine months of its financial year due to the “improvement of sales” in China and the US.

Rémy Martin’s One Life/Live Them campaign has boosted the Cognac brand’s sales

The maker of Rémy Martin Cognac and Mount Gay rum saw its sales grow 7.9% to €799.2 million between April and December 2015.

In the third quarter alone, reported sales increased 10.9% following a 5.9% decline in H1, when the group was “heavily impacted by technical factors”.

Rémy Martin reported “solid growth” in the third quarter, allowing it to “slightly increase” organic sales over the nine month period.

In particular, “excellent sales” were experienced in the Americas and EMEA regions, however sales in Greater China continued to be “adversely affected” by “cautious wholesalers” and an adapted distribution network.

The Cognac house “benefited” from its new One Life/Live Them campaign, which was unveiled last year and stars Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner.

Following declines in H1, Rémy’s liqueurs and spirits division recorded an overall sales increase of 4% in Q3.

Cointreau returned to growth with “solid” demand in the US and “slight improvement in consumption trends” in parts of Europe.

Despite benefiting from the launch of Metaxa Honey Shot in Central Europe, Greek spirit brand Metaxa experienced a sales dip across the ninth month period due to a slowdown in Greece, Russia and travel retail.

The decline of liqueur brand St-Rémy was attributed to a change in Canadian distribution, while Passoa’s slow performance was due to a “competitive environment” in Western Europe.

Barbados-based rum brand Mount Gay recorded “sound growth” and Rémy’s Islay spirits, including Bruichladdich Scotch whisky and The Botanist gin, saw solid gains with new account listings in target markets.

Rémy Cointreau forecast that it will deliver “positive growth in current operating profit” in the 2015/16 fiscal year.

In October last year, the group sold its non-priority Izarra herbal liqueur to Spirited Brands for an undisclosed sum.