Marie Brizard sales fall flat in 2015

Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits reported growth in the fourth quarter of its 2015 fiscal year but full-year turnover fell flat due to a difficult third quarter.

Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits reported a slight decline of 0.7% in its full year 2015 financial results

The drinks group reported an 8.7% increase in consolidated net sales to €137.4 million during its fourth quarter, but a 13.1% decline during Q3 resulted in an overall drop of 0.7% to €463.5m compared to 2014.

Marie Brizard commented the Paris terror attacks that took place in November 2015 impacted sales in France, which were down 2.6% during Q4 and 2.3% for the full year.

“Consumption in the on-trade (cafés, hotels and restaurants), as well as – to a lesser extent – the off-trade, were negatively impacted during the fourth quarter of 2015 in France,” the firm said in a statement.

In Poland, Q4 sales were up 11.2% and overall sales grew 8.5%, as the company continued restructuring its wholesale activities in the country following the abandonment of third party vodka contracts.

The group saw organic sales grow 2.3% in the US, while Lithuania, Spain and Brazil remained flat with minor increases of 0.6%, 0.2% and 0.3% respectively.

Jean-Nöel Reynaud, CEO of Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits, said: “2015 was a very positive year for our flagship brands, with volumes growing and a resumption in advertising investments in France, the effects of which should intensify in 2016.

“The positioning of our flagship brands at the heart of the market, principal facet of our strategy, has thus proven its pertinence within an uncertain macroeconomic situation.

“The relaunch of our secondary and assortment brands that will take place in 2016 should enable these brands to return to a solid growth momentum.

“Furthermore, the increase in EBITDA combined with the Public Exchange Offer on our stock warrants and the divestment of real-estate assets announced in December 2015 will allow us to accelerate our exit from the business continuation plan and to finance our future growth.”