Vranken-Pommery Monopole has stemmed its sliding sales in the first half of this year, with the listed cooperative’s top-line reaching parity with H1 2024.
Back in January, the company, which claims to be the second largest champagne group, reported a 10.5% tumble in sales from the 12 months of calendar 2024. However, the results for H1 this year, announced late last week, showed sales flatlining (-0.2%) at EUR109.3m (US$128.4m).
VPM’s champagne sales – the company also has assets in two French wine regions, in the US and the UK and in Portugal’s Douro Valley – totalled EUR94.3m (+0.3%) in the six months to the end of June. The other businesses provided the drag; Carmargue and Provences slipped 1.2% (EUR5.7m), while port and Douro wines plus non-French sparkling wines combined were down by 4.7% (EUR9.4m).
Returning to champagne, and the Pommery brand stood out, delivering a 4.7% sales lift by value, “reflecting the success of the premiumisation strategy”, according to VPM. The company is expecting a healthier second half of the year for its champagne operations as it cycles last year’s weak showing.
VPM highlighted its intention to “consolidate its position as a major player in the champagne industry”, noting also plans to divest the Heidsieck & Co Monopole division. While the sales process is “underway”, further details were not disclosed.
Subsequently, from the start of next year, Vranken-Pommery Monopole will change its name to Maison Pommery & Associés “to embody its premiumisation strategy”.
