Torula News March 1998

31/03/98	Distillerie des Moisans wants to introduce Extra Young Cognac, a white cognac, 12 months old. And the establishiment led by BNIC is against it. Why not to modify rules of Appellation, which is the responsibility of INAO and not BNIC, and give a chance to an innovative idea? We wonder why XO Beer is acceptable and Extra Young is not? If rules of Appellation are the only obstacle, change them and let the consumer decide!
30/03/98	L&L introduces XO Beer - Cognac and Beer; innovations have no limit! No comments from BNIC or INAO - see above.
28/03/98	Le Magazine du Cognac Planete X.O. - new quarterly magazine hits the newstands in France! Among has-been actors, great fashion designers, silly coverage of bars in Paris and Seychelles, some info about Cognac including great interview with the boss of Hennessy. Great idea but badly executed! This web site contributed some material to this magazine. We hope the next issue will be much better or shouldn't be publish at all.
27/03/98	FEVS, the French wine and spirits exporters association reported slow spirit sales, an increase of 3%. Major spirit growth categories were liqueurs and cognac (3% rise equal to F8.5 billion). French domestic spirits market sales continue slowdown according to FFS. (DIB 27/03/98)
27/03/98	Rémy Martin invests F18 million in consolidating its bottling operation Merpins, a suburb of Cognac. A sign of optimism? (Carente Libre 27/03/98)
24/03/98	Cognac Hennessy worlwide market share climbed to 33% reinforced by the success of Hennessy by Kenzo and targeting a younger consumer base. (IHT24/03/98)
18/03/98	LVMH, parent of Cognac Hennessy, reported increased overall sales amid falling sales in Asia. Cognac Hennessy compensated the weakness in Asian markets, especially in Japan, by increasing its market share in North America by 17%. That's the way to do it! (IHT 18/03/98)
17/03/98	Seguin Moreau, a barrel maker in which Remy Cointreau (parent of Cognac Rémy Martin) holds 40% will go public in the middle of 1998 on Second Marche in Paris. Is this the beginning of divestures at Remy Cointreau? Paris stock market reacted favourably.
12/03/98	Flat 1997 sales reported at Marie Brizard, parent of Cognac Gautier.
06/03/98	Dutch Wine merchant finds customers on the Internet - www.e-trade.nl (Financial Times 06/03/98)
05/03/98	Top Five On-line Purchase categories: Books, Computer hardware, Airline tickets, General software, Music (CDs/Tapes) Source: @plan 1.2 Release/ NYT/ IHT05/03/98) - Will Cognac ever make it to the top 5?
03/03/98	Highlights of the special feature: Million-selling spirits from the Drinks International Bulletin of 27/02/98:
	Whisky continuos to be a favorite drink, Rum is a drink to watch, Brandies and Cognacs continue to loose market share Volume share by major categories ranges from 14.05% for whiskies to 8.03% for Cognac & Brandies and 2.55% for bitters/Aperitifs
	* Major companies’ millionaires (millions of 9-litter cases sold) are: Allied-Domecq (#2 Presidente brandy, #6 Don Pedro brandy, #11 Courvoisier) Bacardi-Martini Brown-Forman Diageo (#6 Dreher Brandy, #17 Christian Bros. Brandy, #18 Metaxa brandy) Eckes (#1 Chantre, #3 Mariacron brandy, #4 Stock brandy) JBB Worldwide Pernod-Ricard Suntory (#6 Suntory VSOP) Seagram (#8 Martell).
	Top 4 world’s Cognacs remain unchanged. All, except Courvoisier, registered decline in sales in 1997; from 18.2% for Rémy Martin to Hennessy’s 0.7%. Courvoisier gain was about 5%. They are: Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin, Courvoisier. For details, subscribe to Drinks International Bulletin gcosslett@wilmington.co.uk ".
01/03/98	Read Drinks International Bulletin (DIB) of 27/02/98 - special feature Million-Selling Spirits