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Torula NewsGlobal News & Headlines |
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Torula NewsGlobal News & Headlines |
April 1999
| 28/04/99 | Torula News salutes Charente Libre (Ivan Drapeau & Véronique Couzinou) regional newspaper for a positive coverage of the Cognac industry seen in recent months. 27/04/99 issue carries a front page picture of Maître d'chai of Frapin, Olivier Paultes followed by 2 lengthy articles on Cognac Frapin and Manier-Lapostolle. Tradition and innovation combined with quality is a theme of the Frapin article and smart diversification is a theme of Manier-Lapostolle piece. |
| 28/04/99 | Pictorial essay from Bar 1 courtesy of Cognac region participants in the recent week of Cognac Tasting in Oslo; Nathalie Egreteau of A. Hardy, Marie Claire Pajeile and Torula News. |
| 27/04/99 | Buy-outs and mergers are sweeping Europe led by the American firms who have fined tuned this art of financing. Led by James Lee of Chase Manhattan with a strong support of firms like Apollo Advisers, Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus, these American corporate raiders are discovering real assets in Europe. It is time that they began looking at Cognac region; RémyCointreau (parent of Rémy Martin), Camus, A. Hardy (already a subject of a takeover battle), Tiffon, Courvoisier (owned by Allied Domecq), Renault-Bisquit (owned by Pernod-Ricard) and number of smaller producers. They are tough taskmasters who have recently learned how to move from transaction to relationship oriented business management, but they also produce spectacular profits. It is time to take a notice, Cognac industry! (IHT26/04/99, Torula News) |
| 27/04/99 | New dawn rising in the Cognac region among the bureaucrats cries for diversification. The continuos talk of diversification without a concrete production and marketing plans is nothing but a futile exercise in paper creation that is so dear to bureaucratic hearts. But amongst these developments, a change of guard is underway - number of departures at the BNIC are led by Claire Coates, Director of Communication. Bernard Guionnet, new President of BNIC is on the right track. What he needs now is a solid support from the producers who also need to accelerate change of guard. Some, like Hennessy, are doing just that. |
| 27/04/99 | Winners of Eaux-de-vie cru Borderies competition in Cherves-Richemont are announced. For winners click here. |
| 25/04/99 | From among 75 samples, a jury of 25 including local sommeliers from Château l'Yeuse, l'Echassier, La Cagoulliarde and other restaurants in the Cognac region, selected winning Pineau des Charentes at the 4th Competition organized by Didier Roy and Sébastien Julliard of IREO des Charentes, as a part of IREXPO 99 taking place in Cherves Richemont 24-25/04/99. For winners click here. |
| 23/04/99 | Layoffs at Renault-Bisquit (plus removal of 17 hectares of vineyards) and Unicoop are late in coming and not deep enough to significantly help those companies. But a clear beginning of the new dawn in the Cognac industry is felt. First, following the election of Bernard Guionnet to the Presidency of BNIC, Cave Particulière for Charentes region elected this week Paul Giraud to lead them in the the next century. New people have taken over leadership of various crus associations and the biggest viticulteurs union FSVC recently. And finally, today and tomorrow under the sponsorship of Leclerc supermarkets in cooperation of Universities of Poitiers and Segonzac and its students, a massive promotion of Cognac begins in the region. (CL/S-O/TN) |
| 22/04/99 | There are many Sagas as applied to Norway but none is more visible than Saga Trading of Oslo that among other items imports products of A. Hardy; Cognacs and Pineau des Charentes. When visiting local spirit shops you will not miss yellow and blue label of Saga Selection VS Cognac or the Pineau des Charentes Emotion bottles. It's been whispered into Torula News that Arne Somerfeldt, the man behind Saga and the success of A. Hardy products in Norway, named this Pineau after Sophie Hardy's horse. And he done it right, as the product is selling well. In combine effort to propel the best of the best in Cognac, Saga together with Bar 1 are the biggest sellers of A. Hardy Perfection Cognac listed at a mere US$4500 per bottle. And it sells, as the quality always does. Arne Somerfeldt and his team at Saga is recognized by the Torula News as one of the Ambassadors of Cognac in Norway. |
| 21/04/99 | LVMH, a parent of Hennessy which is an undisputed leader in Cognac bottles sold, reports a 13% raise in the sales for the group. This is a clear indication, that the worst of the Asian crises is behind us, as Torula News reported early this year. (IHT20/04/99/Torula News) |
| 20/04/99 | Discussions continue between Allied Domecq' Courvoisier and Pernod-Ricard'Bisquit about possible merger and / or buy-out. On the heels of the rumored Hennessy buy out of L&L and the upcoming disposition of A. Hardy, Cognac industry consolidation is underway. |
| 20/04/99 | Sponsored by André Mitdgaard and the Bar 1 with assistance from www.swfrance.com , a week of Cognac tasting in Oslo, Norway turned out to be an unqualified success. Cognacs Boutinet, François Voyer, Jean-Marie Verger and Louis Bouron were introduced to the Norwegian public. Averaging 450 Cognac enthusiasts each night including Cultural and Commercial Attaches of the French Embassy in Norway, Bar 1 proved to be an ideal venue. Additional attractions were paintings by Marie-Claire Pajeile and mustard from Moutardiere Charentaise. Regretfully, Alambic-Expo did not make to Oslo as BNIC decided that its presence in Lille was more important. For his tireless efforts in promoting Cognac and the region, we name André Mitdgaard as one of the Ambassadors of Cognac in Norway. |
| 18/04/99 | As a part of the 13th Foire Exposition de la Grande Champagne in Segonzac held 17-18 April 1999, two Grande Champagne Cognac competitions were held under the direction of Bernard Moreau with assistance by Philippe Raby, Raymond Desse, Christian Valtaud and Gérard Raby. In the category of Eaux-de-vie Grande Champagne 10 - 15 years old the winners were: 1. Christian Arnaud (1988), 2. Henri Geffard (1986), 3. Rémy Briault (1986). In the competition of commercial Napoléon and Vieille Réserve Cognacs, that was organized by Jacky Ferrand of BNIC, the winners were: 1. Jean Noël Collin (Vieille Réserve), 2. Simone Marcadier (Napoléon), 3. Henri Geffard (Vieille Réserve). A distinguished jury comprised viticulteurs, brokers and traders, representatives of professional organizations, the President of the regional Waiters Association and Torula News correspondent. |
| 17/04/99 | Led by a group of local and regional government employees, Cognac viticulteurs are being offered a chance to diversify into wine makers. Under the leadership of an inexperienced hand of "Madame Diversification" Danielle Bellivier, whose knowledge of markets and wine making is limited to five years at the Cooperative in Poitiers, Cognac producers are being led, once again, down the garden path of poor opportunities, lack of expertise and lack of marketing, advertising and promotion money and knowledge. Failure to generate substantial markets for Pineau des Charentes, to defend declining Cognac markets should be enough to hire real professionals to guide the fortunes of Vin de Pays Charentais.(CL17/04/99,Torula News) |
| 17/04/99 | Recent Cognac tasting results at Bar 1 in Oslo, Norway - VS category: De Luze, Courvoisier, Rémy Martin; VSOP - Courvoisier, Otard, Rémy Martin, De Luze; Napoleon - Château Paulet, Otard, Rémi Landier, Camus, Baron; Cigare Blends - Hine Cigare Club, A.de Fussigny Cigare Blend, Jean Fillioux Cigar Club; XO - Otard, Courvoisier, Larsen, Rémy Martin, Bache Gabrielsen. So, when in Oslo, do visit Bar 1 for Cognac, Jensens Bifhus for beef or from 10 May'99, eat seafood at Skomvaer where Leif Martiwiussen promises the best yet Cognac selection of all Oslo restaurants. |
| 16/04/99 | He is only 27 years old. He knows Cognacs, crus, distillation, aging. He has his favorites but he equally devotes his time to all Cognacs. He recites poetry when talking about Gourmel, Ragnaud-Sabourin, Michel Baron, Fillioux, Guillon-Painturaud and others. He is one of the best Ambassadors of Cognac in Norway. His name is Jon Arne Bertelsen. |
| 11/04/99 | It should be of no surprise to anyone visiting Majestic Warehouse, Nicolas, Le Vignerons, Lea&Sandeman stores in more than one location in Central London to learn that Cognac has become an invisible product. And yet, when talking to the staff, Torula News found them to be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Cognac, crus and producers. Leading brands are Ragnaud-Sabourin, Fillioux, Delamain and Hine. Big Cognac Houses (mainly Courvoisier, Martell) are clearly in a supporting role. While amateur wine tasting is a popular event, with prices ranging from GBP80 to as high as GBP400 per person, no one has been doing Cognac for the consumer at large. Unanimous opinion of the sales people in various stores was a disbelief at a complete lack of advertising and promotion of Cognac. |
| 09/04/99 | Cognacs from Bernard Boutinet, Jean-Marie Verger, Julien Dupont, François Voyer, Louis Bouron highlight a week of tasting in Oslo, Norway at the Bar 1. Sponsored by Bar 1 and www.swfrance.com it also includes painting exhibition of Marie Claire Pajeille and regional products from Moutardiere Charentaise. Both, the BNIC and Bouilleurs du Cru declined to participate citing lack of funds (see Torula News 5/04/99 item) and other priority. |
| 08/04/99 | As a part of Signature de France business, Julien Dupont, a Cognac house since 1872, undergoes major revitalization with a recent introduction of a full line of Fine Champagne Cognacs; VS, VSOP, Vieille Reserve, Cigare Reserve, XO and Extra Imperial. |
| 05/04/99 | Under a heading of "Collapse continues" the local press followed the BNIC latest Cognac sales statistics for the first two months of 1999. Confirming Torula News early comment that French market does not work for Cognac, BNIC now confirms a 7.3% drop in Cognac sales in February alone! Number 1 and 2 export markets, USA and Japan, confirm downturn in sales, a solid exception being the UK market. If a 10% monthly drop in the export of Cognac is correct, than the time has come to take a drastic action at BNIC; stop fiddling with Film Festivals, domestic market and put all your resources to promote, to advertise and protect the foreign markets for Cognac! A generic Cognac promotion and advertising campaign is needed on a global basis. Torula News estimates the minimum price tag of such a campaign of at least $5 million. Not so strange, but that is the amount of recent increase in the advertising budget of BNIC. To paraphrase an old advertising campaign, we ask: "Where is the beef?". (Sud-Ouest03/04/99, Torula News) |
| 04/04/99 | Consolidation in the cooperage industry continue with a recent purchase of Tonnellerie Gatard by the biggest cooperage in the Cognac region, Seguin-Moreau. (Sud-Ouest03/04/99) |
| 04/04/99 | Torula News has learned that in the past several weeks importers from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the USA are busily working on significant Cognac export deals. Many Cognac producers are struggling with paper work, language limitations and rules and regulations that prevent them from operating as a free market economy. What has BNIC and French Ministries of Agriculture and Finance done for the Cognac industry recently?. |
| 02/04/99 | Summary and highlights of Torula News are now available in German
language on www.calvados.de courtesy of Robert
Heymel. Please visit this excellent site. Here is a sample: "-------------------------------------------------------- |
| 02/04/99 | In the re-hash of the old deal, Highlands Distillers plc, the Scotch whisky maker, announced a sales and distribution joint venture with RémyCointreau (parent of Cognac Rémy Martin) and Jim Beam, American whisky maker. (IHT31/03/99, Torula News) |
| 02/04/99 | Amateur Cognac Tasting initiated its 3rd year of Cognac Tastings on the night of the final distillations in the Cognac region. Over 40 persons (French, English, Americans, Swedish, Canadians, New Zealanders) were hosted by Cognac Camus "La Grande Marque". Team Camus led by Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Paul Camus had created a magnificent evening starring the Camus Cognacs: Josephine, Minuit, Extraordinaire and Château du Plessis Fine Borderie. And when the Réserve Gaston Camus was served at the end of the very fine dinner, we all realized the meaning of the excellence in Cognac. Tasting results will be posted shortly. |
| 01/04/99 | Will Hennessy buy L&L, will L&L buy A. Hardy and how many Cognac bottles will Claudia Cardinale, guest of honor at the recent Film Festival in Cognac, sell? The first answer is most likely, if the price is right. It would be an inexpensive way for Hennessy to get into the Cognac derivative market (Alizé, Anaké, XO Beer) and it will make a comfortable return for Mr. Navarre, President of Hennessy, to high volume, high turnover, retail level market place. The big question is what to do with L&L Cognac product line. Should this deal fell through, L&L might pick up A. Hardy at the end of May, which in itself is not a bad combination plus it will preempt an American, among others, attempt to enter Cognac ownership. The last answer is none, she neither drinks nor is interest in it. Another example of badly spent promotion money by BNIC. |
Global News for: March'99, February'99 January'99 1998 |
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