Torula News

1998  Global Torula News Archive

June 1998

30/06/98 The most important BNIC election is on 3rd July. All 7000+ viticulteurs need to vote and the unions who call for the boycott should be ignored. You want a change, you need to vote. That's democracy! Burning tires is not an answer.
29/06/98 Pineau des Charentes marketing campaign gets a new look; much better than a previous one but putting its  image into association with the sea is a bit risky and somewhat limited. Welcome to Pineau Country reminds us of a very successful web site by Courvoisier; State of Courvoisier.
22/06/98 Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal has been launched in the UK. The name of the new Cognac reflects   history when the Royal warrant was given to Mr. Rémy Martin for making the best Cognacs in the world.  This is a 12 years old eaux-de-vie but it contains some of  the  25 years olds as well. It is positioned between VSOP and XO Special. It is smooth, with a higher proportion of lees used in distillation. An innovative, quality product!
21/06/98 URB'N XY Extra Young makes it debut in Cognac to a fabulous reception at Cognac Café and at La Maison Blanche. At 12 months old; on the rocks, with coke or tonic, it is quiet an arrival! (See related items on 15/05/98 and 14/05/98).
20/06/98 Sales increrased 6%, loss for the year 1997-98 reached 621 million French Francs (about $103 millions) at Rémy Cointreau. Blaming high dollar, operational write-offs and 9.3% drop in the sales of  Rémy Martin Cognac, the management has an optimistic outlook for the future. We think that the time has come to sell certain assets (why to have 3 champagne products, for example), reduce employment, lower prices and increase advertising expenditure. Sounds too American? No, it sounds like a good business strategy! But the rumours of imminent company sale and/or merger persist.
20/06/98 Prix François 1er Award for deluxe packaging in the Charme et Elegance category was awarded to Federico Restrepo in association with Baccarat.  Rémy Martin Cognac won in the category Saveurs Gourmandes for its 1738 Accord Royal. This was the 7th year of this awards which are sponsored by IFEC in conjunction with the exhibition titled "Luxury and Packaging" held in Cognac, France on the 10-11 June 1998. (Christine Croizet). For more see Packaging.
19/06/98 A small avalanche of email folowed up our story of 17/06/98 on the working hours restrictions in France. We have been reminded of Herman Kahn's book published in 1967 "The year 2000". He, than, forecasted a 30 hours work week and 13 weeks paid vacation per year. Well, we know of France and Sweden only,  that are trying to reach Herman Kahn's forecast! How will it affect Cognac production?
18/06/98 Over 700 exhibitors from 31 countries concluded today a 3-day event in Hong Kong (an Asian version of Vinexpo), in a very oprtimistic mood despite Asian financial crisis. Cognac was represented by, among others,  A.E.Dor, Frapin, de Luze, Louis Royer and the Grande Marques. Main effort of the big Cognac houses was targeted at China, others spread their sales pitches through out the region. Once again, we note, lack of more imaginative marketing and pricing strategies among the Cognac producers. Why not to lower the price (VS, VSOP), stop boring the world with Long Drink option (it promotes Schweppes more than the Cognac?) and get into sponsoring events (where permitted)? The high end Cognacs (XO and above) will continue their steady and slow sales. The marketing campaigns, the exhibition presentations are mirrors of how things are done in France. Cognac is a French product but the markets in Europe, Asia or Americas demand a complete change in strategy...
17/06/98 Based on quick survey among the viticulteurs, we belive that they work 50 to 60 hours a week or more. Accordingly, they do not meet French government latest work hours limit of 35 hours per week. Will the 420 government inspectors soon start visiting producers of Cognac, like they have done with Alcatel, SGS-Thomson etc? If this happens, we can than start talking about crisis in the Cognac industry. Poor marketing and the market inefficiencies are the main cause of the current Cognac market problems. Asian financial crisis only accentuated the obvious!
13/06/98 The battle for 40,000 liters of Cognac is heating up in the Baltic Sea. Claes Bergvall of the Baltic Wreck Jonkoping AB, Sweden and Peter Fryckman of Finland and their divers and lawyers (of course) are trying to salvage the boat "Galeasen Jonkoping" and its content of Cognac, 5000 bottles of champagne and 6000 liters of wine. The boat was torpedoed in 1916 by the German U-boat (U22). Cognac and Champagne was being delivered to the Tsar's Army.   The battle that will be fought in the courtrooms is about has the rights to this treasure.Claes Bergvall and his group already retrieved 500 champagne bottles that were found in a perfect condition. Torula News is ready to taste the Cognac! (Mikael Bergstrom, 26/5/98 Jonkoping Posten)
12/06/98 With Vinexpo underway in Hong Kong, Taiwan's Cognac amateurs are returning to the www.swfrance.com. In May, there were 647 visitors vs. 67 in April. Visitors from Japan, China and Singapore registered 10% increase, as well. Does it mean that the Asian doom and gloom in the Cognac markets is slowly fading? We hope so!
11/06/98 This weekend (13-14/06/98), Brotherhood of Franc-Pineau celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Château de La Rochefoucauld. (Sud-Ouest)  Check the pictures from 13/06/98 celebration!
10/06/98 Hennessy exhibition titled "déclics & saveurs" opens 12 June to public, daily from 10:00 to 18:00. It ends 31/12/98.
09/06/98 While the soccer/football fever and the wave of strikes grips France, Vinexpo begins in Hong Kong later in the week, emptying  Cognac boardrooms, chais and marketing rooms. Cognac decision makers are in Hong Kong hoping for some flicker of positive signs in the Asian markets. Once again, based on the increased traffic on the www.swfrance.com (second month in a row) from the Asian countries we already see this flicker of hope turning very slowly into increased sales. Meantime, at home, viticulteurs go on rampage and the management is represented by the ex-boss of Courvoisier seen fraternizing with the strikers. Does it all make sense?
09/06/98 Is France on strike? In addition to Air France pilots, bus drivers in Paris and Bordeaux, maintenance staff at the Roissy Airport in Paris (CDG) and the SNCF staff, Cognac viticulteurs unions  went on blockade rampage in several key visible locations; Cognac, La Trache, St. Laurent de Cognac, Jarnac, Rouillac, Bassac, Châteaneuf and Le Forêt de Chardin. Only Archiac and Segonzac were spared. Demands are always the same: lower taxes, more government support etc. It was a poor timing to strike,  not because of the World Cup Football that starts tomorrow but because the bosses are away. (See above). these are the same unions that insist that their membership abstains from voting in the July elections to the BNIC - we think it is a very bad and undemocratic advice!
08/06/98 Roman Akác, Director and Peter Pistanek, Writer of Gratex International  concluded filming of a TV documentary on Cognac and the region. 15 cognac producers, Mayor of Cognac and the Director General of BNIC as well as Folklore Patois Group, Discotheque Vibration, La Maison du Cognac and couple of vine growers participated. The film and the subsidiary products is scheduled for European and North American release in 3Q99.
06/06/98 Flurry of new products are being introduced by Cognac producers trying to keep up with big Cognac Houses. All but A. Hardy Cognac' 20 cl Exclusive Fisherman's Flask of Extra Fine Champagne luck any originality.
04/06/98 Cognac House Tour Visit 1998 Silk Banner was awarded to Rémy Martin by the Torula News team.
3/06/98 Cognac has a medicinal value - new study, new revelation but it is the old idea rediscovered again.   Check  Doctor's Brandy or Doctor's Liqueur Brandy from Cognac Larsen, for example.
2/06/98 Nathalie Morlai appointed Manager, Marketing and Communication at the Comité National du Pineau des Charentes.
02/06/98 Cognac Frapin wins 1998 London Challenge Tasting!  

20 May 2001                   

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