Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits reports first-half sales eased 5%. On an organic basis, excluding exchange rates, sales were down 5.8%. Factor in the effect of exchange rates, and sales were down 6.7%.
Sales in France were down 2%. The 12% decline in international sales was attributed to Covid-related restrictions, and some shipments being postponed to the second half. Things picked up in the second quarter, MBWS said, with international sales declining only 7.1%.
In the U.S., Marie Brizard said “the sharp decline in sales in the USA in the first half of 2021 is mainly a mechanical reflection of the non-recurring effects which benefited the Group last year, namely the new distribution agreement being implemented on 1st January 2020, the resulting build-up of inventory by our partner, and the transfer of inventory on hand at the end of 2019.
“Shipments to the U.S. are increasingly disrupted by the problems with sea freight, while the U.S. Off Trade market was still penalized by a high base effect in 2020, following the closure of the bars and restaurants at the time along with a high level of promotional activity. The Group benefited from the On Trade recovery, especially for Marie
Brizard and to a lesser extent Sobieski.”