Cognac, the 16^th of October 1997 - Special Cooperage

This week, we would like to talk to you about a fast moving sector, very close to cognac : THE COOPERAGE.

The market, North American in particular is demanding more woody and fruity wines. A suitable wine making process and a massive use of new oak casks seems to confirm this trend. " Wine is becoming a marketing product " are complaining purists in Bordeaux, " we are loosing the Terroir notion ". Bordeaux wines, though, never met such an incredible success.

Because of the huge increase of the demand, not only in France, but also world wide, cooperage is becoming a battlefield of international finance.

Tonnellerie Radoux , located in Jonzac, has just opened its capital to institutional investor led by Michel de Tapol, former marketing director at Hennessy, and before that CEO of Hine. They are betting on a very strong increase of their sales to their international customers, especially in South Africa and Chili. Their existing cooperage in United States and in Spain should very quickly be upgraded.

Besides, Tonnellerie Vicard in Cognac, has strengthen its managerial team by hiring a new administrative director and also a financial director, Marc Lefébure, who will have also in charge the expansion of their subsidiary, Lafitte, in the making of foreign oak casks. The raw material being much cheaper they expect a very rapid grow around the Mediteranean.

Generally speaking, cooperages around the world are investing huge amounts of money in increasing their production facilities, like never before.

Tonnellerie Serge is settling in South Africa, The Demptos Nappa Cooperage is investing 3 millions dollars, Compagnie Royale de Tonnellerie is investing 9 millions francs, etcetera...

Finally, Henri de Pracomtal, former CEO of Hennessy has bought Tonnellerie Taransaud, which turnover reaches already 120 millions francs and is very promising.

May our customers, cognac lovers, be reassured, there is far enough premium quality casks left to age our precious eaux-de-vie !