La Martiniquaise reaches ‘symbolic’ €1bn in annual turnover

French drinks company La Martiniquaise has reached €1 billion in turnover for the 12 months to the end of 2017 – an achievement the business describes as “symbolic”.

Speaking to the drinks business at ProWein last month, Sylvia Bernard, international marketing director at brand owner La Martiniquaise, said that achievement was “symbolic” for the company, which saw its annual turnover rise from a total of €980 million in 2016 to €1bn last year.

Representing a year-on-year rise of 2.2%, the increase comes after several years of steady growth for the group, which owns Label 5 Scotch, among other major spirits brands and Porto Cruz Port.

Bernard told db that the majority of the growth for the group was coming from markets other than France, which she described as a “big but mature” market that is “stable”.

Nevertheless, she recorded strong growth in France for rum and gin, both areas where La Martiniquaise is dominant in its domestic market as owner of Gibson’s gin and Saint James and Negrita rums.

Beyond France, Bernard said that the group was performing well in Europe, a trend that has been boosted by the development of strong subsidiaries across the continent, and, most recently, the acquisition of significant Netherlands distributor Inspirits.

Along with Label 5, La Martiniquaise also owns the Sir Edward’s Scotch brand, while the company’s other major spirits brands include Poliakov vodka – the largest vodka brand in France.

La Martiniquaise is the second largest spirits business in France after Pernod Ricard.