By: just-drinks.com editorial team –

• Sales rise by 11% in 2010
• Demand still short of pre-crisis highs
• Profits to be “better” than 2009

Champagne house Lanson-BCC has reported an 11% rise in sales for 2010, but demand remained below the highs seen before the global financial crisis.

Lanson-BCC said today (8 February) that net sales reached EUR305m (US$416m) for the 12 months to the end of December. Volume sales increased by 6% versus 2009, echoing a general rebound in consumer demand for Champagne following a tough couple of years.

However, Lanson’s sales failed to hit the heights of 2007, the last full-year prior to the global financial crisis, when the company’s sales were EUR359.4m. Group sales were EUR300.6m in 2008.

For 2010, Lanson also followed Moet Hennessy’s lead in reporting a slowdown in demand in the fourth quarter. Sales still rose for the three-month period, but by a less impressive 5% to EUR137.6m.

Several analysts have speculated that the slowdown may be primarily due to tougher comparative figures in the fourth quarter of 2009. Champagne showed signs of recovery in several key export markets before the end of 2009.

Lanson will release details of 2010 profits on 22 March. However, it said that profits will show “a better performance than 2009″, despite higher costs for bottles.

Separately, the Champagne industry trade body, CIVC, said today that global Champagne sales rose by 9% in volume to 319.5m bottles in 2010. Global sales by value increased by 8% to EUR4bn.