Beautiful harvest in France perspective delighted the cooperage business in a challenging global context. The French sector, specializing in the high range in oak barrels, has made a stable turnover of EUR 320 million last year. It made good harvest in Burgundy or Bordeaux to cushion the inevitable decline of sales in 2009. "After a very nice summer, vintners will do this and kind of magnifier this vintage, use our drums." "Even if they feel of the cash flow problems, they do not miss the boat", assures Jean-Marcel Jaeglé, patron of the cooperage Dargaud & Jaeglé in Burgundy (40 employees).
The weight of the international
According to professionals, or some 60 companies, which employ some 2,000 employees, the sector could plunge from 10 to 15 this year, because of the strong decline in sales in the United States, led their main export. "This decline is not only related to the situation, but also to freeze that affected us crops last year, continues Jean-Marcel Jaeglé." Many drums remained empty.Some countries, such as the Chile and the Argentina stand them well. International accounted for 70 in the activity of the sector, whose production is based in 546.000 drums in 2008. "Our coopered have very old expertise, backed by a world renowned vineyards and resources with our forests, stable for millennia, stresses Michel Hovart, the President of the Federation." Some products have a soul. "Their target: the major areas that make a quality wine. Only 2 to 5 of the wines produced in the world are raised under oak wood.
With the global crisis, the commands for these barrels sold between 500 and 650 euros are declining. "It is an investment for our clients." Major groups cut their purchases up to 50 without spare their suppliers. "What has not been the case of small castles although they have slowed their application", said Henri de Pracomtal, the President of oak & Cie (Taransaud, Garnier...), one of the three major players in the sector after rated groups François brothers and Oeneo (Seguin Moreaux, Radoux...). Many areas will in 2009 more than usual drums of previous years, instead of buying a new reuse.
Manufacture of wood chips
Therefore, the barrel had to adapt by reducing working hours. Beyond that, the sector took much more strategic measures before the crisis. François Frères, for example, has expanded its line by proposing drums manufactured from American oak or Hungarian. "They are sold from 20 to 25 cheaper, said Jérôme François, the President of the Executive Board." Attention, is the wine which command the tool and not only economic reasoning. There are wines that deserve to be high in barrels and others not. "Of coopered also branched into the manufacture of wood chips put in the wine to flavour it. A practice authorized for some years in Europe, but not very well seen in the profession. "Our credo remains the quality that has made our reputation." "We do not deliver products of second-order", insists Michel Hovart. This crisis could also cause a new movement of concentration in the hexagon. Phenomenon engaged for more than a decade.
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