Inter Parfums, which produces the Lanvin and Burberry perfumes, has posted a "limited decline" of 5.5% in first half 2009 group sales to €121.3m. The company says this occurred against the background of a marked worsening in world consumption and a reduction of stocks by distributors with some larger groups recording downturns of 10% to 20%. Inter adds that the limited fall in growth was due to improved commercial performance and a rise in sales in the second quarter this year, while currency factors were generally favourable.
Burberry perfumes reached €78m in the first six months, helped by the Burberry Brit and Burberry The Beat lines with Lanvin perfume sales expanding by 25% to €19m. Growth came from Eclat d'Arpege (up 8%), the Jeanne Lanvin line and a promising start for Lanvin L'Homme Sport, launched this last spring.
Commenting on the outlook Inter Parfums says that in the uncertain economic environment, the contradictory character of information coming from different markets limits market visibility. Under these conditions the company expects sales to dip slightly in 2009 as a whole compared with 2008. Growth is forecast to pick up again in 2010 as new launches get underway. These will include Burberry Sport lines for men and women, a range of make-up products, men and women's perfumes under the Van Cleef & Arpels brand and a Lanvin line of women's perfumes.