Although French perfume bottles and cosmetics containers company Pochet suffered a 16% fall in net profits in 1999 to FFr 106.4 million on consolidated turnover of FFr 1.87 billion (+3.2%), chairman G…
Although French perfume bottles and cosmetics containers company Pochet suffered a 16% fall in net profits in 1999 to FFr 106.4 million on consolidated turnover of FFr 1.87 billion (+3.2%), chairman Gabriel Colonna appears confident for 2000. “The activity has been very consistent in the first quarter for all our activities,” he stated, adding, however, that “there could be considerable variations from one half to another”. The crystal manufacturer Lalique, which Pochet acquired in the mid-1990s, is providing rather better news for its parent company. Last year, for the first time, it made a “positive contribution” to Pochet“s profits, Colonna said. It reported an operating profit up 42% at FFr 44.2 million, and an attributable net profit of FFr 10.9 million. Sales were up 14.7% at FFr 566 million, of which 35% were generated in the US, which is Lalique“s main market, ahead of France. There are currently 34 Lalique stores, half of which it owns itself. These represent a quarter of total sales, a figure which is expected to grow.