Nicolas Feuillatte rules out Heidsieck bid
As speculation mounts on the sale of the Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck Champagne brands, Nicolas Feuillatte has ruled itself out of the bidding race.
Speaking at a lunch at Texture to celebrate the Champagne co-operative’s 35th birthday, managing director Dominique Pierre told the drinks business: “We’ve been reading what’s been said in the press and have been following the news of the sale, but I can confirm that we’re not interested in buying Charles and Piper-Heidsieck.”
Rémy Cointreau, which currently owns Piper and Charles Heidsieck, put the brands up for sale late last year, with an asking price in the region of €400 million.
It was reported last week that rum giant Bacardi is one of about a dozen to show interest in buying the Champagne brands.
Other potential bidders are believed to include Champagne’s leading player, LVMH, Vranken-Pommery Monopole, BCC-Lanson, and one of the region’s largest co-operatives, Alliance Champagne.
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Sources in Champagne have reported Vranken-Pommery Monopole to be leading the bidding race. There is also speculation that LVMH and BCC-Lanson might make a joint bid.
No timescale has been set for the sale, but it is thought that the number of bidders will be reduced to a shortlist imminently.
Watch our video interview with Dominique Pierre here
Lucy Shaw, 23.02.2011
