Champagne Lanson shakes up global travel retail team

Lanson has announced some changes to its Global Travel Retail (GTR) team after a record-breaking year for the Champagne industry.

“2022 was a very strong year for the Champagne industry and a historical record high €6 billion of turnover,” said François Van Aal, president of Champagne Lanson.

“I am convinced that the best is yet to come for Champagne Lanson despite the uncertainty of the geo-political and economic environments.”

Indeed, Champagne continued to see growth last year, with 326 million bottles shipped in 2022 (+1.6% compared with 2021), the region’s governing body has said.

In light of the region’s successes, Champagne Lanson is shaking up its GTR team.

Edouard de Boissieu, Lanson’s former head of travel retail, has now been appointed as export manager Europe (domestic markets) for the Champagne maison.

Van Aal commented: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Edouard for his great input and sales performance during his time as head of travel retail.”

Stepping into de Boissieu’s role as key account manager GTR is Albane Lussat, who was previously Lanson’s trade marketing manager for domestic and global travel retail. Her previous position is being filled by Loraine Wojcik, who has been Lanson’s export assistant for the last five years.

De Boissieu, Lussat and Wojcik will be reporting to Emmanuel Gantet as Europe and overseas export director and GTR director.

Comité Champagne has mapped out its investment plans for the next decade, which includes funnelling an extra €10 million into R&D.

Top of the agenda is the launch of a new state-of-the-art research, innovation and development centre, which is expected to open its doors in 2025. The facility will increase the size of the appellation’s existing laboratory by 40% and will include a bigger fermentation room and experimental cellar, as well as doubling the size of its tasting room. Read more on that here.