JeanJean to expand wine sales in Brazil

JeanJean, one France's leading wine firms, plans to open a sales office in Brazil within the next year as part of a plan to expand in new markets.

Brazil and China are the two emerging markets with the most potential for JeanJean's French wine exports, company president Antoine Leccia told just-drinks at the Vinexpo wine show.

"Brazil's economy remains very good and people there are drinking more and more wine. They are already importing a lot of wine from Argentina," Leccia said.

"We plan to open an office there in the next year," he said. The firm already sells a small amount of wine in Brazil.

JeanJean, founded in France's Languedoc Roussillon region in 1870, also has wineries in Provence, Bordeaux and Cahors.

Exports contribute around 40% of the group's turnover, with Belgium and Scandinavia its biggest markets.

Leccia told just-drinks that group net sales rose by 12% in 2008, to EUR180m. Sales for the first six months of 2009 were flat against the same period a year earlier, he added.