Lafuma reported strong first half sales gains due to a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. Total company sales increased 34.4% to 116.1 million ($138.9 mm) compared to 86.6 million ($112.9 mm). In addition the companys backlog increased 8% over last year. Millets sales increased 17.5 %, which will enable the brand to easily top 40m in sales for this fiscal year. The recently acquired Oxbow brand reported a 14% sales increase, while Le Chameau sales increased 3.8%, but were flat without the recently acquired Georg Schumacher horse-riding brand.
Sales for the Lafuma brand were up 7.5%, excluding camping furniture, driven by a strong performance in clothing, especially the winter 2006 collection and the Trail product line in footwear.
According to Lafuma North America President, Guillaume Linossier, the U.S. business is reporting strong results. Currently, the companys order book is showing a 10% increase in the Lafuma brand, while Millet reported a 900% increase. Linossier stated that the company took over the Millet business in the middle of the year last year, which explains the large increase, but orders are already above what was budgeted. Le Chameau is 43% above last year. Overall, Lafuma America is reporting 57% growth for the year.
