Lafuma reported that first fiscal half sales, which ended March 31, 2007, increased 5.3% to 122.6 million ($159.4 mm) compared to the same period of last year when the group reported 116.5 million ($142.1 mm) in sales.
Management said that sales were strong in spite of the unseasonably warm winter due to strong growth in the Le Chameau brand, which caters to the equestrian and hunting markets as well as strong international and camping furniture businesses.
By brand, Le Chameau sales increased 16.3%; Lafuma branded product sales increased 3.7%; Millet was up 4.3% and Oxbow sales were up 4.4%. Management said that all of these brands out-performed their market peers.
International sales increased 14.3% to 51.5 million ($66.9 mm) and were primarily driven by gains in the U.K., Spain, Italy, and Central Europe. For the second fiscal quarter, Lafuma sales increased 7.2% to 74.9 million ($98.2 mm) compared to 69.9 million ($84.0 mm) last year.
Going forward, Lafuma does not believe it will see any more negative impact from slow camping furniture sales, like it has seen over the past several quarters. At the same time, all divisions are performing in-line with managements expectations.
