The Lafuma Group reported a considerable increase in sales during the company’s fiscal first quarter, mainly due to the recent acquisition of OxBow, the French surf and lifestyle apparel company. Including OxBow, total group sales increased 27.0% to €46.6 million ($55.9 mm) compared to €36.7 million ($46.9 mm) last year. Excluding the acquisition, Lafuma sales increased 2.7% to €37.6 million ($45.1 mm), while Oxbow sales increased 42.9% to €9.0 million ($10.8 mm) compared to €6.3 mm ($8.1 mm) last year.

Lafuma’s international division, which includes its North American subsidiary headed by president, Guillaume Linossier, reported a 19.6% increase in sales to €17.7 million ($21.2 mm). BOSS caught up with Mr. Linossier at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, and he said that the N.A. subsidiary had a 60% increase in sales, and the company is ramping up its presence with several new structural changes, mainly designed to improve customer service. The sales increase was led by packs and sleeping bags, which jumped 120% during the quarter.

The company is also preparing itself for a major push in apparel in spring of ’07, and will be launching several new styles, including several designed specifically for the North American market.

Lafuma is also bringing the high-end mountaineering brand, Millet, to North America, and was showing the brand in a suite off the show floor. The company has lined up 30 top dealers to sell Millet and will be adding more dealers slowly, in an effort to build Millet as a premier brand in the market.

Lafuma will not be bringing OxBow to the U.S. in the near future due to an ongoing consolidation of the two companies’ sourcing infrastructure. Once this process in complete, however, there is a possibility of the brand launching in North America. Finally, Lafuma appears to be building a war-chest to continue its acquisition strategy. Lafuma’s French management team confirmed the initiation of an operation to infuse new equity capital in order to advance its internal and external growth objectives. Details of this operation will be outlined in the near future.