LaFuma is reporting a 29.0% increase in net attributable profit to €1.6 million ($1.9 mm) for the first half of the year on a 1.5% increase in sales – from €80.4 million ($82.0 mm) in the first half last year to €81.6 million ($98.2 mm) for the first six months of the 2004 fiscal year. Operating income climbed 13.3% to €5.1 million ($6.1 mm) compared to €4.5 million ($4.6 mm) for the six-month period last year.

The increase in sales was attributed primarily to growth in the Asian, Northern Europe, and U.S. subsidiaries of the group. The increased profits were attributed to tight controls over profit margins, and expenses.

BOSS caught up with Guillaume Linossier, the General Manager of LaFuma America, who attributed much of the growth in the U.S. market to a 200% increase in sleeping bag sales. He said that over 70,000 bags have been sold so far this year. The strong-point for the U.S. LaFuma market has traditionally been in the outdoor furniture division, which posted a 30% sales increase for the first half, but the company has spent the last eight months re-organizing, and placing an emphasis on outdoor. Linossier also told BOSS that his company has been seeing “strong growth” out of their backpack line and “good sell-through” from their initial footwear offering.

Linossier said that they have added six new sales reps, effectively doubling their sales force, and establishing a presence in every region of the country. The brand was said to be “well established” in the Northwest region, and “very strong” in the Midwest, with Galyan’s as their largest customer.

The Madden Mountaineering brand, which LaFuma bought three years ago, is no longer in production. Linossier said that it is currently “on-hold,” and the company is focusing on building the presence of their two core brands, LaFuma and Le Chameaux.

Next year, the company plans to introduce more footwear and continue the strong growth of their sleeping bag line, but their next big project is growing their apparel line in the U.S. This will be distributed under the LaFuma brand as well as the Big Pack brand, which was acquired by Lafuma two years ago.