Lafuma reported strong top-line results for the fiscal 2006 year, which ended on September 30, 2006 with much of the company’s growth acquisition-based, but some strong results in several of its core brands. Full-year sales increased 20.1% to €243.0 million ($299.0 mm) compared to €201.0 million ($255.7 mm) last year. Roughly 18 percentage points of this growth was attributable to the acquisition of Oxbow, so organic sales increased about 2% for the year. Oxbow’s organic sales increased 10.3% for the year.

In spite of some delivery issues, which impacted Lafuma Outdoor’s sales by €2.5 million ($3.2 mm) and Millet’s sales by €1.3 million ($1.7 mm), both brands saw strong growth for the year. Lafuma’s footwear sales were up 21% and apparel sales were up 4.2%, while Millet sales increased 15%. Guillaume Linossier, Lafuma U.S.A.’s president, said that sales for his division were primarily driven by packs and sleeping bags, although the introduction of Lafuma’s footwear line in the U.S. also contributed to the growth, particularly with trail running, casual models, and eco-friendly shoes using hemp, vegetable tanned leather, and natural rubber outsoles.

Linnossier told BOSS, “Millet is now distributed only through selected technical independent retailers. The line has encountered a huge success within these retailers and is now an important division of the Lafuma America business.”

For Lafuma’s fiscal fourth quarter, sales increased 8.9% to €79.4 million ($101.2 mm) compared to €72.9 million ($88.8 mm) last year.