Profile   Vranken-Pommery Monopole is one of the leading Champagne players. Its balanced Brand portfolio extends over the entire range with Champagne Pommery, Vranken’s Demoiselle and Diamant Champagnes, Charles Lafitte and Heidsieck Monopole. Vranken-Pommery Monopole is also active in the high range Port Wine sector with Rozès and is a major player in rosé wine distribution with Vins des Sables (Listel) and Vins de Provence (Pradel, la Gordonne) that it sells throughout the world. In 2007, Vranken-Pommery Monopole posted sales of 286.8 million euros for a current operating result of 50.4 million euros. The group realises 45% of sales internationally.       Positioning   On a perennial market, players must exercise a capacity for valorising Champagne on its different markets, France and Export, where the first 5 groups (Moët Hennessy - LVMH, VRANKEN-POMMERY MONOPOLE, BCC, Laurent Perrier and Pernod Ricard) realize nearly 2 / 3 of sales of Champagne Houses (Source UMC 2008) In this competitive context, VRANKEN-POMMERY MONOPOLE has also reinforced its grape supply which now extends to 2,000 hectares. Regarding the wine sector, VRANKEN-POMMERY MONOPOLE has become a significant player in the wine sector of "rosé" with the resumption of marketing of wines of Domaines Listel the second half of 2005. Nevertheless, this activity is less representative in terms of turnover, as VRANKEN-POMMERY MONOPOLE does under this marketing only the distribution's commissions due to the contract of sale commission agent.           The Champagne market   Champagne is a geographically limited area and the appellation covers almost 34,000 hectares that are more than 95% planted. These vineyards are 87% exploited by winemakers and 13% by the Champagne Houses. On the other hand the Champagne Houses sell more than 67% of all Champagne bottles worldwide. Grape blending is the fruit of the Cellar Master’s know-how guaranteeing constant quality and a particular House’s style. The quality of these great Brands is also ensured by storing vast quantities of Champagne in the cellars. All these characteristics confer a long life upon the Champagne market. Average annual growth has been more than 3% for the last 35 years. In 2007, the sales of champagne reached a level record with 338.7 million bottles, that is to say a rised of 5.3 % compared to 2006. 229 million bottles were marketed by the only champagne houses. Figures for the first semester show that 2008 should continue this positive trend.       World development of Champagne exports