Interview

How do you look back on the past year?

Marie-Amélie de Leusse: It’s been marked by a complex environment. Our main markets have experienced strong turbulence, and the international geopolitical landscape has been particularly unstable. We’ve had to demonstrate significant adaptability when facing situations that were extremely difficult to anticipate.
Throughout this challenging period, our teams’ sense of responsibility, agility, and mobilization have been remarkable. Everyone has shown great resilience and determination, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of them. They’ve enabled the Group to maintain its long-term value strategy. I also want to acknowledge our management team, who have tackled our challenges with tenacity while staying true to our values.
Another striking feature of the year was the incredible collective spirit we’ve witnessed – balancing necessary budgetary decisions on one hand while significantly accelerating innovation on the other, both in our products and in the experiences we offer our customers.

What notable achievements particularly stand out to you?

Marie-Amélie de Leusse: I’ve been impressed by our teams’ capacity for constant innovation. This was recognized at the PLD Innovation Awards, where Bruichladdich received the “Packaging Redesign” award for creating fully recyclable paper pulp packaging. Cointreau was also distinguished in the “Mass Market Innovation” category for the Group’s very first ready-to-drink product, named Cocktail Twists.
Our CSR roadmap, “Sustainable Exception”, has grown stronger with several new projects. For example, through our partnership with INTACT, our iconic Cointreau liqueur will become the first liqueur brand in the world to incorporate low-carbon alcohol made from legumes into its production.
Rémy Cointreau’s collaboration with glass manufacturer Verallia has allowed several of our products to be part of their strategic project implementing a 100% electric furnace at their Cognac site.
Our teams have also successfully adapted to evolving consumption trends, as shown by the latest limited edition from Rémy Martin, “This is my city.” The coming year promises to be equally creative and rich as we bring numerous ongoing projects to market.

Hospitality has been at the heart of the Group’s Maisons’ activities this year. Is this a component of Rémy Cointreau’s DNA?

Marie-Amélie de Leusse: It’s absolutely an essential part of who we are as a Group. Hospitality contributes to the influence and longevity of our brands and meets the expectations of today’s consumers who are seeking authentic experiences. This is what we’re so proud to offer with our exceptional terroirs—in France of course, but also in Scotland, Barbados, Greece, and Seattle.
A highlight for me this year was the wonderful recognition received by Maison Rémy Martin, which celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2024 and earned three prestigious awards: the regional Gold Best Of award in the Art & Culture category, the international “Best of Wine Tourism” award for the Bordeaux/Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and the People’s Choice award. Both industry professionals and the general public appreciated the work we’ve done in reopening our historic heart.

2024 also marked the first year of operation at the Maison Brillet house in Charente. I must also mention our Liknon site on the Greek island of Samos, where visitors can discover authentic Greek hospitality, the history of Metaxa, and its unique production process through various paths winding through our organic vineyard.
Welcoming visitors – newcomers or enthusiasts alike – to our terroirs, distilleries, historic houses, and boutiques gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase a heritage shaped over centuries which, together with our teams, represents our greatest asset.
In each of these places, the expertise and know-how of our teams shines through, shared generously and enthusiastically with all who visit. Each experience we offer aims to create something unique and memorable, fostering connection and conversation around the Group’s values and the quality of our products.

Does the geopolitical and macroeconomic context influence the value strategy you support for the Group?

Marie-Amélie de Leusse: The pillars of our strategy remain unchanged. Yes, the particularly complex macroeconomic environment has led us to adapt our value strategy – but never to abandon it.
Even in difficult times, we’ve chosen not to sacrifice the value of our products. Market analysis continues to show that premiumization and the moderate consumption of high-quality products remain strong underlying trends. Our exceptional spirits – created with exacting standards, patience, and respect for heritage that forms the foundation of our identity –have always aligned perfectly with this approach.

What are the Group’s strengths for navigating this period of instability?

Marie-Amélie de Leusse: Many of our Maisons have weathered historical storms and upheavals throughout their long histories. They’ve always been able to face challenges while staying true to their heritage, roots, and expertise. These drivers serve as powerful foundations that allow our Maisons to nurture their innovative capacity while strengthening the Group’s value strategy. Each product we develop contributes to our ambition to become the leader in exceptional spirits.
I can’t overlook the strength of our collective spirit and the passion of our teams. These qualities drive our performance and will undoubtedly allow us to maintain our course during this period of uncertainty.
To conclude, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our shareholders who – some for many years now – have shown us their unwavering confidence. They can be fully assured of our complete commitment to supporting the Group with determination and perseverance during this complex period.