Champagne's bubble bursts
Article Abstract:
The French champagne industry has experienced a 25% decline in sales in the first two months of 1991 and has decided to raise its prices in order to reposition its products toward the top end of the wine market and to reinforce the exclusivity of champagne. The sales of champagne in the 1980s increased by 70%, reaching 21 million cases sold in 1989. The industry believes that lower prices have allowed too much champagne to reach the market and that by repositioning themselves towards the top of the market, they will remain profitable while volume drops. The price increases provide the makers of sparkling wines with an excellent opportunity to position themselves as a reasonably-price alternative, and sparkling wines other than champagne should increase their market share. The California Wine Institute reports that, for the first 10 months of 1990, shipments of cava, a Spanish sparkling wine, to the US increased 7% while shipments of French sparkling wine decreased by 17%.
Publication Name: International Management
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0020-7888
Year: 1991
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In defence of Paris
Article Abstract:
The city of Paris is a firm believer in urban planning. The French capital has stringent building controls and, for over 30 years, development has proceeded under the close scrutiny of regional officials. National and regional officials are spending the autumn of 1992 refining a 25-year blueprint for maintaining the city's world-class status. The last such plan, developed 26 years before, paved the way for the creation of the hugely successful office complex of La Defense on the western part of Paris and the five new towns surrounding it. The office complex currently accounts for nearly a quarter of the total number of new service jobs in France. City officials are now turning their attention to balancing development between La Defense's western and eastern sides.
Publication Name: International Management
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0020-7888
Year: 1992
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Can Paris clean up the Bourse?
Article Abstract:
Officials of the Societe des Bourses Francaises (SBF, the Paris stock exchange) are attempting to recover from recent scandals and management problems. They want to redirect the stock exchange's efforts to become a center for international finance in Europe's 1992 fully-open capital market. Changes have been implemented such as: bringing in new leaders to manage SBF and the futures market; developing recapitalization efforts; and redefining and limiting the role of the SBF. Additional reforms in 1989 will include market making and the elimination of inflexible brokerage fees.
Publication Name: International Management
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0020-7888
Year: 1989
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