In this week’s episode, Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, meets the CEO of Rémy Cointreau, Eric Vallat. They discuss the future of hospitality, what it means to lead a brand with so much history, and whether 2020 will have a lasting impact on consumer trends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We've spent the first part of this series dedicated to the movers in the travel and hospitality industry.
But what about the company helping us to shake up the occasional stiff drink when lockdown was taking its toll?
This week, the chief starts to profile those shaping the experience of the places in which we live, work and play.
Today we meet Eric Vala of Remy Cointreau, who joined as CEO of the brand in 2019 with stints at Dior and Louis Vuitton.
Vala has a wealth of experience in the world of French luxury brands, but finds a particular joie de vivre in his role within the drinks industry.
From his office in Paris, Mr.
Valla shares his key learnings from this rocky period and tells us why Remy Cointreau's already impressive portfolio will always be a work in progress.
Plus, as bars and restaurants worldwide dust off their shutters, is another roaring twenties en route?
And.
And has off trade made up for the margins in the meantime?
I'm Tyler Brulee and this is the Chiefs on Monocle 24.
Eric, very good to talk to you.
I'm interested because as we just kick off this interview right now, I have a little sheet of paper in front of me which of course looks at some of your numbers from the past year.
And I maybe want you to perhaps explain or dispel maybe a bit of a myth, because I think the world thinks that within this lockdown, everyone has been consuming spirits, wine, beer like crazy.
But you're not alone.
We've seen a dip amongst a number of companies in your space.
So I'm wondering what's happened here, because the prevailing view is that everyone is stocking up when they go to retail.
But are these numbers reflective of, obviously, a world where restaurants and hotels have largely been closed?
Well, it's fair to say, indeed, that we are lucky to be in a resilient business.
I think the world is split into two.