Creating sustainable supply chains
In Spain, Tunisia, Brazil and Senegal, Cointreau has established local partnerships to ensure it is supplied with the best quality oranges. The charm and character of the famous liqueur from Angers is derived directly from the combination of sweet and bitter orange peels, the supply of which must naturally meet the strictest standards.
With the “Orange and Terroir” project, the Cointreau distillery has established an internal agricultural auditing system that meets the requirements of French High Environmental Value (HVE) certification while adapting it to orange tree growing conditions. Cointreau also aims to encourage its partners to develop a best farming practices standard that is recognised and applicable worldwide: the GLOBAL G.A.P. Audits have already been conducted in Tunisia and Spain. They have made it possible to sensitise farmers on the Group’s sustainable approach and support them with certification. In Ghana, all the Group’s partner orange plantations have already received organic farming(AB - Agriculture Biologique)certification. Ultimately, all the oranges supplied must be sourced sustainably.
As for St-Rémy brandy, it organises meetings to present and sensitise all the Group’s partners on its CSR approach and to strengthen the responsible sourcing of its eaux-de-vie and its relations with said partners.
Testing excellence viticulture that relies on new technologies
In the heart of one of the most beautiful vineyards of the appellation, the Rémy Martin Domaines are pioneers in the Charente region. Of the 220 ha in Grande Champagne alone, 26 ha are dedicated to research.
The House uses new technologies as a privileged tool to improve its knowledge of the vineyards. Automation tests are under way on its test plots for mechanical in-row weeding, and drones are used to identify vine stocks showing signs of disease.
In cooperation with the Station Viticole de Cognac (BNIC), the House’s team shave also planted a plot of resistant grape varieties (about 1 ha) to test their tolerance to the main vine diseases on a large scale.
More generally, Rémy Martin is setting up partnerships with local and national research institutes (Chambers of Agriculture, Inra, IFV) and, with their help, testing alternative solutions for use in vine yards to assess the environmental, social and economic impact of winemaking practices and further develop such practices in the entire region.
