Finance
LVMH's cognac brand Hennessy reaches pay deal with workers, sources say
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 30, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 30, 2026
Quick Summary
Hennessy, LVMH's cognac brand, has reached a pay deal with workers to compensate for lost bonuses, preventing further strikes and easing tensions within the drinks division.
Hennessy Reaches Pay Agreement with Workers Amid Sales Challenges
Hennessy Workers Reach Pay Agreement
By Tassilo Hummel
Details of the Pay Deal
PARIS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - LVMH's cognac maker Hennessy, the largest of its drink brands, has reached a pay deal with unions to compensate for bonuses lost last year due to weak sales, two sources told Reuters.
Impact on LVMH's Drinks Division
The agreement, expected to be formally signed on Tuesday, brings some relief to LVMH's drinks division, which has recently faced strike action, a rare event in the luxury industry.
Comparison with Other Brands
The Hennessy deal includes one-off payments of 6.8% of annual salaries, with a guaranteed minimum of around 3,200 euros ($3,817) per worker and a limit of around 6,500 euros, the sources said.
A company spokesperson declined to comment.
"This means there will be no strikes," said one of the sources who declined to be named because the discussions were private.
The Hennessy deal contrasts with the situation at LVMH's champagne brands Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot where the CGT labour union has called for further strikes over lost bonuses.
Workers are expected to protest near the Paris offices of LVMH's drinks division Moet Hennessy, based on union leaflets handed out to staff.
Profits at the group's drinks division, co-run by Jean-Jacques Guiony and Alexandre Arnault, one of the sons of CEO Bernard Arnault, have halved over the past two years, LVMH reported this week.
Cognac revenues have been hit hardest due to tariffs in the U.S., Hennessy's biggest market by sales, coming on top of sluggish overall demand for alcoholic drinks.
The CGT union has said Moet Hennessy cancelled profit-sharing bonuses and other annual benefits this year, while LVMH has kept shareholder dividends stable.
Profit-sharing schemes are common in France's wine and spirits industry and often represent a chunky portion of workers' annual pay of up to 15% in good years, labour representatives say.
($1 = 0.8383 euros)
(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Key Takeaways
- •Hennessy reaches a pay deal with unions to compensate for lost bonuses.
- •The agreement prevents further strikes in LVMH's drinks division.
- •Hennessy offers one-off payments ranging from 3,200 to 6,500 euros.
- •LVMH's drinks division profits have halved over two years.
- •Cognac revenues impacted by U.S. tariffs and weak demand.
Frequently Asked Questions about LVMH's cognac brand Hennessy reaches pay deal with workers, sources say
1What is profit-sharing?
Profit-sharing is a compensation strategy where employees receive a share of the company's profits, often as a bonus, based on the company's earnings.
2What are bonuses?
Bonuses are additional financial rewards given to employees, often based on performance or company profits, beyond their regular salary.
3What is a union?
A union is an organized group of workers that come together to make decisions about the terms of their work, including wages and working conditions.
4What is corporate governance?
Corporate governance refers to the systems and processes that direct and control a company, ensuring accountability and transparency in its operations.
