Swiss luxury goods company Compagnie Financière Richemont SA has reported a 16% rise in overall group sales for the five months ended August 31, 2005, however the news from the company’s leather goods businesses was not quite so positive.

Executive chairman, Johann Rupert, stated, In our leather and accessories businesses, Lancel is showing signs of recovery with good sales growth. However, Alfred Dunhill has reported a more modest increase during the period, despite a continuing strong performance in Asia Pacific and increased demand in the United States. We still have work to do with these businesses to bring their performance into line with their peers in the group.”