Paris-based Delsey S.A., manufacturers of travel luggage, have taken over the luggage brand Superior, a subsidiary of Mareschal, the French industrial company.

Delsey has international operations and put down a FRF 417 m turnover (EUR 63.6 m) for the 2000 business year. The acquisition was said to be part of Delsey's global expansion. Superior S.A. from Paris showed a FRF 92.9 m turnover in 2000, 90 % of which were generated through sales to large shopping malls, 10% in Superior's own factory outlets in Troyes and Besancon. The company plans to distribute the brand also to well-known shopping centres in Germany and Italy in order to improve the company's export share, with Superior featuring in the lower price segment.

As regards future cooperation between Delsey and Superior, both companies plan to operate rather independently in order to underpin their own identities when launching new product lines. Superior will accordingly have their own team of designers. The distribution, marketing and design are supposed to be coordinated in the Paris headquarters.