In February the Rémy Cointreau Group announced that it had entered into exclusive negotiations with EPI with a view to selling its champagnes.

EPI is a family owned group run by Christopher Descours. It owns a number of French trademarks iconic in upmarket goods (J.M. Weston, Bonpoint, Alain Figaret, François Pinet, Michel Perry and Château La Verrerie).

Champagne Piper-Heidsieck was founded 1785 by Florent-Louis Heidsieck said to have been presented Queen Marie-Antoniette at Versailles. After founder Florens-Louis Heidsieck died in 1828, the business was taken over by his nephew, Christian Heidsieck, and his cousin Henri Guilaume Piper. These combined to form the Piper-Heidsieck house after Henri Piper married the widow of Christian Heidsieck in 1838.