Global champagne shipments were down by 9% in 2024 compared to 2023, with consumption marred by political and economic woes, according to the trade association Comité Champagne. “As for policies, instability is not a reassuring factor for the consumer, who prefers to hoard rather than spend,” Grégoire Van den Ostende, Bureau du Champagne Benelux director, tells Food Ingredients First. He also represents the Comité Champagne on the Benelux market.