Paris Ritz considers sale of brand licences

The Paris Ritz Hotel has been in negotiations to sell exclusive licences to companies wanting to put the famous brand on their products.

In December, the hotel clinched a deal with French champagne company Jacquart to allow it to use The Ritz brand for its bubbly – which is currently only sold in the hotel.

However, a spokeswoman from The Ritz in Paris says there are plans to sell the branded champagne through retail outlets.

Ritz Hotel President Frank Klein denied talks had taken place for further brand roll-outs.

But a source close to Mohamed Al Fayed, the hotel’s owner, says talks have taken place in the past year with two major US air-lines over using the brand for in-flight give-aways.

The source says there are plans to extend the brand into gourmet foods and leather products.

The licensing deal is believed to be a joint venture with The Ritz in London, owned by the Barclay brothers.

In 1985, the former Ritz Hotel owner, Trafalgar House, and Al Fayed attempted to use the brand name elsewhere by setting up a joint venture company to maximise the UK merchandising potential of The Ritz name.