Champagne Jacquart is looking to become a big international player as it looks for more possible buying opportunities in the Champagne region.

The group has already flexed its muscles in the region with the acquisition of Montaudon Champagne from Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 2010, but it is still on the lookout for new opportunities, with the company saying it expects more acquisitions within the next couple of years.

Jacquart's MD, Laurent Reintau, told Harpers: "There's a consolidation process going on in Champagne.

"We want to be prepared for that."

The firm say that UK and Germany are the main exports for them, but volume sales to places such as Japan have raised considerably of late. Mr Reintau said that Asia is seeing significant growth, particularly around the 'magic triangle' of Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong.

He was quick to add that the company would not be rushed into further expansion, and understand that any moves to expand on what they have could take several years. However, as international markets start to get a good appetite for bubbly, expansion may become a necessity.