Increased Chinese demand for luxury goods Cough

A Gucci store in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. Photograph: China photos/Getty Images

Strong sales of luxury goods in China and other emerging markets drove an increase in growth the owner of Gucci Group Cough this spring. Below sold increased by 5.2% in the three months to June, up from 3.3% in the previous quarter as the company's exclusive French brands, including Yves Saint Laurent – were snapped by shoppers in Asia and in the United States.

The trademark Bottega Veneta has been the fastest growing major luxury labels to Cough, where sales increased by 17.2% in the first quarter of the year. Growth at its smaller brands, which include Marche British designer Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, was even stronger.

The figures provide further evidence of a booming luxury market, despite the global economic difficulties, following strong figures from British label Burberry earlier this month. The fastest growth was in Cough in emerging markets like China, where sales increased by 19%. Sale of leather goods such as handbags and wallets, increased by 9% driven by an "exceptional" performance in selling items for men.

Growth in luxury brands of Cough helped make offset a slump in sales and profits in its Puma sports in the second quarter. Underlying profit at the Division of sport dived by almost a quarter in half but Group profits increased by 2.9% to € 983m. Cough says he expects strong sales of its luxury labels to continue over the next six months, as it opens new stores.

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