After the defeat of Napoleon, the Allied armies rampaged through the Champagne region on their march towards Paris, plundering the cellars of the Champagne houses on their way. Kessler, who had just been promoted to co-owner, was able to prevent the worst for his house through skilled negotiations. Like many of his colleagues in Reims, he too realised that once the marauding troops had acquired a taste for the product, they would wish to enjoy champagne upon their return home. He travelled with samples through Germany and Russia, building customer relationships that would be useful when he eventually lauched his own company in Esslingen.