American Caribbean Gateway (ACG), the travel retail division of Otis McAllister, has been chosen to represent chocolate house Lindt & Sprüngli in North American and Caribbean duty free. The agreement started from 1 February.

 

Lindt, a leader in the premium chocolate segment and ranked sixth overall, has a global turnover of CHF 2,670m ($2,952m). From 1 January, Lindt & Sprüngli reorganised its DF&TR business, centralising it back to its Swiss head office, where a dedicated team for the channel is based.

 

Justin Nee (left), Confectionery Sales Director for ACG, will handle the Lindt & Sprüngli account with Matt Panara, Confectionery Brand Manager.  Nee will report directly to Markus Suter (below right), Sales & Market Manager Duty Free, The Americas at Lindt in Switzerland.

 

According to Suter the combination of the ACG appointment and the strength of the Lindt brand “will result in incremental sales” to DF&TR retailers’ confectionery offerings. He adds: “With this change we will be able to offer a dedicated team focused on market management (store visits, training, tasting events, merchandising support, buyer visits and sales analysis).”

 

ACG will begin shipping the complete Lindt travel retail line by the first week of April. At which time it will also offer Lindt travel retail exclusive novelties.

 

ACG already represents the US-based Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, a subsidiary of Lindt & Sprüngli, in DF&TR, building the brand in the channel for the past nine years.  ACG says: “We are confident that the synergies afforded by this partnership will further the success of the Lindt portfolio and further strengthen Otis McAllister’s portfolio of brands.”