The Lindt & Sprüngli Group says it is looking to consolidate its substantial progress’ in The Americas region in 2015, where it now claims to be the number two player.

“In a tough commercial environment we’ve managed to secure 14% of the market and we’re now the number two player in the Americas,” said Peter Zehnder, Head of the Lindt & Sprüngli Global Duty Free Division. “A massive achievement was our increase in market share from 42% to 46% in Brazil, where the climate has been particularly difficult.”

The company adds that the US business has been integrated into Lindt Travel Retail and the partnership with distributor Otis McAllister has enabled the company to build further by focusing on the right promotions and securing more retail space for under-performing lines.

At the same time, the company points to the appointment of Claude Fontainbleu earlier this year, plus ‘selected airports’ with Aer Rianta International and other operators, plus new Canadian border shop business and more streamlined distribution within the channel.

Just part of the LINDT product offering that can be found at the IAADFS Duty Free Show in Orlando.

The company says it performed well in 2015 in North America, as it also concentrated North American efforts on integrating the Russell Stover and Ghirardelli businesses. It adds that this enabled the group to achieve organic sales growth of 7.9% in the NAFTA region and secure the number three position in the biggest confectionery market in the world.

Meanwhile, at the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas, LINDT plans to showcase its key duty free brands, including its new Swiss Masterpieces assorted pralines range and new LINDOR variants. The company will also launch its 2016 LINDOR tube limited editions in Orlando in two new flavours – cappuccino and almond.

In addition, this will be complemented by a silver ‘edition of the year’ 2016, comprising four of LINDOR’s most popular flavours – milk chocolate, surfin dark chocolate, strawberry and coconut.