Belvédère targets Asia/Pacific markets

Nicole Mezzasalma

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

The supplier claims the decision was led by a 50% growth in sales in 2007 for its flagship Danzka vodka

Liquor supplier Belvédère Duty Free is setting its sights on the Asia/Pacific market after a successful year in the regions it already operates in. The company was boosted by a 50% rise in sales of its flagship Danzka vodka in 2007 and “significant inroads” from its Marie Brizard line of French liqueurs, Gautier cognac and other premium and super premium vodkas.

Belvédère Duty Free managing director Wojtek Wydro said: “We have been extremely pleased with the growth of our award-winning Danzka vodka in global travel-retail markets in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East…We feel that now is the time to enter new markets and our line-up [is] ideal for the Asia/Pacific travel-retail [market].”

The company was present for the first time this year at the TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition in Singapore. “We were positively surprised with the attention we received from many countries and markets throughout the region,” added Wydro. “We had hoped for some interest but noted a very big interest in our portfolio, particularly for Danzka vodka, for which we conducted numerous ‘drop’ demonstrations at our stand to prove its shatter-resistance. As a result, we have decided to focus much more intently on Asia/Pacific in the future.”

Belvédère regional director Nordic and Americas duty-free Torben Vedel Andersen will add the region to his current responsibilities. He has also been promoted to sales director.