Bonardo loses Swiss Delice contract

Michael Eaton

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**EXCLUSIVE** Bonardo Travel Retail (BTR) managing director Alain Bonardo has declared himself "betrayed, shocked and surprised" by the decision of Swiss Delice Ltd to terminate its agency contract with immediate effect on November 29

"Swiss Delice abruptly decided to take over the business on a direct basis and to eliminate their principal partner," said Bonardo. "Bonardo Travel Retail considers that the new contract offered by Swiss Delice was an insult to professional ethics."

Bonardo was appointed by brand owner Chocolat Frey six years ago to create an exclusive duty-free brand, and Swiss Delice was the result. The contract with Chocolat Frey was valid until November 30 and Bonardo had expected that an automatic three-year renewal would be negotiated. He told TRW: "Although I expected modifications, at a late stage there were changes that were too difficult to accept. We were informed by Swiss Delice that we were no longer their agent for the duty-free market, effective immediately."

• For the full exclusive story, plus more reaction, see the next issue of DFNI, out December 15.