Duty Free Americas (DFA) and The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) today announced a strategic global retail partnership to launch ELC brands across DFA stores.
As revealed by The Moodie Davitt Report, the breakthrough agreement was previewed by ELC President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie on a full-year results earnings call last month.
The two houses had not done business since a bitter dispute 17 years ago and the new deal is set to be transformative for both companies.
ELC said, “This exciting collaboration marks a significant milestone in elevating prestige beauty experiences for international travellers and will be a key driver in ELC’s accelerated expansion ambitions in The Americas.”
“We are very excited to launch this partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies and its exceptional portfolio of beloved brands,” said Duty Free Americas Chief Executive Officer Jerome Falic.
“This collaboration is underpinned by our shared commitment to delivering best-in-class retail experiences for international travellers.
“By integrating ELC’s world-class brand portfolio and deep consumer understanding with DFA’s expansive retail network and operational expertise, together we are uniquely positioned to drive further growth, enhance in-store engagement, and set a new benchmark for excellence in travel retail.”
“We are delighted to enter a strategic global retail partnership with DFA, a leader in travel retail operations,” said The Estée Lauder Companies SVP and GM, Travel Retail Worldwide Olivier Dubos.
“This partnership is anchored in consumer centricity – the driving force behind our Beauty Reimagined strategy. As we continue to elevate the role of travel retail in building brand equity, we look forward to partnering with DFA to deliver exceptional experiences that deepen consumer connections with our iconic brands and products.
“ We are confident that our work together positions us well to generate strong retail sales growth in the Americas for ELC’s travel retail business in fiscal 2026.”
Together, DFA and ELC said they are committed to setting high standards of excellence in travel retail, leveraging their respective strengths to deliver innovative, consumer-centric solutions and drive future success. ✈
