UK. The Alizé trio will be joined at the Orlando show this year by Cognacs from the Lafragette house. Alizé also expects to make more progress in Americas markets this year with the existing range of three Cognac liqueurs, each one a blend of French VS Cognac and tropical fruit juices.
The major customers in the Americas for Alizé are in North America and the Caribbean: Duty Free Americas, Dufry and International Shoppes which gives the company a good presence at New York JFK airport and access to diplomatic store channels. The brand also has a good presence with cruiselines.
Kobrand International marketing and sales director Lewis Johnstone told The Moodie Report: “The Alizé brand is already strong in North America and the Caribbean and we intend to consolidate our key account business in these markets. We also hope to take on some select Central American business as we extend the Alizé line south towards South America. We are interested in building the line anywhere from Mexico right down through Costa Rica, Guatemala and so on towards Columbia.
“Our customers are still very cautious because although traffic is edging back up quite well, it is a gradual recovery. The current US Dollar-Euro exchange rate is forcing up prices in the region, which is cooling the markets still further. With many currencies in the region pegged to the US Dollar, they are feeling the pinch too and in that mood buyers are less likely to be adventurous, they tend to stick to the tried and tested perennials.”
For the Alizé parent company Kobrand, the latest Alizé Wild Passion variant was the major success at the Duty Free Show of the Americas last year, together with a new five x 20cl L & L XO Cognac presentation combining L & L Bordeaux, L & L Bon Bon, L & L Petite Champagne, L & L Grande Champagne and L & L Fins Bois in a handmade wooden box.
Johnstone added: “On a confidence scale of one to ten I would say that we are only at six but the situation is slowly improving and there is positive movement in the market.”
Kobrand International will in Orlando at stand number 1338/1340.
Travel retail enquiries to ljohnstone@kobrand.com
