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Horizon International Duty Free Founder José Chao |
AMERICAS. Highly experienced and well-respected industry figure José Chao has launched Horizon International Duty Free, a new company to represent premium brands in the travel retail channel. Chao, who is President of the new company, has 25 years of experience in the luxury and consumer goods business, including 12 in duty free. He was most recently Vice President of Bacardi Travel Retail Americas Division.
Horizon International Duty Free will represent the full range of duty free/travel retail categories including wines & spirits, cigarettes, confectionery, beauty and accessories, primarily in the Americas but also globally.
“Horizon’s points of difference include being “˜shopper-centric’, fact-based, innovative, corporate yet entrepreneurial, and fully committed to the brand-building process, which will be a major focus of the company,” explained Chao. “Our aim is to drive value and market share growth for our customers, as well as for their retail partners. Our activities will focus on raising brand awareness and enhancing brand image.”
Horizon International Duty Free can serve brands as agent, distributor and/or marketing consultant. In addition Horizon provides complete logistics services – including Customs clearance, bonded warehousing, and real-time inventory tracking – making it one of the few truly integrated travel retail companies, he added.
The new company is already working with a number of brands, which will be announced shortly. In the coming months Horizon International will attend a number of key industry events, including IAADFS, MHA, TFAP and ASUTIL.
For more information, contact José B. Chao at jchao@horizonintdf.com.
