Retail News South Africa

Marius Fouché to head up Distell's duty-free division

From 1 September 2013, Marius Fouché, previously Distell's MD for the Asia Pacific region, will head up Distell's duty-free business. The division has been performing well, increasing sales volumes by double digits for the year to June 30 and outperforming the category. According to the most recently available figures released by global alcohol market researchers IWSR, global travel retail sales grew 4% between 2011 and 2012.
Marius Fouché
Marius Fouché

His appointment will allow the present GM of duty-free, Robyn Bradshaw, to focus more on marketing and activation to sustain the division's buoyant growth momentum. She succeeded in more than doubling sales volumes between her appointment in 2007 and June this year and in taking company flagship, Amarula Cream, to 36th spot in global travel retail.

"We need additional expertise to unlock further potential in travel retail, particularly with the growth of the company's spirits portfolio and the growing profile of our wine brands, notably Nederburg," explains Bradshaw. "Fouché comes with extensive global experience."

His appointment comes in the wake of the company's recent acquisition of Burn Stewart Distillers Limited, bringing brands such as single malts Bunnahabhain, Deanston, Tobermory and Ledaig as well as several blended scotches, into its portfolio. In 2009, the company bought Bisquit cognac and since then, the duty free channel has become a key market for this prestige heritage brand.

Fouché has been with the group for 22 years and prior to his role in Asia, was the company's commercial director for wines in Europe. Bradshaw, who joined Distell in 2002, was previously in the international wine marketing division.

Both will be available at the company's stand, E30 Yellow Village, at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes in October 2013.

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