Exactly 60 years ago, two traditional Swiss companies decided to work together: DKSH’s predecessor company Ed. A. Keller & Co. and Lindt & Sprungli started their partnership in Hong Kong. Six decades later, this successful cooperation spans throughout several countries in Asia Pacific.
ZURICH, Dec. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — DKSH, the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia, celebrates 60 years of partnership with the chocolate factories of Lindt & Sprungli. In November 1957, the company based in Kilchberg, Switzerland commissioned the trading house Ed. A. Keller & Co from Zurich to market and distribute Lindt premium chocolate in Hong Kong.
Over the past decades, the two firms have extended their partnership to include even more markets. Today, DKSH handles marketing and sales, distribution and logistics as well as regulatory services for Lindt. The collaboration covers all distribution channels — from supermarkets to personal care stores and e-commerce.
Together with DKSH, Lindt & Sprungli has developed a leading market position in Hong Kong over the past decades. In the segments of chocolate bars and dark chocolate, the Swiss premium brand is the undisputed number one.
Dr. Dieter Weisskopf, CEO, Lindt & Sprungli, commented: "On behalf of Lindt & Sprungli, I thank DKSH for the successful cooperation over the last 60 years. DKSH strongly supported us in gradually expanding our business in certain Asian markets and positioning ourselves as premium chocolate brand in this region. Particularly in Hong Kong, we were able to become the market leader with DKSH."
Stefan P. Butz, CEO, DKSH added: "The fact that two companies have worked together successfully for 60 years is anything but ordinary. The partnership between Lindt & Sprungli and DKSH has always been characterized by mutual respect, but also by a desire for growth. It is no coincidence that two neighboring companies found each other. We are looking forward to the next 60 years of our partnership."
The Hong Kong branch of DKSH was founded in 1923 as Ed. A. Keller & Co. and currently employs over 1,000 specialists. Thanks to its market expertise, local experience and the unique capillary distribution network, DKSH offers its manufacturers and customers attractive tailor-made business solutions.
About DKSH
DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia Pacific. As the term "Market Expansion Services" suggests, DKSH helps other companies and brands to grow their business in new or existing markets. Publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2012, DKSH is a global company headquartered in Zurich. With 780 business locations in 36 countries — 750 of them in Asia — and 30,320 specialized staff, DKSH generated net sales of CHF 10.5 billion in 2016. DKSH was founded in 1865. With strong Swiss heritage, the company has a long tradition of doing business in and with Asia and is deeply rooted in communities and businesses across Asia Pacific.
About Lindt & Sprungli
As global leader in the premium chocolate sector, Lindt & Sprungli looks back on a long standing tradition of 170 years which takes its origins in Zurich, Switzerland. Today, quality chocolate products by Lindt & Sprungli are made at 12 own production sites in Europe and the USA. They are distributed by 24 subsidiaries and branch offices, in more than 350 own stores, and also via a comprehensive network of more than 100 independent distributors around the globe. With over 13,000 employees, the Lindt & Sprungli Group reported sales of CHF 3.9 billion in 2016.
Source: prnasia