we are WEITNAUER GROUP

About Us

About Us

With a global outreach in over 100 countries, our diversified distribution channels include duty-free and local markets. Duty-free channels cover airports, border shops, shipchandlers, free zones, and diplomatic shops. For the local markets, we represent the brands and provide the goods to the end-customer through retail shops, e-commerce platforms, restaurants, hotel resorts, direct-to-door sales, and supermarkets. 

At Weitnauer Group, we understand the uncertainties of distribution and are dedicated to turning challenges into opportunities. Rest assured that your concerns are promptly addressed, as we strive to deliver outstanding customer service and provide tailored solutions to your needs. 

Our priority is to create global partnerships across many areas, countries, and cultures based on our core values.

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Mission & Values

At Weitnauer Group, we uphold our core principles, which serve as the foundation of our mission and values:

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Honesty & Accountability: Our most valuable asset is the trust we build through strong relationships with suppliers and customers.

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Entrepreneurial spirit: We actively seek, identify, and leverage opportunities that benefit both our suppliers and customers.

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Transparency: We believe in working openly and honestly with every stakeholder in our business, including suppliers, customers, employees, and partners.

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Commitment: Our engagement with our business partners is unwavering, and we always promote our principles in all our interactions.

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Simplicity & Flexibility: We maintain an open-minded approach and make prompt decisions, ensuring simplicity and flexibility in our business operations.

HISTORY

Our History

1865

1865

Establishment of Weitnauer company as tobacco shop in Basel, Switzerland.

1948

Entering the duty-free business as a wholesale distributor.

1948
1952

1952

Achieving a significant milestone by opening the first duty-free shop in Paris – Le Bourget, marking our entry into the travel retail industry as the pioneering operator.

1981

Expanding our operations over the Atlantic and entering the Paraguay local market by acquiring Sigma SRL.

1981 3
1985

1985

Extending our reach and starting to operate in the largest duty-free airports worldwide.

1995

Entering the Croatian market and establishing our presence in Eastern Europe.

1995
2004 4

2004

Weitnauer Group and Dufry AG (renamed to Avolta AG in November 2023) have embarked on distinct paths, each leveraging their strengths in the industry. In the same year, we strengthened our positions in Duty-Free distribution across EMEA, the CIS, and the Americas.

2006

Entering the CIS markets, expanding our presence and operations in this region.

1995
2008

2008

Entering Bosnia & Herzegovina, establishing our presence in this market.

2009

Expanding our operations to include Serbia and Slovenia, solidifying our position in these markets.

2009
2010

2010

Making a major advance and entering the Turkish market by acquiring DEM GlobalBrands.

2011

Establishing our footprint in the South American region by joining the Brazilian local market with the introduction of Weitnauer do Brasil.

2011
2017 2

2017

Making a significant move into the African market by opening the first diplomatic shop, Mali Duty Free, in Mali, Africa.

2021

In the age of pandemic volatility and market turbulence, we continued our commitment towards growth and innovation by expanding our operations in challenging regions and embracing digital transformation. We integrated innovative technologies such as ERP, VMS, and Cloud solutions to optimize and streamline our processes, ensuring efficiency and agility in our operations across all of our companies.

2021
2023

2023

Expanding our presence by opening a new office in Dubai, UAE, to strengthen and develop the Middle East and Africa markets.

2024

Expansion in African region by opening new offices in Kenya and Ivory Coast.

38950 Nairobi
management

Global Reach

Eric 1 scaled

Eric Laurent

President

carlos33 1

carlos amado-Blanco

Vice President
Europe

ibragim

Ibragim Ulbashev

Vice President
Middle East, Africa & CIS

Jonathan

Jonathan Romano

Vice President
Americas

Photo 1 Steve scaled

Steve Catena

Category Vice President

Fabrice Hochet

Fabrice Hochet

Category Vice President

nigora2

Nigora Kutbiddinova

Head Of Strategic Projects

michael

Michael Maillard

Category Vice President

management

Local Trust

kerem

Kerem Kerimoğlu 

CEO Türkiye and North Cyprus

sulema

Sulema Reichardt

CEO Paraguay and Brazil

filip

Filip Radojević

CEO Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bojana

Bojana Zajc

CEO Slovenia and Croatia

sammy

Sammy Lozano

COO Americas travel retail

Svetlana Zhukoskaia3

Svetlana Zhukovskaia

COO CIS
macky3

Macky Coulibaly

CEO Mali

Alejandro 1 — копия

Alejandro Bechlian

COO Uruguay

Gilles 2 scaled

Gilles Ajavon

CEO Kenya and Ivory Coast

Sustainability

At Weitnauer Group, we prioritize sustainability by following the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework. This approach enables us to assess our business practices and performance concerning sustainability and ethical considerations, as well as identify potential risks and opportunities in these areas. We treat climate change seriously  and remain focused on embracing eco-friendly solutions and reducing our environmental impact in every aspect of our operations. 

Our commitment extends to supporting initiatives from our clients, with up to 40% of products we distribute are made from recycled materials, including glass bottles for fragrances and skincare products. Additionally, we actively participate in the Smoke-Free Future programs and offer reduced-risk products. We are proud to be part of the carbon-free initiative, preferring delivery by ship over plane whenever possible, as we strive to build a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.

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CAREER

Job Opportunities

We are growing and looking for dedicated team members to lead the company
to further success in the distribution industry. Check our open positions and become a part of Weitnauer family!

Currently, we don’t have any open positions. For updates on new job openings, follow us on LinkedIn.

Controller (m/w/d) 100%

Switzerland

JOB DESCRIPTION PDF

Für unsere Finanzabteilung suchen wir per 1. August 2024 oder nach Vereinbarung einen

Vice President
Spirits & Beverages

Switzerland

APPLY

We are seeking for an experienced and strategic-minded individual to join our team as Vice President of Spirits & Beverages Category. As a Vice President, you will play a pivotal role within our organization, reporting directly to the President of the Group. In this capacity, you will be an integral part of our leadership team, participating actively in the commercial board to contribute strategic insights and drive key business decisions.

Controller (m/w/d) 100%

Switzerland

APPLY

Für unsere Finanzabteilung suchen wir per 1. August 2024 oder nach Vereinbarung einen

Dummy

Dummy

APPLY

As the Marketing Brand Manager, in a very close collaboration with Brand team, you will be responsible for adapting and executing marketing strategies on the markets to build the brand equity, drive sales, and create memorable experiences for our clients. You will lead the brand development and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the right implementation of the brand strategy in all expertise’s and ensure success of our brand in the highly competitive luxury market.

Dummy

Dummy

APPLY

You will report to Marketing Brand Manager and work in close collaboration with the Brand training Teams based in Europe. Ambassador of the House, you will have to train and develop the skills of the local sales teams to reinforce Brand singularities and differences and develop the Turnover of the area through the knowledge of the Brand and the products, the sales techniques, the Art of Relationship, the services and client experience.

Dummy

Dummy

APPLY

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in promoting, merchandising and selling the range of perfumes and cosmetics for the brand Chanel to retail outlets and other potential clients across Ivory Coast. He/She will be responsible for developing strong relationships with existing clients, identifying new business opportunities, and achieving sales targets to contribute to the company’s growth objectives.

CEO

Ivory Coast

APPLY

We are looking for an experienced CEO to supervise and control all strategic and business aspects of the company. You will be the first in command in the company and responsible for giving the proper strategic direction as well as creating a vision for success.

Supply Chain Manager

Ivory Coast

APPLY

The successful candidate will oversee and optimize their supply chain operations and will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end supply chain process, from procurement to distribution. He/She will collaborate with various stakeholders, optimize logistics, and ensure timely delivery of products while maintaining high standards of quality.

Brand Manager

Ivory Coast

APPLY

As the Marketing Brand Manager, in a very close collaboration with Brand team, you will be responsible for adapting and executing marketing strategies on the markets to build the brand equity, drive sales, and create memorable experiences for our clients. You will lead the brand development and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the right implementation of the brand strategy in all expertise’s and ensure success of our brand in the highly competitive luxury market.

Training Manager

Ivory Coast

APPLY

You will report to Marketing Brand Manager and work in close collaboration with the Brand training Teams based in Europe. Ambassador of the House, you will have to train and develop the skills of the local sales teams to reinforce Brand singularities and differences and develop the Turnover of the area through the knowledge of the Brand and the products, the sales techniques, the Art of Relationship, the services and client experience.

Sales Representative

Ivory Coast

APPLY

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in promoting, merchandising and selling the range of perfumes and cosmetics for the brand Chanel to retail outlets and other potential clients across Ivory Coast. He/She will be responsible for developing strong relationships with existing clients, identifying new business opportunities, and achieving sales targets to contribute to the company’s growth objectives.

CEO

Kenya

APPLY

As the CEO, he/she will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, driving growth, and overseeing the overall operations of the company. The successful candidate will lead the executive team, set strategic objectives, and ensure the company’s continued success and expansion starting with the perfumes and cosmetics market in Kenya and cluster of nearby countries.

Supply Chain Manager

Kenya

APPLY

The successful candidate will oversee and optimize their supply chain operations and will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end supply chain process, from procurement to distribution. He/She will collaborate with various stakeholders, optimize logistics, and ensure timely delivery of products while maintaining high standards of quality.

Brand Manager

Kenya

APPLY

The successful candidate will be responsible for adapting and executing marketing strategies on the markets to build the brand equity, drive sales, and create memorable experiences for our clients. He/She will lead the brand development and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the right implementation of the brand strategy in all expertise’s and ensure success of the brand in the highly competitive luxury market.

Training Manager

Kenya

APPLY

The successful candidate will report to the Marketing Brand Manager and work in close collaboration with the Brand training beams based in Europe. He/She will have to train and develop the skills of the local sales teams to reinforce brand singularities and differences and develop the turnover of the area through the knowledge of the brand and the products, the sales techniques, the Art of Relationship, the services and client experience.

Sales Representative

Kenya

APPLY

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in promoting, merchandising, and selling the range of perfumes and cosmetics for the brand to retail outlets and other potential clients across Kenya. He/She will be responsible for developing strong relationships with existing clients, identifying new business opportunities, and achieving sales targets to contribute to the company’s growth objectives.