MILAN – Safilo Group has inked an exclusive distribution agreement for the Paraguayan market with local eyewear company Cepal, established in 1981.
As part of the partnership, Cepal will distribute Safilo’s eyewear collections, designed and manufactured for a range of labels, including Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, Max Mara, Marc Jacobs, Polaroid and Carrera and Tommy Hilfiger, among others.
The deal marks a further step in Safilo’s expansion in Latin America, which is part of the company’s strategy of strengthening its presence in emerging markets.
“With Paraguay, we add another market to our Latin America business, that already counts on Brazil, Mexico, Argentina/Uruguay, Colombia, Chile and the Caribbean,” said the company’s chief executive officer Luisa Delgado.
The executive said she was “pleased with the region’s growth, that confirms its potential for quality branded eyewear development, and responds particularly positively to our leading brands Polaroid and Carrera.” Delgado concluded by lauding Cepal for its “local industry leadership and proven commercial capabilities.”
Listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, Safilo registered net sales of 1.25 billion euros in 2016.