Lindt & Sprungli
Company: Switzerland

• Lindt & Sprungli, with 14 subsidiaries worldwide, has a 150 year history as the world's leading manufacturer of premium chocolate with annual worldwide sales exceeding one billion dollars.
  
• The Lindt & Sprungli retail division has permanent stores in kiosks and holiday gift shops, in downtown shopping areas, regional malls, and strip centers in the US.
  
• Customer profile is predominantly female professional with an average household income of over $50,000.
  Goal:
  
• To add stores to their current geographic regions as well as opening stores in new markets.
  
• Size requirements: 600 to 1000 square feet with a minimum frontage of 20 feet.
  Approach:
  
• Developed a timetable.
  
• Evaluated potential locations based upon their customer profile and foot traffic requirement.
  
• Studied Lindt's required demographics, co-tenancy sales and center sales per square foot.
  
• Analyzed performance of applicable co-tenants.
  
• Considered tourist locations if they were predominantly entertainment and restaurant driven.
  Results:
  
• In 1999 and 2000 comp store sales experienced a 14% increase as a result of attracting new customers and encouraging repeat sales.
  
• Sales continued to grow in 2001 to 15% in the first quarter alone.
  
• 25 additional leases were signed for stores to open in 2002
  Future:
  
• Lindt will continue their growth into upscale regional centers.