Chinese-European duty-free joint venture CDF-Lagardere opened eight liquor and tobacco stores at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday.

The company,owned by China Duty Free and Lagardere Travel Retail, has branded the stores Duty Zero by cdf.

Most of the stores opened in November last year in what the company describes as a soft opening.

“Within eight months, our sales revenue has already reached beyond projections,” said Peng Hui, GM of China international travel service with CDF-Lagardere.

Dag Inge Rasmussen, chairman and CEO of Lagardere Travel Retail, said the companies have combined China Duty Free Group’s “unparalleled experience of Chinese consumers with Lagardere Travel Retail’s international experience and global understanding of travellers” in developing the stores.

Celebrating the opening, and the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong International Airport this month, Duty Zero by cdf is running numerous promotions.