Catherine Restrepo’s new strategic brand representation and commercial development company, SYZYGY Brands, fills a needed gap in the global travel retail, cruise, and hospitality channels.
Restrepo, who has nearly two decades of industry experience, says SYZYGY Brands operates not as a traditional distributor, but as a commercial growth partner and strategic agent.
“We work across market entry, channel development, and brand storytelling while collaborating closely with distributors, operators, and strategic partners,” Restrepo tells TMI.
“I founded the company to bridge the gap between innovative, culturally relevant brands and the highly specialized world of travel retail. After nearly two decades in the industry, I saw a clear opportunity to create a platform that not only secures listings but builds meaningful brand presence across channels.”
SYZYGY’s portfolio features brands in multiple categories, including Casa Lumbre, Undone, Gnista, Parch, Thomas Henry, and Pirucream and she is currently finalizing agreements with new brands across key global travel retail categories.
“Our portfolio reflects the evolution of the global traveler and spans multiple high-growth categories,” she says.
Key milestones in 2026
This year marks a significant moment in the evolution of SYZYGY Brands, shaped by three key milestones, she says.
“We are making our debut at IAADFS Summit of the Americas and F&B@Sea, with plans to expand our presence across key industry events throughout 2026. This reflects the strength of our curated, multi-category portfolio and the alignment we have built with strategic partners,” says Restrepo.
“Second, we are accelerating our U.S. expansion, focusing on high-growth categories such as non-alcoholic beverages, confectionery, and soon additional premium spirits brands. This expansion is driven by strong synergies and established relationships across the U.S. East Coast. Historically, one of the biggest challenges in the industry has been bridging the gap between domestic and travel retail channels. Our model is designed to help close that gap. And ultimately, it reinforces a belief that defines everything we do: when the right partners align around a shared vision, scale is unlocked.”
The third milestone is the launch of Spirituous Women on March 8, in celebration of International Women’s Day.
“Spirituous Women is an initiative focused on empowerment, mentorship, and collaboration across the Beverage, Global Travel Retail, and broader Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. It is a platform designed to give back, elevate voices, and create meaningful connections across sectors and generations.”
Cruise
The cruise channel continues to be one of the most dynamic and high-potential environments for the SYZYGY portfolio, says Restrepo.
“It offers something few environments can replicate: time, immersion, and openness to discovery. Guests are in a relaxed mindset, which makes them more receptive to trying new categories and engaging with brand stories. It offers a unique ecosystem where retail, hospitality, and experiential storytelling coexist, allowing brands to connect with consumers across multiple touch-points,” she says.
“For our brands, cruise is not only performing as a strong commercial channel, but also as a powerful discovery platform, particularly for emerging categories such as premium non-alcoholic and low-ABV offerings.”
With the growing demand for mindful drinking, SYZYGY has recently confirmed non-alcoholic beverage programs with major cruise operators including Princess Cruises and MSC Cruises, featuring brands such as Undone as part of curated low- and no-ABV cocktail menus.
“These programs are further elevated by collaboration with leading industry talent, including bartenders and owners from the World’s 50 Best Bars network, helping to shape and guide signature cocktail offerings,” she says.
“On the confectionery side, following a pilot with Avolta onboard NCL ships, Pirucream is expanding across key cruise retail operators. This expansion will be supported by in-store activations, tastings, and experiential moments onboard, reinforcing both brand visibility and consumer engagement.”
Beyond cruise, SYZYGY Brands is expanding into adjacent high-value channels including private aviation, airport duty free, and border retail.
“We are currently developing initiatives within private aviation through Duty Free Holding, as well as branded expansion plans for key U.S. airports — including Miami — and U.S./Latin America border retailers,” she says.
“These activations feature a cross-category selection of our portfolio, including Casa Lumbre, Undone, and Pirucream, reflecting our strategy to build visibility across multiple consumer touch-points.”
