DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

On Saturday, 28 March 2026, the family announced the passing of Héctor José Rizek Llabaly, a titan of the Dominican cacao industry. His passing marks the end of an era for a family lineage that transformed the Dominican Republic into a global powerhouse for organic cacao.

Born in San Francisco de Macorís, Rizek was the son of Palestinian immigrants Nazario Rizek and Ghandy Llabaly, who laid the foundation for what would become a multi-generational agricultural empire.

Héctor Rizek is credited with professionalizing the Dominican cacao sector, moving it beyond mere raw commodity exports toward a model of high-quality, sustainable production. Under his leadership, Rizek Cacao became synonymous with technical innovation and social responsibility.

Rizek played a pivotal role in the country’s global positioning, placing Dominican cacao on the maps of the world’s elite...