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 chocolatiers, particularly in Europe and the United States.
The creation of Kah Kow, a high-end chocolate boutique with locations in Santo Domingo and New York City, represents the family’s move into the finished luxury goods market, completing the “tree-to-bar” vertical integration.
Rizek kept cacao alive with rural developments. By implementing rigorous fermentation processes and supporting small-scale producers in the Cibao region, he helped stabilize the rural economy and ensured that “Dominican Origin” became a mark of excellence.
He is also recognized for creating the Chocolate Tour (El Sendero del Cacao) in San Francisco de Macorís, integrating agrotourism with industrial education to showcase the richness of Dominican soil.
Diversification: The Rizek offspring
While the cacao business remains the family’s crown jewel, the next generation, led by his children Héctor José, Samir, and Bethania Rizek Sued, has aggressively diversified the family portfolio into finance, sports, and energy.
Through the Rizek Ventures group, the family holds a dominant position in Dominican professional sports. They are the principal owners of the Gigantes del Cibao (baseball) and the Indios de San Francisco (basketball).
The family expanded into the financial sector with Parval, one of the leading stock brokerage firms in the Dominican Republic, playing a significant role in the development of the national capital market.
Energy and Infrastructure: The group has made strategic investments in energy projects and remains a key player in the logistical and export infrastructure of the Caribbean.
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Rizek Cacao
30 March 2026