STOLI® HONORS WORLD OCEAN DAY ANNOUNCING PARTNERSHIP WITH RESEA PROJECT TO FIGHT OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION

 

Stoli Group, the leading global ultra-premium spirits and wines company, celebrated World Ocean Day today with the announcement of a collaboration with ReSea Project to fight ocean plastic pollution.

 Recognizing that the ocean is our most important eco-system which produces over 50% of the air we breathe, and home to an abundance of life and biodiversity, Stoli is committed to turn the tide by actively removing plastic waste from oceans and rivers through its ocean mission with ReSea Project. Stoli’s sustainability efforts have also led to the first accreditation of a distillery with the “Green-Leaf-Compromiso Ambiental” by the Mexican Ministry of Environmental Protection. 

"We, at Stoli, are keenly aware that immediate action must be taken to ensure we have a sustainable planet for future generations,” commented Damian McKinney, Global CEO of Stoli Group. “With the recent addition of our Global Sustainability Leader, ReSea Project and recognition of our fully green operations in Mexico, we are making critical progress. As is the Stoli nature, we have aggressive goals to establish the most powerful and sustainable ultra-premium spirits-portfolio. These actions move us closer to the goal line. We believe in building Sustainable Partnership Development Programs to empower the right people to do not only what is right, but what is necessary.”

Specifically, every time a consumer buys one bottle of Stoli® at a participating retailer, Stoli funds the removal of 200g (the equivalent of 10 plastic bottles 500ml) from oceans and rivers through the support and collaboration with ReSea Project. The initiative has received support around the world and is kicking off in a first phase partnering with Global Travel Retail.  Market activations are also taking shape across North America, Western Europe and Asia with more countries expected to join. Furthermore, using a QR code consumers can access collection data and learn more about the cleanup process and witness the difference made together with ReSea Project.

The “Green-Leaf-Compromiso Ambiental” accreditation of Finos can be attributed to eco- conscious distilling practices. These include 100% of wastewater is treated; 80% of energy supply for operations is sourced from Solar energy; 100% agave remnants, cartons and bottles are recycled; and no toxic Waste (waste separation guarantees adequate disposal of toxic waste). Finos is the 1st distillery to receive the “Green Leaf” Compromiso Ambiental certificate from the Mexican Ministry of Environmental Protection. 

To achieve environmental sustainability by 2025, Stoli is reducing carbon emissions across the entire value chain by switching to 100% Electric Vehicle fleets, producing all secondary packaging from renewable materials, ensuring Eco Design Standards are built into every innovation and design, and promoting sustainable agriculture from grain to bottle. At the same time, commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion will ensure Stoli maximizes social sustainability performance.  

DFDS Ferries teams with Aurora to launch sustainable Eco Nation plush onboard

Travel retail plush and gift specialist Aurora World has partnered with DFDS Ferries to launch its Eco Nation range of sustainable soft toys onboard two ships: Dunes and Flandres. Available onboard since April 2021, displayed via a specially designed merchandising unit, the Eco Nation collection is made from 100% recycled and natural materials and was introduced last year as part of Aurora’s goal to make all of its produced eco-friendly and sustainable. It includes a variety of popular plush animal characters including penguin, seal, panda, elephant, giraffe and flamingo. 

Kevin Johnson, DFDS Category Manager says: “DFDS are committed to reducing the use of plastics onboard our ferries and the introduction of soft toys made from natural and recycled materials is a fantastic statement from Aurora. I am thrilled to have the Eco Nation collection as part of our assortment for 2021 and the intelligent branding puts across a positive message that the customer can clearly understand”

Garry Stoner, Aurora Travel Retail Sales Manager adds: “We have a strong business with DFDS. The launch of Aurora’s Eco Nation collection will create a new revenue stream tapping into those consumers looking for an Eco option. Important in our launch strategy is the communication of Eco Nations product credentials, messages such as ‘made from recycled and natural materials’ along with ‘8 PET bottles to produce 1 Eco Nation’ toy are key. We worked closely with DFDS to execute the branding message at point of retail and are very pleased with the results.”

Ricola eyes further Asia Pacific growth with support of TFWA Hainan Special Edition event

 Ricola has pledged its support for the upcoming TFWA Duty Free & Travel Retail Asia Pacific Summit Hainan Special Edition by taking a Brand Discovery package in a bid to build further awareness in a region which offers strong long-term growth prospects. 

The Swiss herb confectionery company already has a firm foothold in the Asia Pacific region, not least in Hainan, where its East Asia distributor first secured listings with China Duty Free Group in mid-2019.

Ricola Head of Travel Retail Andreas Reckart said of the Hainan market: “Even when things got tough last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we kept selling, even at an increasing rate over time as the number of visitors started to grow. Most strong brands in travel retail believe in Hainan as a key market going forward and we are no exception. Our association with TFWA’s Hainan Special Edition online show is a tangible commitment to our belief in the importance of this market.”

Ricola products already well-established and performing strongly in Hainan include its assorted 200g sugar-free tins, sugar-free 75g tins (Original Herb, Lemon Mint and Cranberry), sugar-free 75g tins Multipack (3x75g) and the assorted 125g bag.

The prospects of the wider Asia Pacific market for the brand are emphasised by the predicted growth of the non-chocolate confectionery sector, with sales predicted to reach US$69.5 billion by 2026, according to data published by Polaris Market Research. To give the potential growth perspective, the market was worth an estimated US$48 billion in 2017.

The same Polaris research points to Asia Pacific segment of the market as growing at the highest rate during the forecast period, driven by a significant increase in population, changing eating habits, and rising disposable income.

Reckart believes that keeping an eye on the bigger picture for non-chocolate confectionery market growth is vital as Ricola, and other brands, negotiate the manifold difficulties in achieving sales in the face of the pandemic, and the travel restrictions that have come with it.

He said: “We had a very good start of the year, but with the increasing COVID-19 restrictions, especially in Europe, customers started taking a wait and see approach. Nevertheless, there are a few pockets of activity for us so far this year, and Hainan is one them. Business is going very well there.

“Right now, we see increasingly positive signs and receive indications from our customers that they are expecting to be back in business in summer. So we are quite hopeful to see, at least in Europe, some sort of a summer travel season, which will help to put travel retail back on the road to recovery.”

Reckart added: “In the meantime, we will be increasing our focus on the Asia Pacific market, as its own travel recovery begins to gather momentum, and move forward with our plans to bring new products into the travel retail channel through the rest of 2021.”

These products include Ricola’s iconic Original Herb and Lemon Mint flavour herb drops with sugar, in a new 90g travel exclusive drum-shaped tin.

Reckart said: “The sustainable, sugar-free and herbal aspects of our products are important for us and well recognised the world over. Nevertheless, a sizeable market for sugar products remains and we are seizing the opportunity to balance our portfolio and expand the appeal of our confectionery through the introduction of these new Original Herb and Lemon Mint flavour tins.”

Also new from Ricola in travel retail is a fresh new design for its assorted sugar-free 200g product. The design combines images reflecting Ricola’s herbal heritage with travel graphics, as well as a multipack containing three limited edition 75g tins in the flavours of Original Herb, Lemon Mint and Cranberry.