Nestlé announces new travel retail appointments

Nestlé ITR has announced two new appointments within its travel retail leadership team.

After four very successful years, Marketing Manager Tamara Spada is moving into the NITR sales function, where she will be responsible for running the key Dufry account. Spada will be replaced by Aura Sanchez, currently KitKat Global Brand Manager at Nestlé’s confectionery Strategic Business Unit.

“Tamara has contributed fully to the development of our business strategy, and skilfully led her team in navigating our industry’s roller-coaster ride of the past four years,” noted Nestlé ITR General Manager Stewart Dryburgh. “I’m very happy that Tamara will be staying within the NITR family, and thank her for all her achievements to date. I have no doubt that she will continue to contribute added value to our marketing efforts, via the insight she will bring from the other side of the fence.”

Dryburgh continued: “I’m also delighted to be welcoming Aura to the wonderful world of travel retail. She brings a wide range of experience to her new role, which includes a period as Marketing Manager at PepsiCo. Aura began her Nestlé career back in 2006, rejoining the group in 2017. I’m confident that her extensive e-business/digital background, in-depth category knowledge and diverse skillset will be a huge asset to the NITR team.”

Nestlé brews new business opportunities with coffee category

Momentum is building behind Nestlé’s coffee portfolio travel retail roll-out, in line with the company’s ambition to build Food into the #1 most purchased category in the channel. As previously announced, this ambitious strategy will be delivered through the VERSE model, which harnesses Value, Engagement, Regeneration, Sense of Place and Execution.

Dubai, Madrid, Barcelona, Panama, Dubai, Doha, and Singapore are among the key airport locations now selling coffee products to travellers – with further roll-outs in the pipeline. All of Nestlé’s major airport coffee launches to date have been supported by a variety of high-profile traditional and digital media initiatives, to maximise awareness and visibility.

“We know that there is a huge amount of untapped potential for coffee in the travel retail channel,” noted ITR general manager Stewart Dryburgh. “The findings of the m1nd-set research study we commissioned last year revealed that 84% of travellers said they were likely to buy coffee in travel retail, for consumption during their trip, or for family/self-gifting purposes. Importantly, 69% of travellers questioned said they preferred global brands to local brands – a hugely encouraging result for Nescafe, the world’s leading coffee brand.”

To support the launch of the Nescafé Gold Roastery Collection in Dubai Duty Free, Nestlé has created a combined out-of-home (OOH) and digital media campaign, which is running throughout November and December. The OOH elements cover the full boutique network at Dubai International Airport, while the digital campaign aims to bolster pre-trip awareness, alongside in-trip conversions. Nestle’s Nescafé Gold Roastery Collection is initially available in Terminals 1 and 3 and is also listed on www.dubaidutyfree.com.

In addition, digital media campaigns have been created to support pre-trip awareness and in-trip conversions for Qatar Duty Free shoppers. The Dubai OOH campaign is also likely to reach FIFA World Cup fans on shuttle flights from Dubai to Doha, as it covers JCDecaux’s Boutique Digital Network across Terminals 1 and 3. At Singapore Changi, the focus has been on Nestlé Roastery gondolas, installed in T2 Central and T4 Central.

“The latest data from Generation confirms that food is leading the post-COVID recovery in travel retail,” Dryburgh concluded. “Sales for this category grew by an impressive +252.5% in first-half 2022 versus the same period in 2021. This bodes well for Nestlé’s food ambitions in general, and for the untapped coffee segment in particular.”

GLENFIDDICH’S PERPETUAL COLLECTION IMMERSIVE POP-UP MAKES US DEBUT IN MIAMI

Glenfiddich’s ground-breaking Perpetual Collection immersive pop-up concept has made its US debut at Miami International Airport – a key location and market for the brand. The innovative in-person experience – created to showcase Glenfiddich’s new travel retail exclusive Perpetual Collection – is situated in Miami North Terminal, Concourse D, in the large rotunda space next to Gates D37/38. The event is running at the airport from 8th December to 5th January. 

This immersive pop-up is being complemented by in-store activations, in partnership with Duty Free Americas (DFA), to highlight the launch of Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection in the retailer’s 12 airport stores. In addition, a digital campaign across all North, Central, and South terminal screens aims to maximise awareness and visibility at all points of the passenger journey.

“We are excited to launch the new Glenfiddich travel retail exclusive collection in our stores at MIA,” noted DFA VP Spirits & Wine Jonathan Bonchick. “It’s a pleasure to collaborate with global brand partners such as William Grant & Sons to tailor our travel retail offer to our customers’ evolving tastes and preferences.”

Featuring four single malt whiskies, each matured within vats that have never been emptied, adding continuous layers to flavours, The Perpetual Collection began its global travel retail roll-out in August 2022. The line-up comprises:

● Vat 01 (ABV 40%) – Elegant and smooth, this expression uniquely layers sweet and spicy notes with hints of creamy vanilla and subtle oak, for a soft and mellow taste with added depth due to its maturation in bourbon & red wine casks. 

Vat 02 (ABV 43%) – Mellow yet complex, with hints of rich fruit and subtle spice. Matured in Spanish sherry casks, this rich single malt delivers a deliciously smooth taste. 

● Vat 03 (ABV 50.2% – non-chill filtered) - Elevated over 15 years of maturation in American,  Virgin American oak, and European Sherry casks, this full-bodied whisky harmoniously combines warm notes of spice with hints of nutty marzipan and dark sherry oak. A satisfyingly rich and sweet Glenfiddich.

● VAT 04 (ABV 47.8% – non-chill filtered) - Warming and refined. Patiently aged in Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks for 18 years, VAT 4 delivers a deep, rich aroma of robust oak, ripe orchard fruit and baked apple. A luxuriously fruity and exceptionally rewarding Glenfiddich. 

Attracting 3,500 visitors, the first Perpetual Collection immersive pop-up took place in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 Departures, in association with Lotte Duty Free, from 27th September to 31st October. This was followed by a second pop-up installation at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, from 1-31st October.

The Miami pop-up offers travellers an exclusive immersive discovery experience during the busy Holiday period. Each guest that enters the space has their movements captured by motion-sensors and projected in waves of colour onto a digital screen, thereby creating a unique piece of evolving generative art that references the pioneering Solera Vat process by which the whisky is made.

Guided by a Brand Ambassador, pop-up visitors are then invited to sample the four distinctive Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection expressions. A personalised gifting service allows travellers to customise their chosen bottle with a written or recorded message that is added via QR code – the perfect finishing touch for those seeking an extra-special Christmas gift.

“We have been thrilled by the reception to our Perpetual Collection pop-up at Miami International,” noted Lindsay Hitzeroth, Head of Customer Marketing Global Travel Retail at William Grant & Sons. “Immersive, experiential launches like this appeal to both existing customers and new drinkers, and illustrate our strategy of investing in activations that offer premium, exclusive products in an attractive and engaging way.”

She added: “The Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection is a range of whiskies in perpetual motion, that never sits still – just like our commitment to creating unique shopping experiences for travellers in collaboration with our valued retail partners. The next locations for this pioneering pop-up concept will be Hainan and Dubai, both of which are scheduled to go live during Q1 of 2023.”

Rodenstock showcases Bric’s partnership with new high-profile Frankfurt Airport opening

Rodenstock has unveiled a new dedicated retail space in the Bric’s store at Frankfurt Airport as the two companies expand their partnership

Rodenstock and Bric’s have teamed up to showcase the power of partnership as the premium eyewear brand opens a new dedicated retail space in the luxury Italian brand’s store at Frankfurt Airport.

The two companies, who share a focus on classic and stylish design, crafted from premium materials, unveiled their partnership at last month’s TFWA World Exhibition with a shared stand space in the Palais in Cannes.

That same partnership is at the root of the new outlet at Frankfurt Airport, which sees Rodenstock taking a dedicated backwall space to increase the offer and appeal for shoppers and drive cross-category purchasing in the market.

The Rodenstock collections are showcased on a stylish, purpose-built display on the interior wall of the store. The bright lighting and wood details catch the eye of consumers drawing them deeper into the shop, creating additional engagement opportunities for both brands.

Rodenstock’s iconic designs, and popular new releases such as the Elegance Classic and Retro Classic concepts, are presented in a manner which compliments the wider Bric’s offer, creating a seamless shopping experience for customers and demonstrating the collaborative nature of the brands’ partnership. Every Rodenstock design features the premium quality lenses which are a signature of the brand, and ensure the safety and health of wearer’s eyes, alongside their classic styling and premium materials.

Lucas Gestin, Director Global Travel Retail, Rodenstock said: “Both Bric’s and Rodenstock share a dedication to creating truly beautiful items which are crafted to look good and last, using the very best of materials. This makes our partnership an obvious one to bring to life for travel retail shoppers.

“At a time when the travelling shopper is looking for excitement and differentiation, collaborations such as this set our brands and our market apart in the wider retail space. We are delighted to be working with a brand such as Bric’s which exudes both the highest quality and a forward-thinking approach to creating excitement and newness in travel retail.” 

Roberto Briccola, President of Bric’s, added: “It’s a pleasure for us to partner with Rodenstock and to introduce the premium eyewear brand inside our Store at Frankfurt Airport. This is a perfect example of synergic collaboration: the increased and high-quality selection of products will certainly be appreciated by travel retail shoppers.

“The excellence of Bric’s and Rodenstock products can be discovered through use, thus discovering not only their quality and durability, but also their extreme functionality. We strongly believe that functionality is an important added value for improving the consumer's quality of life and the user experience of excellent products such as those that both brands offer on the market.”

The Bric’s store is located in Departure Area B of Terminal 2 at Frankfurt Airport.

Imperial Brands underlines commitment to Middle East region at Meadfa and highlights sustainable agenda with prize draw

Imperial Brands attended this year’s MEADFA Conference in Bahrain as a Diamond Sponsor, taking the opportunity to showcase its sustainably produced booth whilst highlighting the importance of the Middle East region to its Davidoff brand. 

During the event, delegates had the chance to spin a wheel to win one of a number of sustainable prizes (insulated cup, wireless charger, earphones or notebook and pen) whilst entering a prize draw for a holiday to Athens. Announced at the end of the conference, the lucky holiday winner was Nestlé ITR Key Account Manager Hanno Hellwig. 

The sustainable booth underlines the company’s commitment to a better climate and is just one part of Imperial’s refined global environment, social and governance (ESG) strategy launched earlier this year. 

Said Tobias Baude, Imperial Brand Global Duty Free & Export Head of Corporate and Legal Affairs: “The Middle East has always been a vital market for the tobacco category and a core focus for Imperial Brands. The conference enabled us to meet with many business partners, colleague and industry friends to discuss and share plans to help drive growth in this region.

“Tobacco continues to be a driver across travel retail and that means we have a unique opportunity in the Middle East. This is an opportunity which Imperial Brands is uniquely positioned to help capitalise on with our cross-category portfolio, ensuring we can provide what consumers require, from cigarettes, fine cut, rolling papers and cigars, to snus and next generation products.”

Picture caption (from left to right): 

1. Vangelis Nikolopoulos – Regional Manager Region East

2. Tobias Baude – Head of Corporate & Legal Affairs Duty Free & Export

3. Vassia Kanellopoulou – Brand Ambassador

4. Winner – Hanno Hellwig – Nestlé International Travel Retail 

5. Gemma Hughes – Brand Ambassador

6. Ilias Panagiotopoulos – Regional Sales & Trade Marketing Operations Manager

7. Dimitra Bakolia – Trade Marketing & FOTG Executive

8. Josef Abou El Sououd – Regional Sales Manager

9. Nikos Kovas – Area Sales Manager GCC

Swedish Match expands into Gulf travel retail with ZYN launch in Dubai

Swedish Match is continuing its expansion in travel retail with a new launch of its popular ZYN brand in the Gulf region, a traditionally important market for the tobacco category. 

Dubai Duty Free is the latest partner for Swedish Match in the Gulf, but the company is also hoping to build its presence in other key MEA markets as part of its continued dedication to both travel retail and building ZYN on an international stage.

The roll-out of ZYN in the Middle East began last year with the opening of three shops with Qatar Duty Free. Now, just ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup in the region, ZYN will launch in six further stores with Dubai Duty Free in November, as Swedish Match continues to build awareness of the nicotine pouch category in the region.

ZYN nicotine pouches landed in global travel retail late last year, following a strong performance which has seen the brand become a market leader in the domestic market in the US and the strongest player within smokefree in the Nordics. ZYN is at the heart of Swedish Match’s vision of a cigarette-free world. In travel retail, the products offer incremental sales in the nicotine category for retailers and is the perfect choice for airports, inflight, trains, cruise and ferries as they provide more choice for shoppers by offering a product which they can use in locations where traditional smoking and vaping is not permitted.

Swedish Match Global Travel Retail Manager Johannes Varhelyi said: “We have been delighted with the response to ZYN since we launched it in the travel retail market a year ago. This is a product which does not cannibalise sales as it creates more options for shoppers in the market which can be bought in addition to cigarettes and for use at a different time. This means we are helping to create shoppers who are more at ease in the travel environment, especially when traditional smoking is not an option. 

“As we continue our dedication to travel retail, the Gulf market was the obvious next step for us due to its history as a key location for the tobacco category.”

The ZYN Cool Mint, Bellini and Espressino varieties are available at both the Doha and Dubai locations, while shoppers at Qatar Duty Free can also find the Citrus and Gold edition available for them. Swedish Match will also support the openings with the launch of ZYN Mini Dry, which ensures the brand can always provide the right product format with the right nicotine strength for every shopper.

The nine stores in Dubai and Doha are just the start of Swedish Match’s plans for the region, with the team also eyeing opportunities in the rest of the Gulf, Egypt, the Levant and South Africa.

Return to the MEADFA Conference

Swedish Match will underline its dedication to the Gulf and MEA region with its attendance at next week’s MEDAFA Conference in Bahrain. ZYN will be a Diamond Sponsor for the event and the team will be on-site with a dedicated stand to showcase their vision for the tobacco category and growth within the region and the wider travel retail market.

Swedish Match Travel Retail Manager Johannes Varhelyi added: “We are very excited to be returning to the MEADFA Conference. Last year’s event was the perfect platform for us as we launched ZYN in travel retail and we are looking forward to meeting friends, colleagues and potential partners to discuss our plans and how we can help build retailers’ tobacco sales in the Gulf and the wider MEA region.”

Molton Brown celebrates the return of Christmas in travel retail with new Merry Berry & Mimosa Collection

The festive season is almost upon us once more and for the first time in three years, the travel retail industry is looking forward to celebrating the holiday with travellers in stores and on board. To mark this joyous occasion, British fragrance experts Molton Brown are bringing the cheerful chaos of Christmas to life with a new collection, Mixed Berry & Mimosa, available in travel retail outlets.

For more than four decades, Molton Brown has been shoppers’ ultimate Christmas gifting destination and this year the brand is celebrating the season of merriment with a delectable fragrance which captures the light-hearted joy of spending the season with loved ones – with all the noise, laughter and unexpected surprises.

Created by Senior Perfumer Nathalie Koobus, Merry Berry & Mimosa is an elegant, fruity-floral fragrance, spotlighting notes of candied red berries and mimosa which deliver citrus top notes, a heart of orris and a base of raspberry and musky wood to create a glorious blend of freshness and warmth.  The collection features a Bath & Body Wash, Body Lotion, a Scented Candle and a Festive Bauble. It will be available for travel retail shoppers as part of the Molton Brown festive gifting collection which also includes a host of best-selling gift sets.

Sustainability is very much at the heart of decision-making for shoppers and partners in the travel retail industry this festive season. Since its foundation in 1971, Molton Brown has firmly believed that luxury and sustainability go hand-in-hand and that belief is clear in the creation and presentation of this latest collection.

As part of its on-going sustainability efforts, Molton Brown’s iconic bottles are all made with 50% recycled plastic at the brand’s carbon-neutral manufacturing facility in Elsenham. The Festive Bauble and Scented Candle boxes are also made from 100% recycled materials, which can be recycled again once the base layer is removed, a theme which is consistent with the brand’s full gifting collection. 

Sophie Sponagle, Interim Global Account Manager, Travel Retail, Molton Brown, said: “We are all overjoyed to see Christmas return properly to the travel retail market as people from all around the world travel once more to celebrate the holiday season with loved ones.

“At Molton Brown, we have been an icon of festive gifting for years and we are thrilled to capture the true spirit of holiday togetherness with this fragrance. The Merry Berry & Mimosa Collection speaks to the sense of togetherness at Christmas, as well as the on-going work to create a cleaner and more sustainable luxury beauty market.”

The Merry Berry & Mimosa Collection consists of a Bath & Shower Gel (300ml), a Body Lotion (300ml), a Festive Bauble (75ml) and a Scented Candle (190g). The collection is now available at all World Duty Free locations.

Nestlé ITR unveils new ‘Live Your Break’ communication strategy for KITKAT

Nestlé ITR has reimagined the successful ‘Live Your Break’ campaign created for its iconic KITKAT brand. The original campaign, introduced in 2017, identified four strategic breaker communities (Adventure, Wellness, Urban & Festival), which were specially selected to highlight the experiences Millennial consumers looked for when they travelled. The new and updated communication strategy is designed to meet the needs and demands of Millennial and Gen Z travellers as they re-embrace the travel sector post-COVID. The campaign, previewed to retail partners at this year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, will debut at key international airports in early 2023.

“We believe that there’s never been a better, or more relevant, time to tell our consumers to #LIVEYOURBREAK,” explained Nestlé ITR marketing manager Tamara Spada. “KITKAT is synonymous with breaks – and travel is once more becoming the ultimate break in the routine of our daily lives. Live Your Break 2023 will bring to life the emotive reasons people choose to travel, with a world of imagination, flair and excitement to be discovered and shared through a range of airport-exclusive KITKAT products.”

The reconceptualised KITKAT Live Your Break campaign has identified four new traveller profiles: the Urban Explorer, the Thrill Seeker, the Social Connector and the Wellness Unwinder. They will be targeted with key visuals (both product- and lifestyle-based) centred on KITKAT Senses Range. These visuals will present the products as aspirational choices that deliver an indulgent yet attainable and exclusive break within the travel environment – and are different from the everyday breaks experienced in the domestic arena.

Lifestyle images will feature the tagline ‘Break in a World of Flavour’ and depict travellers in city and country landscapes. Product images will carry the tagline ‘Bring Home an Exclusive Break’. All are connected using coloured ‘waves’ that sweep in and out of the visuals. The different shades will represent the corresponding pack colours of KITKAT Senses Tablets, along with key ingredients such as almonds, hazelnuts, caramel pieces and dark chocolate swirls. 

The KITKAT Live Your Break 2023 strategy will incorporate NITR’s Digitally Connected Shopper approach, with key visuals, activations and engagement present at all strategic touchpoints – and digital channels at the heart of the campaign.

360-degree communication tools will target consumers across their full travel journey, with differentiated messaging implemented pre-trip, at the airport, during their trip and on the airport return. The campaign’s main objectives are to build curiosity; create awareness of what is available, and inform travellers of the exclusive opportunity to purchase products unavailable elsewhere.

Spada concluded: “Our 2023 Live Your Break strategy combines three key messages: Break in a World of Flavour, Bring Home an Exclusive Break, and Only Available in Airports, all presented to travellers throughout their journey touchpoints in a targeted and connected way, using a combination of advertising, branded POS and a full digital engagement toolkit.

“We are confident that this bright, colourful and meaningful campaign will further drive growth within the premium and gifting confectionery categories, while creating shared brand experiences that enrich and enhance our consumers’ travel journeys.”

PVM sees ‘unprecedented demand’ for Chupa Chups airport retail activation concept at TFWA WE

Perfetti Van Melle (PVM), one of the top companies in the travel retail sugar confectionery segment, has reported unprecedented demand for its new Chupa Chups customer engagement activation concept, which was launched to industry partners at the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes last month. 

PVM plans to tour the Chupa Chups brand activation concept at a number of global airport locations in 2023, with the launch likely to be over a two-month period in Europe first, at the beginning of 2023. 

PVM is looking to increase consumer engagement on the duty-free shop floor and underscore its focus on fun for its key brand Chupa Chups.  

PVM used TFWA WE as a showcase to launch its Chupa Chups travel retail activation kiosk concept that includes a photo booth and product promotion area to encourage customers to engage with the Chupa Chups brand. Passersby can have their photo taken as one of the Chupa Chups backpack animal family, take-away a polaroid memento and receive the digital photo, using a QR code.  

“We have been pleasantly surprised by the overwhelmingly positive reactions from our travel retail partners – everyone is keen to have our Chupa Chups engagement kiosk installed. We are talking to several key customers at major airport locations about running the activation – some people are asking for just a digital version as well as the hard copy photo option that travellers get to take away,” said PVM Brand Manager, GTR Femke van Veen. 

“We are currently making some tough decisions about where the kiosk will travel to in 2023; we are also looking at building another kiosk so that we can double up on the schedule for next year.”

Another success story from PVM’s time at the TFWA WE show was the popularity of its Chupa Chups lifesize tiger mascot. “Our Chupa Chups mascot was another great marketing decision for Cannes – everyone loved it and we’ve had lots of requests for the mascot to be present as part of the kiosk activation at airports,” said van Veen. So far, the Chupa Chups tiger and dino mascots have toured a number of promotional events for PVM, visiting Riyad, Denmark and New Delhi as well as Cannes. 

“Chupa Chups is aggressively targeting expansion in our key travel retail markets of EMEA, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and the Americas. We are keen to grow the brand in high traffic passenger locations and at till points – and we know customer engagement is a vital tool to achieve brand visibility. We want to be front and centre at airports and on the duty-free shop floor. 

“We have come back from Cannes with lots of positive feedback for creating new partnerships and our Chupa Chups kiosk activation was the star of the show. We are excited to take this promotion around the world to as many locations as physically possible!” added van Veen.  

Travel retailers laud Nestlé’s ‘Food category’ ambition

 

Nestlé’s ambition to build food into the #1 category in travel retail received an extremely positive response from customers at this month’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference. 

Nestlé presented its detailed strategy for unlocking the potential of food to retail partners at the Cannes show. In this it highlighted key learnings from the in-depth research study, commissioned through m1nd-set, regarding the potential to grow food beyond the core confectionery segment. “We are tremendously excited by our customers’ reactions to Nestlé’s new Food strategy,” commented ITR general manager Stewart Dryburgh. “Our partners have been quick to grasp the scale of the wider food category’s untapped potential – and how it could be a significant growth driver for the channel.”

Currently accounting for 77% of food purchases within global travel retail, confectionery will continue to be the driving force within the category. Focusing on KitKat, Nestlé is adding plant-based KitKat Vegan this year. For the year to come there is an extensive new product pipeline planned, including new Pistachio and Lotus Biscuit flavours for KitKat Senses Mini Moments; a two-flavour KitKat Mix Sharing Bag; and updated flavours (Peanut Butter, Milk and Caramel) for KitKat Chunky Mix Gift Pack. These releases will be supported by a new 360 Break In a World of Flavour campaign. 

As previously announced, Nestlé’s strategy to build Food into the #1 most purchased category will be delivered through the VERSE model: Value, Engagement, Regeneration, Sense of Place and Execution. A major milestone of the company’s Regeneration driver was the switch last year to 100% recyclable paper packaging for Smarties. This brand will be further supported with a new Cool Creatures collection and campaign, incorporating a four-tube hexatub, stickers, colouring pencils and a selection of digital activities, from March 2023.

Other key launches previewed at Cannes include a travel retail exclusive Gin, Tonic & Mint After Eight limited edition, plus a milk chocolate/hazelnut addition to the Nestlé Swiss tablet range. Nestlé also used this year’s Cannes show to highlight the next big step on its sustainability journey: the Quality Street brand’s transition to recyclable, FSC-certified paper packaging.

While confectionery will remain core to the food proposition, Coffee and Wellbeing are the two sub-categories that have been earmarked by Nestlé for future global travel retail development. Research shows that 84% of travellers say they are likely to buy coffee in travel retail, a huge growth opportunity for Nescafé, the world’s leading coffee brand. Accordingly, in March 2023, the Nescafé Azera range – a barista-style instant coffee collection designed to appeal to younger consumers – will be rolled out to travel retail. Available in three flavour profiles (original, decaffeinated and intense), this range will join the Nescafé Gold Roastery Collection, which has been gradually introduced this year.

All of these launches will be supported by impactful activations designed to attract and engage travellers, and really bring coffee to life in-store. In turn, these activations will be complemented by a variety of high-profile traditional and digital media initiatives.

With the global wellness market valued by McKinsey at more than US$1.5 trillion, it’s clear why Nestlé has identified Wellbeing (Vitamins, Minerals, Herbals and Supplements) as another promising new category to leverage in travel retail. Nestlé Health Science’s existing portfolio of brands offers an exciting window of opportunity for the channel – watch this space. The opportunity in this segment is also clearly backed up by shopper research.

“This year we have a number of real positives for travel retail.” Dryburgh noted. “We continue to work hard to offer all traveller segments – and our retail partners – a captivating proposition, underpinned by inventive activations. Going forward, we will be equally focused on building the core of confectionery, whilst also writing new chapters within Coffee and Wellbeing. We will progress with our mission to build on strong foundations, and create one ‘super’ food category that becomes the number one most purchased category in travel retail.”

WiTR hits target for Hope Foundation at TFWA WE in Cannes

This year at TFWA World Exhibition, Women in Travel Retail (WiTR) once again gathered to network and raise funds for nominated charity, Hope Foundation. Thanks to a number of generous donations, this year’s event more than hit its target of €15,000. 

Over 150 members of the duty-free and travel retail industry met at the group’s popular networking session held on Tuesday 5 October in the foyer of the Palais des Festivals. 

On arrival, attending ladies were welcomed with a glass of delicious Chandon Garden Spritz courtesy of Moet Hennessy, the perfect way to kick off an enjoyable networking session. 

An important part of the gathering was to raise money to purchase a much-needed bus for the Hope Foundation.  This project was nominated by Butlers Chocolates who has a long-standing association with WiTR and with the charity. 

WiTR’s target was to raise €15,000 to buy a new bus for women and children at Hope’s five homes in Kolkata, as the current 15-year-old bus has been forced off the road and no longer complies with Government environmental guidelines.  The bus is desperately needed to transport women at the Hope homes to reach medical services, vocational training centres, as well as taking children to school and other activities. 

   

Thanks to generous donations from Victoria’s Secret, Gebr. Heinemann and Harding Retail, and all the women who donated at the networking session, over €17,200 was raised, meaning that Hope Foundation can now purchase the new bus. 

Baptiste Marchis, Head of Travel Retail at Victoria’s Secret commented, “We are grateful for the partnership with Women in Travel Retail, and the opportunity to positively impact women’s lives with our donation to the Hope Foundation.”

Aisling Walsh said, “On behalf of Butlers Chocolates and Hope Foundation we would like to thank our very generous corporate sponsors - Victoria’s Secret, Gebr. Heinemann and Harding Bros – and all those who donated to the raffle on the night, and to the fabulous team at WiTR who made it all happen in the first place.”

WiTR would like to highlight its short video clip about the Hope Foundation: 

https://youtu.be/QnuNRMhpboI

WiTR would like to thank the TFWA for facilitating its annual meeting, its trade media partners for publicising the event and call for donations; and to all those who joined the meeting this year and generously donated.

Re-invigorated by existing and new members of the steering committee, and with a new website, WiTR invites all women in the duty-free and travel retail industry to join using the link on the website: www.womenintr.com.  Annual membership is set at an inclusive and very affordable level:  £25/€25/USD$25.  WiTR also has a highly active LinkedIn group, where members can network and make new connections. 

In addition to the popular webinar series hosted by Vice Chair Gerry Munday, WiTR plans to capitalise on the post-Covid travel freedoms and put to good use its new CRM system with a new programme of local events in the coming year. 

Swedish Match continues travel retail growth with WHSmith partnership

Swedish Match is continuing to build its vision of a world without cigarettes in travel retail with a flourishing partnership with WHSmith. The tobacco brand, and its market-leading ZYN nicotine pouches, are currently sold in 280 WHSmith Travel stores, building on an established and successful partnership in the domestic market.

The collaboration in travel retail reflects Swedish Match’s faith in the market, as well as the company’s dedication and intention to disrupt the status quo in the tobacco sector.

The two companies have run a series of high-profile campaigns at key travel locations across the UK during the summer, including a promotional wrap and sampling activation for shoppers at London Waterloo Station, one of the capital’s busiest railway hubs.

Such moves are just the beginning, with a similar engagement event planned for Manchester Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3, as well as at Manchester Piccadilly.

Today, Swedish Match has claimed a significant increase in market share with WHSmith, compared with the national market, which underlines the key role the travel retail sector plays in the brand’s ongoing expansion plans.

WHSmith Tobacco Buyer Matthew Walshe said: “The activations with Swedish Match at transport hubs this summer have been well received by customers. We are always looking for ways to broaden our offer for customers and we look forward to building on this collaboration in the future.”

Swedish Match UK Marketing & Activation Lead David Hall agreed: “This is an exciting time for Swedish Match. We can see the power and potential of these products within the marketplace and shoppers are reacting positively to our vision of a world without cigarettes.

“Swedish Match and ZYN do not take away from the existing travel retail tobacco market, they provide another option and an opportunity to drive increased spend for retailers. This partnership with WHSmith has been built on a true spirit of trust and collaboration, enabling us to promote our product across their Travel stores and engage with customers.”

Swedish Match joined the travel retail market late last year, following a successful performance in the domestic sector which saw it become a category leader in the US while retaining a strong position in the Nordics. Launching its leading ZYN brand of nicotine pouches, the company aims to create an exciting opportunity for travel retail partners, with smoke-free products that travellers can use anywhere on their journey. 

Swedish Match will next showcase its vision for the future of the travel retail tobacco sector when it appears for the first time as an official exhibitor at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes next month.

Swedish Match Travel Retail Manager Johannes Varhelyi said: “This partnership is an excellent foundation for us as we continue to build the presence of ZYN in the travel retail market. It is also proof that our travel retail strategy is working, and we look forward to discussing that and our future plans further with partners, colleagues and stakeholders in Cannes next month.”

Le Barteleur to introduce four ready-to-drink cocktails to global travel retail market

The brand is partnering with Jean-Philippe (JP) Aucher to launch in the channel

Le Barteleur, the Paris-based premium ready-to-drink craft cocktails producer, is to launch four award-winning expressions into travel retail this year in partnership with industry consultant, Jean-Philippe (JP) Aucher.

The exceptional quality of the four made-in-Paris liquids – Negroni, Manhattan, Mai Tai and Hanky Panky ¬- makes Le Barteleur cocktails the perfect gift for all cocktails/spirit lovers and a great fit for the travel retail channel, according to JP Aucher.

The brand says that its four ready-made cocktails are worthy of the greatest bartenders, revisiting the past to create new contemporary and unique recipes. This claim has been supported by multi awards including winning Gold and Double Gold at the Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards; two Golds at the San Francisco Spirits Competition 2022; 90/92/94 points and Top 100 for Hanky Panky at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

The name draws inspiration from ‘The Bateleur’, the first tarot card dating back to the 15th Century, but this is very much a product of the 21st century with no best before date and no need to refrigerate or drink within a certain time once opened.

Targeted at the 25-60-year-old age group, Le Barteleur was first launched in France in 2019 and is now available in European domestic markets including Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium. The brand is targeting 15 markets in the next few years, including locations in the travel retail sector.

Le Barteleur co-founder Nicolas Varnier said: “From a very early stage in Le Barteleur’s development we believed our premium cocktail product would be a perfect fit for the travel retail market. Now that we are strongly established in some domestic markets, it seems the ideal time to enter travel retail as the travel industry resurges post-COVID.

“In JP Aucher, we believe we have appointed someone very well-respected in the trade who knows the travel retail market inside out. He has a great belief in what our product can achieve in the channel, and we are excited to start working with him to achieve our ambitions.”

JP Aucher said: “Ready-to-drink cocktails is a hot category at present and Le Barteleur offers a range that is of the best quality. With travelling consumers looking for something different, unique and within their budget, this is the perfect offer for airport, cruise and inflight retail.”

The Le Barteleur cocktails

Negroni 27%ABV

Liquid: The recipe includes gin, bitter and vermouth, with added aromatic plants creating bitter and refreshing scent notes.

Manhattan 26% ABV

Liquid: The recipe includes whisky, vermouth and bitter, with vanilla and honey notes, blended with red fruits such as sweet cherry.

Mai Tai 27%ABV

Liquid: Exotic blend of white and dark rums, lime, and orgeat with refreshing flavours of kumquat and yuzu.

Hanky Panky 23.5%

Liquid: Recipe of gin, vermouth and amaro with ginger notes, giving it a herbaceous and peppery kick.

ACCURIST ANNOUNCES MAJOR BRAND REVITALISATION WITH A STUNNING NEW COLLECTION OF WATCHES

New travel retail focus for Accurist in Cannes

‘British watch brand Accurist, inspired by its own heritage archives and iconic vintage watches, launches a revitalised brand positioning and a stunning collection of new watches. Part of the Time Products Ltd group of companies, the new collection can be seen at TFWA WE - Green Village, K50.

Whilst exploring its vast archives for a vintage watch to re-issue in celebration of its 75th anniversary in 2021, the Accurist team re-discovered the brand’s original ethos of high-quality watches at affordable prices that ‘punch above their weight’ and found an abundance of distinctive vintage timepieces.  Instead of launching just one watch, Accurist developed seven collections which will replace its current watch ranges. Comprising 76 individual watches, each collection is inspired by a distinctive vintage watch resulting in an array of styles for men and women which cater to different target consumers. All will be available to travel retail.

Comments Gary Taylor – Duty Free and International Director: "Accurist has targeted travel retail for many years and has a stronghold in the UK and Europe; our customers have included Jet2, DFDS, Aer Rianta and Lagardère. 

“We're confident that the revitalisation of the brand will strengthen the position we already hold and help us to grow our business further afield into new markets. Accurist is a unique offering, blending a heritage British brand with over 75 years of watchmaking history with modern materials and designs. By focusing on high quality specifications such as sapphire crystal glass, solid stainless steel, diamond dot dials Accurist really punches above its weight. 

“With this new collection, we hope to attract a different type of retailer and a new customer opening new opportunities globally. The introduction also allows Time Products to add another dimension to its portfolio of brand offerings.”

As well as the new watch collections, Accurist is bringing a fresh new approach to life: ‘It’s about time.’, which is true to the heritage of Accurist being linked to the great moments of time such as sponsoring the speaking clock (until 2008) and the countdown to the millennium.  The revitalisation includes a return to a vintage Accurist logo, refreshed brand colours for a modern twist, updated display stands and online website to transform visibility, and new packaging with a spectacular watch roll with every watch.

The collections combine craftmanship techniques typically reserved for Swiss timepieces together with materials attributed to premium-priced brands, such as solid stainless steel, semi-precious stones, sapphire crystal glass, and real leather, and are available at an accessible price point.

The revitalised range will consist of seven collections: Origin, Rectangle, Everyday, Jewellery, Aviation, Dive, and Classic.  All watches within the collections will:

• Be made using premium materials: solid stainless steel, semi-precious stones, diamond dots, sapphire glass, and real leather

• Come with a five-year guarantee

• Have interchangeable, quick-release straps to allow personalisation

• Have dedicated space on the case back for engraving

• Be packaged in a spectacular watch roll

A national marketing campaign in the UK from October to December, centred around 'It's about time', will further raise awareness of the brand to consumers before they travel with digital and social media marketing alongside extensive outdoor and press advertising, helping to reach consumers at all pre-journey touchpoints.

Whyte and Mackay to showcase how Single Malts are driving the resurgence of Travel Retail with exciting innovation and unforgettable experiences at TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes

Whyte & Mackay, the fastest growing Top 10 Single Malt supplier is delighted to be returning to the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes next month with a stunning new location in the Bay Village. 

Following an impressive performance during the pandemic, the Single Malt sector has continued to perform well in the past year as recovery has gathered pace, driven by the Prestige Plus and Ultra Premium segments. 

To help stakeholders tap into this vibrant market, Whyte & Mackay recognises that continued newness is needed to keep driving recovery, and the company will showcase the latest innovation from its diverse portfolio of Single Malts at the exhibition. Each one is designed to generate growth thanks to the company’s understanding of the modern duty free shopper’s lifestyle and category specific attitudes. 

Also at the show, Whyte & Mackay will showcase the very latest release from its masterpiece in the making, The Dalmore, which is poised to create an exciting new, super-premium offer for Single Malt shoppers.

Richard Trimby, Travel Retail Director, Whyte & Mackay, said: “We are very pleased to be back at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, especially with our new location and stand. This new space has been designed as an exclusive private lounge where we are inviting ‘privilege members’ to discover our plans to elevate their malt business in 2023. 

“They will also have the opportunity to sample our award-winning Single Malt collection in our exclusive bar. This reflects our expertise in offering exceptional experiences to Duty Free Shoppers through our portfolio of pedigree Single Malts.

“As we look at the market today, we can see that changing shopper profiles in travel retail have created new expectations of our sector as it recovers and we are looking forward to sharing our views on how we and our diverse portfolio of Single Malts can support partners and the category.” 

Meeting the needs of modern shoppers

Changing shopper demographics mean the demand for range development and innovation has never been bigger and Whyte and Mackay will showcase newness for every shopper profile in Cannes. This includes the masterpiece in the making The Dalmore, which speaks to the Modern Luxury consumer; Jura, which by supporting its tiny island community will appeal to the conscious millennial; Fettercairn for the whisky curious always on the lookout for hidden gems, and Tamnavulin which inspire the savvy hunters. 

Clarisse Daniels, Head of Marketing Global Travel Retail & Emerging Markets, Whyte & Mackay, said: “Innovation is a key growth driver in our channel; for example the Jura Islanders’ Expressions, which launched in 2022, has been a huge success across all regions and sold out in weeks in many locations. This success is driven by having the right products, amplified via omnichannel campaign in order to reach shoppers on their path to purchase. 

“Initiatives like this, which combine newness with engaging activation to drive penetration and conversion are a hallmark of our travel retail offer. The Dalmore continues to drive spend per passenger for our retailers with its collection of rare and aged single malts, including the new Dalmore 20 year old and a stunning new Limited Edition hitting the shelves in November, attracting the modern luxury consumer to Duty Free Stores, and converting them into high-spending shoppers.” 

Trimby concluded “The travel retail market has faced massive challenges in recent years and continues to do so, but Single Malt has shown that it is a vital driving force in this market. It was one of the fastest growing sectors during the pandemic and is continuing to see high demand as shoppers return. We look forward to sharing our vision and new innovation with the industry.” 

Whyte and Mackay will be located at Stand 14 in The Bay Village.

Imperial Brands to showcase global brands and new sustainability strategy at TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes

Imperial Brands is delighted to be shining a spotlight on its truly global brand offering and its sustainability agenda, as it returns to Cannes for the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, taking place from 2 to 6 October 2022.

During the exhibition, Imperial Brands will showcase its strong cross-category offer, with its leading stable of brands. This includes international brands such as Davidoff, Gauloises, West and Rizla, which are enjoyed by many from the very Western to the far Eastern corners of the world. These will be complemented by Imperial’s more locally trusted brands, such as Skruf for those in the Nordics, as well as Lambert & Butler and Golden Virginia, for many British consumers seeking moments of relaxation and pleasure in countless destinations.

Imperial remains fully committed to the travel retail sector and believes that having the right brands for all travellers is a core component in allowing travel retail to rebuild bigger and better, Together as One.

Imperial Brands General Manager Global Duty Free & Export and Travel Retail, Christian Münstermann said: “Tobacco plays a vital role in the collective recovery of Duty Free and Travel Retail. It is one of the original categories in Duty Free which continues to drive footfall, leading to higher cross- category purchasing, and hence higher overall spend in markets where travel is recovering.

The TFWA World Exhibition & Conference is the perfect opportunity to re-connect with industry partners, celebrate successes, as well as share exciting plans for the future, such as Imperial Brands’ new global environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.

Placing the consumer first, Imperial Brands has proudly continued to provide an innovative offer for all nationalities, whilst maintaining an agile and focused approach, despite the turbulences that the industry has faced. Its recent successful launches of various crush ball initiatives for brands ranging from Davidoff Evolve and Davidoff Reach, to Lambert & Butler and Richmond, has been a testament to this.

We expect this trend to continue going forward, which puts tobacco at the forefront of the sector’s recovery. From cigarettes, fine cut, rolling papers, cigars, to snus and next generation products, we at Imperial Brands are here to help drive this growth with our cross-category portfolio.”

1

Imperial Brands will be sharing more on its ambitious new ESG strategy launched earlier this year. The strategy, which is fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is built around three key pillars: Healthier Futures, Positive Contribution to Society, and a Safe & Inclusive Workplace. These pillars will be the essence of Imperial’s new booth at the exhibition, which has been crafted from sustainable materials, emitting less emissions and waste, for a better climate.

Christian Münstermann added: “There is no doubt that sustainability is a vital part of our industry today. This is why we are excited to share our new global ESG strategy, as well as achievements, with our partners in Cannes.

At Imperial, we view sustainability as a journey whereby ‘the how’ we achieve our goals, is equally as important as the goals themselves. We are acting with a challenger mindset in our approach to ESG responsibilities. Inspired by the strong belief that a robust future of our channel can be created by focusing on making a distinctive contribution to the environment, local communities, and the wellbeing of Imperial’s people, for many more tomorrows to come.”

The Imperial Brands team is looking forward to sharing more on these plans with partners and stakeholders in Cannes. For more information, please visit the Imperial Brands stand, GO 6 in the Golden Village, during the TFWA World Conference & Exhibition.

Nestlé brings Food category mission to Cannes

Nestlé ITR is returning to its Beach Village location, at TFWA World Exhibition, this year with its clear mission – Building Food into the #1 Category in Travel Retail. 

As the world’s leading food company, Nestlé believes it is best placed to champion this growth strategy and, says ITR general manager Stewart Dryburgh, it’s clear that industry retailers agree with the principle. “During 2022 we have been engaging directly with our retail partners, who are embracing the opportunity to grow sales by thinking of food beyond confectionery,” he says.

Following the launch of the strategy Nestlé commissioned global travel research company M1nd-set to further validate the opportunity and understand the appeal of different categories and the key shopper occasion for major food subcategories. 

Key headlines from the research include the fact that Food (including Confectionery) has the highest appeal of any category at 69% with Beauty second at 59%. Furthermore, Millennials (the fastest growing segment) are even higher at 75%.  The likelihood to buy coffee was overwhelmingly positive (81%) with biscuits also performing strongly. 

During TFWA WE, Nestlé will be unveiling more details and discussing directly with retail partners how this extensive study can inform the category assortment and drive growth. 

“Food, including confectionery, is already the #1 driver of cross-category purchase and the second most purchased category. This gives us a very strong platform from which to build,” continues Dryburgh. “In Cannes, we will be discussing these opportunities with our partners, including a focus on both coffee and the fast-emerging health and wellness segment – incredibly relevant yet extremely under-developed within our distribution channel.”

Nestlé’s Food strategy will be delivered through the VERSE model: Value, Engagement, Regeneration, Sense of Place and Execution. “Each of these drivers is critical in achieving our goal and giving the consumer the best shopping experience. Fast rising inflation and cost of living are of great concern, but we are confident that the combination of accessible price points and high consumer appeal means that the food category can be a key growth driver. In fact, it has been one of the most resilient categories during previous downturns,” Dryburgh explains.

During customer meetings Nestlé will be unveiling investments across all the levers including products that will create Value, driving Engagement across the journey with digital tools from the Digitally Connected Shopper as well as Sense of Place initiatives. 

In terms of Regeneration, a key focus for all TR stakeholders, Cannes also provides the perfect opportunity for Nestlé to showcase its world-leading Regeneration and sustainable packaging strategy. 

Smarties introduced recyclable paper packaging for all its confectionery products globally last year and this is one of many Nestlé’s sustainable packaging initiatives including`; sourcing - all chocolate sourced using 100% sustainable cocoa via the Nestlé  Cocoa Plan; this year’s introduction of KITKAT Vegan traveller’s pack and the Nestlé  Income Accelerator plan which helps farmers to reach a living income (awarded Sustainability Hero status in the recent TRBusiness awards).

Last, but not least, visitors to the stand (Beach 7) will also be able to view Nestlé’s full travel retail product portfolio of global icons such as KITKAT – including the highly successful SENSES range - SMARTIES and NESCAFE, alongside travel retail exclusive brand NESTLÉ  SWISS, and local favourites AFTER EIGHT and QUALITY STREET.  

“The whole team at Nestlé are delighted to be back in Cannes. We know there are still major challenges facing the industry, but we also know that there is a strong consumer desire to travel. This year we have experienced increases in footfall in Europe, the Middle East, and North America, while it’s also good to see most of Asia now starting to open up. We’re looking forward to a very busy and productive week in Cannes as we continue our mission to make Food the No 1 most purchased category in travel retail,” concludes Dryburgh.

Travel retail industry first: Bitmore introduces carbon neutral Snoooza neck pillows

Travel retail company Bitmore™ has unveiled a new range of comfort neck pillows with sustainability credentials at a level unique to the channel. Named Snoooza, the pillows come in two models, one made from recycled memory foam (RRP £20, weighing 227g) and the other with recycled ABS beads (RRP £15, 120g).

 

The neck pillow models – both of which are made with GRS recycled material with hygroscopic anti-perspiration yarn – set new environmental standards for transparency and validation of materials used. They are 100% certified GRS and carbon neutral.

 

Both models fold up into small pouches, also made from recycled materials, making them ideal for use inflight.

 

The pillows are made from high-quality, certified, recycled fibre made from reclaimed plastic bottles collected within 50 kilometres of coastlines in countries or areas that lack formal waste or recycling systems.

 

 Bitmore said this will enable its customers and consumers to play a role in solving the ever-growing problem of ocean plastic. The company pointed out that each year at least 8.8 million tons of plastics make their way into the ocean, which is the equivalent of dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute. 

 

In addition, at least 80% of plastic flows into the oceans from land, and at current rates, there will be more plastic by weight than fish by 2050.

 

Bitmore CEO Hoj Parmar said: “Statistics relating to ocean plastic are very disturbing, so this one of the big reasons that as a responsible player in travel retail we are delighted to introduce our Snoooza pillows to the market. I believe these luxurious neck pillows are the first to be carbon neutral in our industry and we are very proud of that. 

 

“From any single fibre yarn removed from the pillow, we can validate our material is authentic and the material used is 100% made from PET recycled plastic bottles. 

 

“Compared to using virgin fibre, the recycled fibre we use significantly offsets using new petroleum, emitting fewer greenhouse gases and conserving water and energy in the process. That makes a big difference for our future.”

 

Each individual recycled ABS bead Snoooza pillow will have a label that states how many plastic bottles were recycled to make it.

 

The recycled memory foam Snoooza is available in 3 colours: Grey/Lime Green, Grey/Tangerine Orange and Grey/Aqua Blue.

 

The recycled beads Snoooza is available in 4 colours: Smoke Grey, Tangerine Orange, Aqua Blue and Mustard Yellow.

 

The Snoooza neck pillows can be viewed by potential customers for the first time at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes at the Bitmore stand in Blue Village F23.

Brockmans Gin partners with Premium Brands Group to expand its presence in Central and South America

Brockmans gin has taken steps to accelerate its expansion into Central & South America with the appointment of Premium Brands Group (PBG) Panama as logistics and commercial partner for both domestic and travel retail markets in the region.

JP AUCHER

PIERPAOLO

Brockmans is the largest independent British super premium gin, available in more than 55 markets worldwide.

PBG is well known as a highly respected distribution company, specialising in wines and spirits, fast-moving consumer goods and personal care items. Focusing on local and international markets, they have a particularly strong presence in Central and South America.

Brockman Gin’s International VP Pierpaolo Indelicato comments: “The Central and South America region represents a significant growth opportunity for the Super Premium Gin category and, therefore, for Brockmans. Through the partnership with PBG, we will be able to increase our commercial and marketing support to existing distributor partners, expand our market reach in both domestic and travel retail and open new and high potential markets like Brazil.”

Brockmans’ travel retail consultant JP Aucher who has high regard for PBG added: “I’ve known Alberto Gutman and his team for many years and their expertise in the region is unequivocal.  

“The gin category is growing apace in Central and South America and the appetite for super premium gin from respected international brands points to clear and distinct opportunities within the travel retail sector for Brockmans. I’m delighted to be steering this new partnership with PBG.”

Adds PBG owner Alberto Gutman: “At PBG we pride ourselves on building meaningful and effective working relationships, understanding both the needs of the marketplace and our brand partners. Our success is evident from the portfolio of brands we have established over the years. We are more than delighted to partner with Brockmans Gin to add newness, originality and super-premium quality to our offer. It’s a highly distinctive gin which, we are confident, will do extremely well both domestically and in travel retail.”

Henkell Freixenet will focus on brand activations & GTR exclusives to grow market share

Henkell Freixenet Global Export will introduce GTR exclusives across its sparkling wine portfolio at the TFWA WE conference in Cannes this October. The sparkling wine market leader aims to leverage its market position to further grow in the GTR channel.

“As we target further growth in the sparkling wine category, the Henkell Freixenet Group will stronger engage in the GTR channels and showcase our global icon brands such as Freixenet, Henkell and Mionetto. GTR is a strategic focus and a further opportunity to grow brand presence in global markets,” says Sandra Janetzki, Senior Vice President at Henkell Freixenet Global Export.

Fiscal Year 2021 Review & GTR development

 Henkell Freixenet, the sparkling wine, wine and spirits division of Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen KG, closed 2021 with a sales increase of 11% to €1,326mn (incl. excise taxes)

 The ‘House of Brands’, within which the company is consistently continuing its focus on strong global and local brands, was the driver for the double-digit sales growth.

 GTR in particular saw a successful year for the company with a strong bounce back of sales. Across the brand portfolio, GTR grew due to the recovery of existing business and new business with ferries and cruises. Sales at the airports were not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, but the GTR division saw good increases from inflight business, especially in Europe and the US last summer. There were strong sales in the smaller Piccolo bottle format that are very popular.

 Overall, Henkell Freixenet has a market share of 27,4% in the sparkling wine category in GTR (IWSR, sparkling wine incl. champagne) and is the leading company in this category.

Return to airport activations

“In 2022 we returned to seasonal brand activations for our core GTR brands Mionetto, Henkell, Freixenet as well as our premium Riesling Wine Estate Schloss Johannisberg. Highlights of 2022 were our Mionetto Prosecco tasting promotion in April, at the Air One launch event of Urban-Air Port in the UK and a Henkell tasting bar promotion in Berlin’s T2 in partnership with Heinemann Duty Free & Travel Value Shop during June and July.

Mionetto Prosecco x Urban-Air Port launch sponsorship

At the end of April, Mionetto Prosecco sponsored the Urban-Air Port launch event in Coventry, UK. The Urban-Air Port event debuted the company’s vertiport hubs for passenger air taxis and delivery/ logistics drones – providing the infrastructure on the ground to support sustainable air mobility. At the launch, guests enjoyed spraling moments with Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso Brut and Mionetto Prosecco Rosé at the Mionetto bar.

Activations at airports

In June and July, the Henkell Tasting Bar opened at Berlin Airport Terminal 2, to offer travellers the opportunity to taste a selected portfolio of Henkell sparkling wines. Henkell Trocken, Henkell Rosé and Henkell Brut Vintage were served. The Henkell Bar promotion was in partnership with Gebr. Heinemann and was located next to the till area of the Heinemann Duty Free & Travel Value Shop, where travellers received a Henkell Trocken Piccolo gift with purchase. The promotion saw a strong double-digit sales growth in June and July vs the previous month.

“We are eager to continue these successes with more core brand / core airport activations at holiday times to capitalise on increased PAX. ‘Liquid to lips’ and the enhanced consumer knowledge of sparkling wine products is an important strategy for our brands’ growth in GTR,” says Janetzki.

Over the remainder of 2022 and into 2023, the company plans several in-store activations with backwall advertisements across European airports in Heinemann stores for strategic brands Henkell, Freixenet as well as Schloss Johannisberg, Pott Rum and Wodka Gorbatschow.

Airline partners & in-flight promotions

In 2021 and 2022 a number of Henkell Freixenet brands returned to airline menus: Fürst von Metternich 200ml and Mionetto Il Spritz are stocked on flight menus with Lufthansa and Eurowings. Meanwhile Lufthansa offers Segura Viudas and Menger Krug as welcome drinks for its Business Class travellers. Henkell, Kuemmerling and Wodka Gorbatschow are also stocked as part of the in-flight offer on-board of Lufthansa.

Global Travel Retail exclusive and premium products

This year’s TFWA WE showcase features new GTR exclusives as well as premium products from the Henkell Freixenet House of Brands:

Mionetto Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG Brut, Luxury Line : Besides showcasing its internationally known Prestige Collection with hero products Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso and Prosecco Rosé DOC, Mionetto is presenting Mionetto Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG Brut as a brand new product within the recently updated Luxury Collection. Considered the premium line of the brand, the Luxury Collection blends together the Mionetto winemaking excellence and the prestigious tradition of Venetian glass artists, thus emphasizing Mionetto’s unmistakable DNA. Within this collection, the Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG Brut, with its recognizable orange label, will be launched as an exclusive product to the GTR sector. The grapes for this product are taken from vineyards of the renowned slopes of the Valdobbiadene DOCG area and create a Spumante with a fine and persistent perlage, fresh, balanced and elegant, with scents that are evocative of ripe fruits, honey and acacia blossoms.

Schloss Johannisberg: Henkell Freixent is proud to present Schloss Johannisberg wines for the GTR market. Thanks to their region-typical, authentic and individual character, the exclusively Riesling wines produced at Schloss Johannisberg have a global fan base. The world’s oldest Riesling winery was the only German wine producer to be included in Drinks International Magazine’s ‘Most Admired Wine Brands 2022’ list for its Schloss Johannisberg Goldlack (2019), which received the highest score of 100 points for a dry wine in its annual awards list.

Freixenet Elyssia: Spearheading a luxury positioning for the brand, Freixenet Elyssia Cava will relaunch for 2023 with a redesigned bottle and more contemporary label, designed with younger customers in mind. The premium Freixenet Elyssia range combines honest enjoyment with a touch of luxury to transform any moment into a celebration. The range comprises Elyssia Gran Cuvee Brut and Elyssia Pinot Noir appealing to people with sophisticated tastes who want a luxurious Cava experience. Not only does the range have new packaging after its relaunch, it also has a new positioning that reflects key brand values such as premiumness, cosmopolitanism, simple elegance and seduction.

Another new product that is offered in the GTR sector is the Pott Eierlikör on Rum Base, originally for the German market, which has exceeded the company’s sales expectations so far in 2022.

Sustainable wine making

During Cannes, Henkell Freixenet will be championing Segura Viudas, a premium Cava brand with a very long tradition and a clear approach to sustainable wine making. The brand had a design relaunch in 2021 and Segura Viudas Organic now also appears in the new look and feel.

Segura Viudas has an outstanding wine-making expertise that follows strict standards and care for sustainability in order to protect the land in the Penedés region which has nourished vineyards for 800 years. Segura Viudas is committed to studying and sustaining the rich and diverse ecosystem that has developed over centuries around the estate. As a result of its research and development, Segura Viudas has been awarded the environmental Wineries for Climate Protection certificate. Criteria for receiving this certificate include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and waste with a clear goal to minimalize the carbon footprint. Segura Viudas Organic Cava has a grape to bottle approach – all the processes in its production are in line with respect for nature and environmental sustainability.

No and Low Alcohol category

Alcohol-free will be part of the Henkell Freixenet brand portfolio this year in Cannes. Henkell Freixenet Global Export will be presenting its comprehensive range in the category, including Freixenet Alcohol-Free, Henkell Alcohol-Free and Henkell Alcohol- Free Rosé, Mionetto 0.0%.

“We see it as a category with consumer interest growing in this type of product year-on- year,” says Janetzki. Our brands Mionetto, Henkell and Freixenet include great tasting alcohol-free products that the company believes will see increased consumer demand for the GTR channel.

Henkel Freixenet will return to its regular stand position at the TFWA WE: Blue F11 – in the Blue Village.

About Henkell Freixenet

Henkell Freixenet is the German-Spanish alliance of the family-owned companies Henkell, based in Wiesbaden, Germany, and Freixenet, based in Sant Sadurni D’Anoia, Spain. The company is the world’s leading sparkling wine producer and has a unique portfolio of brands for sparkling wine, still wine and spirits. Global brands such as Freixenet, Mionetto and Henkell are part of the group, as well as I heart Wines, Schloss Johannisberg and a portfolio of multiple award-winning wineries and brands. The highest standards of quality and craftsmanship drive the Henkell Freixenet team just as much as the vision of representing every tenth glass of sparkling wine worldwide in the medium term.

 For further information www.henkell-freixenet.com