Mars Wrigley ITR ready to unlock Asia-Pacific Travel Retail market

MARS WRIGLEY ITR is delighted to be returning to TFWA Asia Pacific this year (stand 2-H22). The Asia-Pacific Travel Retail markets hold a significant growth potential for the confectionary category, in isolation and versus other regions. MWITR is much looking forward to be engaging with partners in the region and to discuss how to drive category growth and unlock the potential of this region together. 

“In many of the domestic markets in the Asia-Pacific region, confectionary is a developed, and incremental category, engaging consumers with fun and exciting content, leveraging some very well-loved brands. However, this engagement in the category is not represented in many travel-retail markets in the region. This is something we are excited to change, and due to the size of our business in domestic markets in the region, Mars is well positioned to drive this change”, says Marcus Hudson Sales Director for Mars Wrigley ITR.

“Confectionary is not like other categories in Travel Retail, and to build it we need to do things differently – a truly category first approach, driven by consumption moments that we know are top of mind at the point of sale, needs to be taken.” Hudson will be sharing some perspectives on this during the conference on Monday 8th May.

The company will also share more on the evolution of their ITR portfolio in line with their view on the category. This will include the new gifting innovation:  Maltesers Truffles. 

Available to travel retail in a 200g and 336g box, both presented in a gift-worthy carton that’s perfect for sharing, Maltesers Truffles offer the best of both worlds, combining a crunchy malt filling with honeycomb pieces and a creamy milk chocolate coating.  

Hudson: “Gifting remains the biggest segment within the travel retail confectionery category, and we know that travellers are becoming more budget conscious. Our gifting portfolio is designed to offer affordable gift choices in the three key price brackets, with this new Maltesers Truffles presentation designed to attract younger shoppers to the category.  This new variant is sure to attract attention from shoppers who we know, are keen to try new flavours from their favourite brands,” says Hudson. During the MWITR sponsored lunch on Monday 8th May, you will get the opportunity to sample Maltesers Truffles. 

The Maltesers Truffles offer fulfils the gifting ‘moment’ within MWITR’s updated category vision and strategy, mentioned above. First announced at TFWA World Exhibition last year, the strategy highlights ‘moments’ as the key enabler to unlock further category growth. Alongside the ‘give a gift’ moment, these opportunities include ‘enjoying travel time together’, ‘refresh & energize on the go’ and ‘unwind and indulge’.

The Mars Wrigley ITR team looks forward to welcoming customers at its stand at TFWA Asia Pacific. 

WILLIAM GRANT HIGHLIGHTS GLENFIDDICH PERPETUAL COLLECTION AT TFWA ASIA PACIFIC

William Grant & Sons returns to TFWA Asia Pacific this year with the eye-catching two-story stand that personifies its investment and commitment to travel retail within the region (Stand number Basement 2 N19).

The focus of the exhibition will be the Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection, the brand’s biggest launch in global travel retail in the last decade. Featuring four single malt whiskies, each matured within vats that have never been emptied, adding continuous layers to flavours, the Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection began its global travel retail launch in August 2022.

The Collection 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. 

Perfectly timed to capitalise on the opening up of Asia post-Covid, the Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection has featured extensively since its launch in key regional airports, including Haikou Meilan, Singapore Changi and Taiwan Taoyuan Airports, where the brand’s ground-breaking immersive pop-up concept has maximised the awareness and visibility of this innovative new single malt collection.

The importance of Glenfiddich and the new Perpetual Collection for Asia is further underlined by its prominence at TFWA Asia Pacific this year, heading up an 

exceptional portfolio of brands supported by dynamic, innovative and unique digitally led experiences.  Visitors to the stand will be able to experience the digital screens with motion sensors used  for the pop up in Changi airport.

 

Comments David Wilson, Managing Director, Global Travel Retail, William Grant & Sons: “As the world continues to recover from the unprecedented challenges of the Covid pandemic, we are thrilled to now see a strong resurgence in passenger traffic across Asia Pacific. 

“Whilst the pandemic was disruptive, it also provided us the opportunities to work closely with our valued partners and continue to offer exciting brand and consumer experiences. 

“Our New Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection, which is exclusive to Travel Retail, we believe has brought fresh excitement for Glenfiddich and Travel Retail. It has been one of our biggest launches to date, achieving excellent distribution, brand awareness and excitement!

“We are delighted to join our fellow industry colleagues at this year’s TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore to celebrate the encouraging progress of our channel, reaffirming our commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences for our valued customers.”

William Grant & Sons  will host a happy hour on the stand from 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday May 9th/10th.

Ritter Sport brings ‘Hygge’ into airports with new Travel Retail Edition Winter Selection Tower

Iconic German chocolate specialist Ritter Sport has launched a new Travel Retail Edition Winter Selection Tower 5x100g set to launch into global travel retail markets from August 2023. 

Taking its inspiration from the Scandinavian Hygge lifestyle trend, Ritter Sport’s latest Travel Retail Edition Winter Selection Tower is exclusive to the channel and features five delicious winter-warming 100g bars of chocolate that are packed with the best ingredients and contain cocoa from 100% sustainable certified cocoa sources. 

Travel Retail Edition Winter Selection Tower 5x100g:

The Winter Selection Tower includes three different 100g winter flavours: Crunchy Creamy Winter, a mix of milk chocolate and cocoa crème with winter spices together with the crunch of caramelized almond pieces; White Cinnamon Crisp, a blend of white chocolate with cinnamon and rice crispy bits; and Caramelized Almonds, a flavoursome combination of milk chocolate mixed with chopped, caramelized sugar-glazed almonds.    

The new TR Edition Winter Selection Tower is intended to be a celebration of all things Nordic and Hygge and features a special winter graphic design on packs. The limited edition tower pack includes x2 Crunchy Creamy Winter 100g bars, x 2 Caramelized Almond 100g bars and x1 White Cinnamon Crisp 100g bar for chocolate lovers to enjoy and savour the delicious flavour combinations in warm and cosy surroundings as the autumn and winter months approach. 

With its Hygge* theme and delicious, warming chocolate flavours and crispy textures, the new TR Edition Winter Selection Tower is a perfect gift choice for chocolate lovers with a passion for new winter flavours.

“Our new Winter Selection Tower is inspired by the Nordics trend for Hygge; it’s made with love and features beautifully designed packaging intended to bring cosiness home,” says Ritter Sport Managing Director Global Travel Retail Jan Pasold.  “We know this is a trend our customers will love and we knew it would work well as a travel retail edition. Ritter Sport is committed to extending as many of our best-selling flavours to our TR Editions range as possible,” he says.

The Travel Edition Winter Selection Tower can be seen on the Ritter Sport stand at TFWA Asia Pacific (Basement 2 K33).

* a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).

Glenfiddich partners with BAFTA-winning Japanese artist Fantasista Utamaro to unveil their limited edition Grand Yozakura 29 Year Old scotch whisky through a digital art experience

Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, celebrates the arrival of the limited-edition Grand Yozakura 29 Year Old scotch whisky with a series of contemporary digital art installations designed by Japanese artist, director and designer, Fantasista ‘Uta’ Utamaro.

The installations will appear in major airports in the months when cherry blossoms are in peak bloom. Participating airport spaces (Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong) will be showing one  of four different artworks on a digital screen at a time. In addition, for a fully immersive experience, Taipei and Hong Kong wil have VR headsets that allow you to step into a one of its kind virtual gallery to view all four artworks up close alongside exclusive behind the scenes videos with Uta. For locations without oculus headsets, QR codes will be available for users to access the virtual gallery via their phones or desktop.

Utamaro’s creations keep Yozakura at its heart; the celebration of the iconic Japanese cherry blossoms, viewed whilst illuminated at night. Passionate about integrating the beauty of Japanese culture into his work, taking inspiration from various other symbols of Japanese culture, Utamaro has applied his signature technicolour sensibilities to capture the essence of a cherry blossom in full bloom against a night sky. 

Joining the prestigious Grand Series range, Grand Yozakura is the first single malt scotch whisky finished in exceptionally rare Japanese ex-Awamori casks. A fusion of Scottish and Japanese distilling and paying homage to Japanese tradition and culture, the innovative release is inspired by Hanami - the ancient tradition where Japan appreciates the fleeting beauty of nature through the Sakura (cherry blossom). A time for renewal and optimism, the festival is best experienced illuminated after dark where it is known as the Yozakura or ‘night sakura’. Grand Yozakura champions the moment of fleeting beauty when Japanese cherry blossoms are admired under the light of the moon. Reflecting its namesake and the temporal nature of beauty, only a limited number of Grand Yozakura bottles are available globally. 

This fleeting moment captures a time where nature is honoured and this marriage of rare liquids, once gone, will never be replicated presenting the chance to experience a collision of cultures and flavours.

Claudia Falcone, Glenfiddich Global Brand Director, said: 

“The Grand Series underpins Glenfiddich’s spirit of innovation and Grand Yozakura is no exception. It is perhaps the most ground-breaking expression to sit alongside the series so far, whilst also being the first 

limited edition release. Bringing together two scarce components accentuates the anticipation and sense of occasion, paying homage to the brand’s innovative nature when it comes to creating dynamic whiskies of the highest quality. We’re thrilled to be working with Utamaro on this project and his passion for creating pieces of art really demonstrate and reflect the rarity and spirit of the new liquid.”  

Within each installation, the digital screens will act as ever-changing canvases to draw in passers-by. In total, four distinct pieces of art have been created by Utamaro yet only one will be showcased at a time, with a new piece displayed each week to emphasise the fleetingness of its existence, harking back to Hanami. The four artworks are unique; each depicting the simple beauty of Yozakura but each incorporating a different different symbol of Japanese culture such as the imposing Sakasa Fuji mountain, the crane, the night sky and the playful Koi fish. The moving artworks come to life as you watch, where the digital animations evolve from inception to final form through a timelapse. This dynamic display of art and technology is a testament to Glenfiddich's commitment to innovation and creativity. 

Fantasista Utamaro said:

“Creating this art, that showcases the beauty of Japanese culture, has been an honour. I like to push the boundaries of what people expect from traditional art; blending technicolour and manga-style to bring Japanese symbols of culture to life. I enjoyed using these digital artworks to represent elements of the Scottish and Japanese processes used to create the whisky itself such as the inclusion of the iconic Glenfiddich stag head incorporated with Yozakura.”

The liquid is now available in select airports and countries worldwide from April and is presented in a beautifully crafted bottle. To learn more about Grand Yozakura, the artist and Glenfiddich visit https://www.glenfiddich.com/grand-yozakura and the virtual gallery can be viewed here.

ENDS

Perfetti Van Melle eyes growth in Europe and Middle East, rolls out activation programme in 2023

Leading sugar-confectionery company Perfetti Van Melle (PVM), is highlighting 2023 as a year for growth in its key Europe and Middle East markets, as the company reports its global travel retail sales were getting back on track in 2022. 

PVM experienced “better than expected” second-half year sales for its travel retail division in 2022 with growth coming from “good recovery” in Europe and the Middle East as travellers in these regions returned to international travel and picked up best-selling confectionery products such as the Chupa Chups Mega Chups and Backpacks. PVM is also looking ahead with optimism to China and Asia-Pacific as these markets open up more rapidly this year, bringing plenty of potential. 

For 2023 PVM is focusing more on activations to boost the brand awareness and be even more relevant to the consumer’s travel journey. This year PVM will boost brand activations in their own way, with a wheel of fortune, unique GWPs and mascots. A highlight of the coming year is the eye-catching Chupa Chups customer engagement kiosk, which was well received at the TFWA WE show in October. During the year, the activations are planned in different locations all over the world. The beginning of the year saw PVM kick off with a Chupa Chups activation at Istanbul Airport in partnership with Gebr. Heinemann focusing on the Chupa Chups sunglasses as a GWP. 

“2023 is a year of investments across the board for our GTR division,” said PVM Brand Manager, GTR Femke van Veen. “We are investing in people, promotions and training this year and we will be back to taking part in industry events in a big way, to ensure we are talking to our travel retail partners in our key regions and markets.” Training is seen as a particularly important element of this year’s strategy with a programme focussing on optimising customer experience within the GTR retail space. 

PVM notes there are clearly still challenges with supply chain issues and ongoing concerns around consumer spending power while many regions are experiencing a cost of living crisis. But the company is confident that the Chupa Chups and Mentos brands will continue to offer great value, bringing fun and unique products to families around the world. 

Upcoming shows & NPDs: 

PVM will be participating at the upcoming Summit of Americas show in April in West Palm Beach, Florida with a presence on the Otis McAllister stand 201. PVM will also have its own stand at the TFWA Asia-Pacific conference in May (2-K27), where it will reveal a number of new product developments for its Mentos Jumborolls and Mentos Mints brands. 

PVM showcased several new products last year in Cannes, due to hit the market in April / May 2023. These include a Mentos Mini fan, new Chupa Chups backpack characters the pink flamingo and green dino and Chupa Chups markers with a playful Looney Tunes design. To facilitate increasing basket spend PVM transformed its Mentos Gum bottles into smaller and handy to grab bottles. And additionally expanded the range with two additional flavours.   

At the TFWA Asia Pacific show in Singapore this May, PVM will show how it continuously aims to improve product designs and provide travellers with a great and exclusive product experience.  “With the changing needs of travellers we have focused on an updated design for our iconic Mentos Jumborolls,” said van Veen. 

“PVM will target the travel retail market with exclusive packaging designs showing different means of transportation. The new look Jumborolls are available in Fruit, Mint, Cola, Berry, Strawberry and Liquorice flavours.” 

New for Chupa Chups is the sugar free box. It can be placed at the cash till or in dedicated sustainability areas. It contains six sugar free assorted lollipops (in Strawberry, Cherry and Cola flavours). 

And as a company well known for its refreshment items, PVM now offers travellers all over the globe its new Mentos Mints. The Mentos Mints will easily fit your bag and the flip-top feature makes it super easy to open and stay fresh. The attractive metal tin immediately denotes a premium feeling. The perfect refreshment in Peppermint and Strawberry flavour whilst travelling or before a meeting. 

NESTLÉ returns to the Hainan Expo with latest TR Exclusives

Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) is delighted to be participating at the forthcoming China International Consumer Product Expo, being held at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, Haikou, from April 11-15.  As part of the Nestlé stand at the Expo, NITR will have a dedicated wallbay to highlight key travel retail brands KIT KAT, NESCAFÉ and NESTLÉ SWISS. 

At the expo, Nestlé plans to increase awareness about its duty-free range available in the China Duty Free zone whilst reinforcing its ambition of driving food to become the #1 most shopped category in travel retail. Visitors to the expo will be able to see for themselves the most recent additions to the Nestlé portfolio including all four flavours of the KITKAT® Senses Tablets and KITKAT® Share Bags, which includes the Chunky Minis Bag 250g, Share Bag Break Time 517g and Minis Bag 250g.

NESTLÉ SWISS® has been a true success story in travel retail, delivering 100% Swiss chocolate and a true brand experience. Deliciousness wrapped, the latest introductions from NESTLÉ SWISS® include 170g Indulgent Tablets in four flavours: Dark Blueberries, Almond & Hazelnut, Dark Candied Orange Peel Pieces & Cocoa Nibs, Milk Cranberries, Hazelnut & Almond and Milk Raisins, Almonds & Hazelnuts. The NESTLÉ SWISS® Chunks Bag 470g will also be on display.

The NESCAFÉ variants on display will be NESCAFÉ Gold Roastery Dark and Light, NESCAFÉ Azera Americano, Americano Decaff and Americano Intense.

Comments Nestlé ITR Global Head of Marketing Aura Sanchez: “It’s been an exceptionally challenging time for China during the Covid pandemic, but Hainan has continued to shine through, and this Expo has become a massively important date in the annual events diary. We are delighted to exhibit again as part of the Nestlé China corporate stand, introducing the latest additions to our unique portfolio of globally loved confectionery brands –now available to Chinese consumers, not just in Hainan, but internationally as they are able to travel again.”

Ritter Sport showcases new mini Tower flavour mix at Summit of the Americas

Ritter Sport, the German, family-owned chocolate brand will showcase its latest range of Travel Exclusive products at next month’s IAADFS Summit of the Americas conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

The iconic brand, known for its squared, colourful and tasty chocolate bars is strongly committed to further enlarge its footprint in the Americas travel retail market. Visitors to this year’s conference can discover Ritter Sport’s latest Travel Exclusive products on the Otis McAllister stand, 201. 

“Otis McAllister and Ritter Sport started our valued partnership shortly before the pandemic. Now we are working together again to focus on widening the distribution and the availability of our German-made, family-owned, squared and colourful best ingredients chocolate at all important airports in the Americas. We are also committed to growing our cruise and border shops business in the region,” said Jan Pasold, Managing Director, Global Travel Retail Ritter Sport.    

Mini Tower new flavour mix

Brand new to the US travel retail market is Ritter Sport’s Mini Tower new flavour mix. As an extension of the successful Ritter Sport Mini Tower range, a new fresh flavour mix in taste and colour will be launched in 2023. 

The Mini Tower 250g includes 15 mini bars in 5 different flavours offering the perfect mix of fruity, milky and crunchy textures. The colourful pastel-hued flavour mix includes two of Ritter Sport’s top flavours – mini Strawberry Yogurt with real fruit pieces, strawberry yoghurt creme and crunchy rice crisps and mini Alpine Milk with its characteristic caramel and honey flavour. In addition, mini Fine Milk Chocolate with its high content of fine cocoa from Peru, crunchy mini Cornflakes and mini Butter Biscuit together create the perfect flavour mix. 

Mini Tower landmark Individualisation

During the Summit of the Americas, Ritter Sport will also present its successful Mini Towers in individualised sleeves with well-known landmark designs. Ritter Sport will focus its landmark campaign at the following five American airports: Texas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Detroit. This simple but creative execution can have a big impact to create an additional purchase incentive for the traveller.

Yes, vegan!

Ritter Sport is planning to continue the success story of its vegan varieties with the rollout of the new range to the Americas travel retail market later this year.

Made for ‘everyone who doesn't want to miss out on anything - especially not the flavour’, the vegan Ritter Sport varieties come without milk, but are just as chocolatey as you would expect from the colourful squares. As for the entire range, Ritter Sport sources 100% certified sustainable cocoa for its five vegan varieties - Mild Classic, Crunchy Almond, Crunchy Whole Nut and new varieties Roasted Peanut and Salted Caramel. 

The product design in fresh, modern colours communicates the added value of the range. The official EU Vegan label facilitates orientation at the PoS. The large “V” on the front of the packaging also attracts attention and, as with the entire range, the claim “100% certified sustainable cocoa sourcing” is indicative of Ritter Sport’s commitment.