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.”

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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.