BRAZIL. Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) has partnered with Avolta to unveil two renovated brand spaces at São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on 7 November.
The two refreshed spaces are dedicated to KitKat and the wider Nestlé portfolio, respectively. The opening comes at a pivotal moment for KitKat, following the brand’s landmark global partnership with Formula 1.
The three-year collaboration designated KitKat as the Official Chocolate Bar of F1, marking Nestlé’s largest global brand partnership to date. The landmark partnership is set to play a central role in NITR’s strategy to elevate confectionery in travel retail with F1 boasting a global fanbase of more than 827 million across diverse demographics.
The partnership will feature in seasonal activations, promotional exclusives and campaign-led storytelling in-store.
“This is not just renovated permanent visibility; it’s a symbol of a shared vision, put in place just days before the F1 Grand Prix here in Sao Paulo,” said NITR General Manager Frédéric Porchet.
“Together, Nestlé and Avolta are on a mission to transform travel retail.
“We aim to accelerate category growth by engaging travellers like never before,” he added. “We believe in delivering immersive experiences that delight a new generation of passengers, championing health and sustainability for conscious consumers and making duty free the go-to destination for affordable gifting and great experiences.
“This ambitious vision is only possible because of partnerships built on shared goals and mutual trust.”
According to NITR, the KitKat and Nestlé spaces are designed to Attract, Convert, and help the whole category Thrive, following Nestlé’s new and innovative A.C.T. category framework.
Porchet explained, “We all recognise the challenge in our industry: only a small fraction of travellers even set foot in the confectionery area today, and of those who do, only about half end up making a purchase.
“But imagine the potential if we can change that? Just by attracting a few more of those passengers into the stores and inspiring a few more to buy, we can unlock tremendous growth. And that is exactly what we intend to do.”
He continued: “Today, this beautiful new space is the first stage of A.C.T. in action – the very first step of our plan to address those footfall and conversion challenges.
“It embodies everything we stand for: a bold, engaging space that invites travellers in, delights them with the world of KitKat and Nestlé, and sets the stage for sustained growth.”
The launch also aligns strongly with Avolta’s Destination 2027 strategy, which focuses on elevating customer experience and placing the traveller firmly at the centre of the retail journey.
Avolta Brazil CEO Gustavo Fagundes commented: “It is very rewarding to take part in such a consumer experience project with KitKat. It reinforces our obsession with consumer centricity and we are confident that this activation will be a success.”
Porchet added, “On behalf of the whole NITR Team, I would like to warmly thank Avolta, our long-standing partner, for their trust in us and for giving us the opportunity to create something different, something exceptional.
“We have the strategy, the innovations, the in-store execution and most importantly the determination to make it happen. Together, we are turning a shared vision into reality. This is just the beginning – the first act of A.C.T. – and I have no doubt the best is yet to come.” ✈
