SWITZERLAND. Launching an innovative new spring/summer range at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last week, Lindt’s outlook for 2004 is more positive following the devastating impact of SARS and war on its duty free business this year.
As Lindt & Sprüngli duty free promotion and media manager Europe Anja Schwartz readily admits, survival and recovery were key factors for suppliers in 2003, rather than driving spend on point-of-sale in airports which were almost empty in parts of Asia Pacific earlier this year.
But Lindt & Sprüngli has long been the leading premium chocolate supplier in global duty free, with tried and trusted strategies, which it says should enable the company to easily bounce-back from the turbulence of 2003.
Its exclusive product range in duty free and travel retail introduces three to four new launches every year, as well as line extensions and re-launches. The products always endorse a sense of quality, through tastings and the emphasis on Swiss heritage and the traditional process of chocolate making. In its product portfolio there is always a maintained balance between formal and informal gifting with emotional and contemporary package design, and products for self-consumption.
Schwartz told The Moodie Report in Cannes that the biggest contributor to growth this year for Lindt & Sprüngli had been in the Middle East. Present in 85 markets, as well as featuring onboard several airlines such as Lufthansa, BA, Swiss Air and Gulf Air, the company’s focus next year will be improving the offer in each of these markets rather than targeting new regions.
The latest duty free exclusive product from Lindt is its spring/summer range (pictured) launched at TFWA World last week. The fresh-yellow pastel and golden embossed packaged collection includes Swiss Carrés Stracciatella, a 300g box containing 32 dark chocolate squares filled with a white cream on chocolate chips.
The Pralinés “Nouvelle Confiserie” is a 250g gift box containing 50 small, light summer pralines with Stracciatella, Lemon, Orange blossom, Caramel and Gianduja flavours. Finally a 368g Gift Ballotin of 36 assorted pralines has been launched with the same summer packaging.
These products will be available in all duty free markets from March 2004.
In addition, Lindt & Sprüngli has expanded its popular Napolitains Range to include two more sizes, a 250g and a 750g carrier box. The Napolitains are ideal for self-consumption of informal gifting, and the two new sizes will be available in duty free outlets from January 2004.
With regard to promotions for 2004, Lindt & Sprüngli is currently negotiating some high profile events in order to drive volume in its biggest markets, which will include some price promotions.
This year, one of its promotion event highlights was at Zurich airport terminal B with the Nuance Group in August. “Here we were promoting our Swiss Alps destination product and our Napolitains,” said Schwartz.
“We had instore demonstrations from professional confiseurs where passengers could watch fine pralines being prepared. It was a great success,” she added.
For travel retail enquiries, contact Lindt & Sprüngli duty free promotion and media manager Europe Anja Schwartz at a.schwartz@lindt.com
