Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) is returning to the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas (booth 1123) following a strong year in the region, where the company said it achieved both high value and volume year-on-year growth.
In North America, Canada showed a “positive performance”, taking into account the strength of the Canadian dollar with growth in both volume and value. High visibility promotions with Nestlé Swiss bars through border shops were particularly successful, NITR said. Within the US, both core and regional brands performed strongly; in particular, Nestlé Swiss recorded high double-digit growth, continuing its strong sales momentum in the region.
Central America showed “excellent” performance overall during 2011, benefitting from increased distribution and setting a platform for further growth in 2012.
Nestlé’s business in South America performed “very well” on the back of a strong Brazilian economy and favourable exchange rates. Other countries in the region, notably Argentina and Uruguay also performed strongly across all channels. Nestlé Swiss and Kit Kat were the main drivers of this growth.
NITR Customer Marketing Manager Alan Brennan said: “We have been extremely encouraged by Nestlé’s performance within the region over the past 12 months and we continue to work closely with retailers across the continent to develop our business and introduce the Perfect Store initiative to increase penetration, conversion and basket size.
“For example, aligned with these Perfect Store building blocks, Nestlé has been working closely with our partner London Supply in Argentina, in developing a CTP (Counter Till Point) strategy at its Foz Iguazu border store to increase the basket size through increased conversion. The project is scheduled to come in to operation in the first quarter of 2012.”
At the Orlando show this year, NITR will be introducing its latest new products focussing on global brands Nestlé Swiss, Kit Kat and Smarties, all of which present solutions for different shopper needs.
NESTLÉ SWISS
NITR has introduced an entire new range of six new travel exclusive items under the Nestlé Swiss Premium Collection, taking the brand into a new high-value premium level.
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New travel exclusives in the Nestlé Swiss Premium Collection are set to take the brand into a high-value premium level | |
Nestlé Swiss Alps – Shaped like Swiss peaks and mountains, these exclusive pralines in eight different recipes (five milk and three dark) come in two box formats – 122g and 240g.
Nestlé Swiss Carrés – These are individual pieces of chunky chocolate featuring ingredients such as pineapple and pepper, almonds and orange, cashew nuts and cranberries, topping a solid piece of Swiss chocolate. Two variants are available – milk and dark – in 160g boxes.
Nestlé Swiss Tender Rocks – Two exclusive recipes, inspired by chocolate truffles, are shaped and presented like an avalanche of Swiss mountain rocks. In dark and milk varieties, both come in 180g boxes.
SMARTIES
In the family gifting segment, NITR benefits from the attraction of the Disney partnership. For 2012, NITR is expanding the age appeal of Smarties into teens with a new Shrek franchise for its best selling Toppers single and multipack collection. The movie character, along with his friend Donkey, is popular with boys and girls from 6-16 and will now be available as a “˜bobble head’ figurine gift boxed with five tubes.
New gift packs have also been introduced for 2012 to reinvigorate the existing range, including a new travel retail exclusive gifting dome tube with a premium look and feel. Three options are available, all with an exclusive game in the “˜dome’ of each tube: a Cars Hit & Loop, Winnie the Pooh Fishing Adventure & Memory Game and Enchanted Princess Set. Each also includes three giant tubes of Smarties.
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Smarties marks its 75th anniversary in 2012, and is benefiting from the high-profile Disney link; for 2012, Nestlé International Travel Retail is expanding the age appeal of Smarties into teens with a new Shrek franchise (left) | |
The revamp of the Trio-pack is accompanied by a new Smarties Toppers range, with a new game for the Winnie the Pooh Toppers, a pen for the Princess Toppers, and new Cars characters from the Cars 2 movie for the Cars Toppers range.
To celebrate the confectionery brand’s 75th anniversary, NITR has introduced a range of Retro Toppers designed to bring back memories of childhood and the heritage of the brand. The limited edition Smarties Retro Toppers use original Mickey and Minnie character images plus a retro-style design linked to the Smarties iconic tube shape and brand values.
KIT KAT
NITR is introducing a new travel retail exclusive in the informal gifting segment for Kit Kat. The 405g mixed pack contains white, milk and dark varieties of the Kit Kat 4 Finger.
YEAR OF THE DRAGON
To celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon, NITR has introduced two travel retail exclusive tins.
“Chinese New Year in particular is an important gifting period and Asian travellers will be looking for customised gifting solutions to celebrate this unique event,” Brennan said. “These two exclusive tins, which capitalise on our best-selling brands Nestlé Swiss and Kit Kat, are designed not just for Chinese New Year but as a whole year gift sales opportunity.”
The tins – in red, silver and gold for Nestlé Swiss and red and gold for Kit Kat – are embossed with dragon graphics and have a premium look and feel. They contain 350g (66) Swiss Napolitains and 450g (10) Kit Kat 4 Finger bars respectively.
For enquiries, contact Roland Stieger, Nestlé International Travel Retail; tel +41 21 948 29 71, or e-mail: roland.stieger@nestle.com.
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To celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon, Nestlé International Travel Retail has introduced two travel retail exclusive tins for Nestlé Swiss (right) and Kit Kat, both embossed with dragon graphics for a premium look and feel | |
