Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) has extended its portfolio with eight channel-exclusive products, including a line focused on sustainability.
As reported, Nestlé promoted its ambition to make food the #1 most purchased category in travel retail prior to this month’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes with a colourful makeover of The Moodie Davitt Report. Those ambitions were also the subject of a special Moodie Davitt Spotlight Series eZine.
At Cannes, Nestlé International Travel Retail Global Head of Marketing Aura Sanchez noted that food has the “fastest-growing penetration in travel retail”, with the highest conversion rate for Gen Z travellers.
She noted NITR’s six priorities in travel retail which include turning its key KitKat brand into a “travel icon”.
Dubbed “the most influential candy bar of all time”, KitKat is leading NITR’s line-up of innovations for 2024 with the addition of Cookie Dough and Milk & Lotus flavours in the Senses range. Sense of Place gift bags have been introduced to highlight six destinations.
Sanchez also underlined the increased use of paper in packaging, an important part of NITR’s VERSE (Value, Engagement, Regeneration, Sense of Place and Execution) growth model.
The company’s plans to engage travelling consumers “across their entire journey” include a stand-out shop-in-shop concept, collaborations with influencers and an increased presence on social media.
The Nestlé Sustainably Sourced Cocoa range is new to the NITR portfolio and will replace its Nestlé Swiss line. It is expected to roll out in April, supported by dedicated displays, while NITR’s Quality Street range now features paper packaging, with chocolates in recyclable wrappers.
Highlighting the Value element of the NITR VERSE strategy, Sanchez presented a limited-edition After Eight Strawberry & Mint flavour and refreshed packaging for Nestlé Mini Mix.
She also presented regional and global opportunities for growth in the coffee and wellbeing categories, with NITR “unleashing coffee in travel retail” with core, premium and sustainability-focused products including a Nestlé Farmer Origins in Latin America and Colombia blends. 
