Confectionery specialist Perfetti van Melle (PVM) is set to roll out gifting products for children from its core brands Chupa Chups and Mentos at the upcoming IAADFS Summit of the Americas (14-17 April) in Palm Beach, Florida (Booth 201).
At the event, the company will also highlight its expanded candy brand portfolio, which includes several brands it acquired from Mondelez in October last year.
These include Trident, Dentyne, Stimorol, Hollywood, V6, Chiclets, Bubbaloo and Bubblicious from the US, Canada and Europe, as well as European candy brands Cachou Lajaunie and La Vosgienne.
PVM noted that its ownership of Trident will have a significant effect on its operations in the US and Canadian markets as the brand is exclusively distributed in the region.
Perfetti Van Melle Key Account Manager, Americas & Africa Eric Vermetten said: “In the future, we plan to showcase more travel-exclusive products for this brand. As we have just started the journey of expanding our refreshment brands, we will focus on product development step by step for the travel retail channel.
“For the USA, we have started to focus on assortment optimisation and this will continue to be our main strategy in 2024. This has already brought additional sales and there is room for even more growth this year. We have seen an excellent year in Canada where we had record-breaking sales figures for our portfolio of brands in border stores as well as at international airports.
“Border stores in South America are performing above pre-COVID levels and sales there are booming for us. The airports are also doing well but we must monitor the situation in Argentina. For Central America and the Caribbean area, we have high expectations for this year since our appointed distributor Duty Free Dynamics is gaining momentum with our brands.
“There will be an exciting and centrally coordinated programme of HPPs throughout 2024. For Central America we will focus on the important tourist destinations Punta Cana and Tocumen Airport in August in partnership with DFA.”
Chupa Chups carry on gifting
PVM is set to reveal its latest Chupa Chups gifting product for children – the ‘mini suitcase’. The handy lunchbox-sized (126 x 91 x 67mm) case includes eight lollipops in Strawberry or Coca-Cola flavours as well as Tic Tac Toe and Find the Match memory card games.
In partnership with Hello Kitty and Smurfs, Chupa Chups will also launch two new kid’s markers and colouring book sets – each containing four markers, four lollipops and a themed colouring book.
Mentos moments
To strengthen its commitment to travel retail, the company will this year showcase its channel-exclusive offers including the popular Mentos Travel Jumborolls range.
It will also feature designs for air, rail, ferry, train and car travel with flavours inside including Fruit, Mint, Berry Mix, Cola, Strawberry and Liquorice.
The company noted it will continue to focus on its trio of Mentos Clean Breath products – Peppermint, Spearmint and Strawberry – as it aims to drive consumer spending and traveller convenience positioning with travel retail partners.
PVM will be joined by its partner Otis Mcallister at the Summit of Americas. ✈
