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Confectionery: “Where Is My Toblerone?” Mondelez WTR introduces dedicated travel retail campaign

Why is the topic trending? 

  • First-Ever Dedicated Travel Retail Campaign for Toblerone: Mondelez World Travel Retail is launching its first-ever campaign specifically for the travel retail channel, indicating a renewed focus on this market for the iconic chocolate brand.

  • Reinventing a Duty-Free Staple: Toblerone has long been a popular duty-free purchase, and this campaign aims to rekindle its emotional connection with travelers in a modern way.

  • Global Launch Across Major Airports: The campaign, titled "Where Is My Toblerone?", will be launched in over 50 airport locations worldwide starting in June, signifying a large-scale effort.

  • Engaging and Immersive In-Store Experiences: The campaign promises to come to life through interactive games and photo opportunities within airport retail spaces.

  • Focus on Emotional Connection and Ritual: The campaign taps into the universal experience of bringing back a Toblerone as a gift, aiming to transform it into a meaningful travel ritual.

Overview:

The article announces Mondelez World Travel Retail's launch of its first dedicated travel retail campaign, "Where Is My Toblerone?". This global campaign, set to launch in June at over 50 airports, aims to revitalize the iconic chocolate brand's presence in duty-free shopping. Recognizing the evolving nature of travel and shifting consumer expectations, the campaign intends to strengthen Toblerone's emotional connection with travelers. It's inspired by the playful question often asked upon a traveler's return, highlighting the anticipation and joy associated with receiving a Toblerone as a gift. The campaign seeks to reinforce Toblerone as an intentional and emotionally resonant part of the travel experience, moving beyond a simple impulse purchase. Featuring a new "Never Square" visual identity, the campaign aims to modernize Toblerone's image and solidify its status as both a beloved gift and a tempting indulgence. The launch will include immersive in-store activations with games and photo opportunities, supported by year-round creative placements encouraging travelers to "remember to bring one back."

Detailed Findings:

  • Campaign Title: “Where Is My Toblerone?”

  • Launch Date: June 2025

  • Reach: Over 50 airport locations worldwide.

  • Objective: Rekindle Toblerone's emotional connection with global travelers in the travel retail channel.

  • Inspiration: The universal and playful question asked to travelers returning empty-handed.

  • Target Emotion: The joy and anticipation of receiving Toblerone as a gift.

  • Strategy: Transform Toblerone from a passive purchase into a meaningful travel ritual.

  • New Brand Identity: Features a "Never Square" visual language.

  • Marketing Goal: Modernize Toblerone’s image and strengthen its status as a gift and indulgence.

  • Launch Activities: Immersive in-store experiences including games and photo opportunities.

  • Year-Round Element: Powerful creative placements to remind travelers to buy Toblerone.

  • Call to Action: "Remember to bring one back."

  • Target Audience: International travelers across age groups, gender, and nationalities.

  • Mondelez WTR's Goal: Address low penetration in the travel retail confectionery industry and drive store sales growth for the benefit of the whole category.

Key Takeaway:

Mondelez World Travel Retail is launching its first dedicated travel retail campaign, "Where Is My Toblerone?", to revitalize the iconic chocolate brand's presence in duty-free by tapping into the emotional connection and tradition of bringing it back as a gift, featuring a modern new visual identity and engaging in-store experiences across over 50 airports globally.

Main Trend:

The Reinforcement of Traditional Travel Rituals Through Targeted Marketing in Travel Retail

Description of the Trend (please name it):

The Travel Keepsake Revival

What is consumer motivation:

  • Seeking familiar and comforting treats during travel.

  • Desire to bring back gifts for loved ones as a gesture of thoughtfulness.

  • Association of specific brands with travel and duty-free shopping.

  • Engagement with playful and interactive retail experiences.

  • Nostalgia connected to past travel experiences and souvenirs.

What is driving trend:

  • Recognition by brands of the importance of emotional connection with travelers.

  • Aim to drive sales in the travel retail channel, which can have low penetration.

  • Leveraging the tradition of purchasing specific items at the airport.

  • Creating memorable and engaging in-store experiences.

  • Modernizing the image of established brands to appeal to a new generation of travelers.

What is motivation beyond the trend:

  • Basic desire for confectionery and indulgent treats.

  • Social norms around bringing back souvenirs from trips.

Description of consumers article is referring to:

  • Age: Aims to resonate with international travelers across all age groups and generations.

  • Gender: Targets both male and female travelers who purchase gifts at airports.

  • Income: Not explicitly stated, but the focus on duty-free suggests travelers with some disposable income for treats and gifts.

  • Lifestyle: Individuals who travel internationally, whether for leisure or business, and participate in the tradition of duty-free shopping.

Conclusions:

Mondelez is strategically aiming to reinforce the tradition of buying Toblerone in duty-free as a cherished ritual of travel, using a playful campaign and engaging experiences to drive sales and strengthen the brand's association with global travel.

Implications for brands:

  • Identify and leverage existing traditions or rituals associated with their products in specific channels like travel retail.

  • Create marketing campaigns that tap into emotions and nostalgia.

  • Invest in engaging in-store experiences to capture the attention of travelers.

  • Modernize brand images to stay relevant for new generations.

Implication for society:

Highlights the enduring role of tangible souvenirs and gifts in travel experiences, despite increasing digitalization.

Implications for consumers:

  • May be prompted to consciously include Toblerone in their travel shopping.

  • Can enjoy more interactive and engaging experiences in airport retail spaces.

  • Can participate in a recognized and joyful tradition of bringing back a specific treat.

Implication for future:

Expect more brands to identify and reinforce traditional shopping behaviors in specific retail environments to drive sales and build emotional connections with consumers.

Consumer Trend (name, detailed description):

The Ritualistic Travel Shopper: This trend describes travelers who engage in specific purchasing behaviors as part of their travel experience, viewing certain items or brands as essential souvenirs or gifts to bring back home, often driven by tradition, emotional connection, and brand association.

Consumer Sub Trend (name, detailed description):

The Airport Confectionery Curator: A sub-trend highlighting travelers who specifically seek out confectionery items like Toblerone in airport duty-free shops as a customary part of their journey, viewing them as quintessential travel treats and gifts.

Big Social Trend (name, detailed description):

The Enduring Value of Tradition and Ritual: In a rapidly changing world, people often find comfort and connection in familiar traditions and rituals, including those associated with travel and gifting.

Worldwide Social Trend (name, detailed description):

The Global Appeal of Iconic Brands in Travel Retail: Certain international brands, like Toblerone, have achieved widespread recognition and become synonymous with the travel shopping experience across different cultures.

Social Drive (name, detailed description):

The Desire for Connection and Thoughtfulness Through Gifting: Bringing back a gift for loved ones upon returning from a trip is a common way to express care and maintain connections.

Learnings for brands to use in 2025: (bullets, detailed description)

  • Understand and leverage the emotional connections consumers have with their brand in specific contexts like travel.

  • Create playful and engaging marketing campaigns that tap into these emotions.

  • Reinforce traditional uses or associations with the brand.

  • Make the shopping experience memorable and interactive.

Strategy Recommendations for brands to follow in 2025: (bullets, detail description)

  • Develop targeted campaigns for travel retail locations that emphasize gifting and tradition.

  • Create immersive and interactive in-store experiences in airports.

  • Use nostalgic elements in marketing to evoke positive memories associated with travel and the brand.

  • Partner with travel influencers or platforms to reach travelers at different stages of their journey.

Final sentence (key concept) describing main trend from article (which is a summary of all trends specified):

In 2025, "The Travel Keepsake Revival" sees Mondelez strategically reinforcing the long-held tradition of purchasing Toblerone in travel retail through its "Where Is My Toblerone?" campaign, aiming to solidify its place as a cherished ritual of global travel and gifting.

What brands & companies should do in 2025 to benefit from trend and how to do it:

In 2025, brands in the travel retail sector should identify and capitalize on existing traditions or rituals associated with their products by developing targeted marketing campaigns that evoke positive emotions and nostalgia. Creating engaging and interactive in-store experiences, as Toblerone is doing, can further reinforce these behaviors and drive sales by tapping into the traveler's desire to bring back thoughtful keepsakes for loved ones.

Final Note:

  • Core Trend: The Reinforcement of Traditional Travel Rituals Through Targeted Marketing in Travel Retail: Brands are actively trying to solidify traditional purchasing habits associated with travel.

  • Core Strategy: Tap into emotions and nostalgia, create engaging in-store experiences, and reinforce traditional uses of the product.

  • Core Industry Trend: Brands are increasingly focusing on creating memorable experiences in travel retail to drive sales.

  • Core Consumer Motivation: Seeking familiar treats during travel and wanting to bring back thoughtful gifts for loved ones.

  • Final Conclusion: Toblerone's campaign demonstrates a strategic move to leverage and strengthen a long-standing travel tradition, highlighting the potential for brands to resonate with consumers by tapping into emotional connections and familiar behaviors in specific retail environments.

Core Trend Detailed (The Reinforcement of Traditional Travel Rituals Through Targeted Marketing in Travel Retail):

  • Description: This core trend describes the strategic efforts by brands, particularly within the travel retail sector, to identify, acknowledge, and actively reinforce established consumer behaviors and traditions associated with travel shopping. This involves creating marketing campaigns and in-store experiences that tap into the emotional and ritualistic aspects of purchasing specific items, often as gifts or personal treats, during travel. The goal is to strengthen brand association with these positive travel experiences and drive sales by reminding and encouraging travelers to continue these established purchasing habits.

  • Key Characteristics of the Trend (summary):

    • Focus on Existing Consumer Behaviors: Brands identify pre-existing shopping traditions related to travel.

    • Emotional Connection: Campaigns aim to evoke positive emotions associated with travel and gifting.

    • Ritualistic Reinforcement: Marketing efforts encourage travelers to view purchasing specific items as a customary part of their journey.

    • Targeted Marketing: Campaigns are specifically designed for the travel retail environment.

    • Leveraging Nostalgia: Often taps into fond memories of past travel experiences.

    • Encouraging Gifting: Highlights the role of the purchased item as a thoughtful gift for loved ones.

  • Market and Cultural Signals Supporting the Trend (summary):

    • Mondelez's "Where Is My Toblerone?" campaign directly references the common question asked to returning travelers, highlighting a recognized tradition.

    • The campaign's aim to transform Toblerone from a passive purchase into a meaningful ritual underscores the focus on reinforcement.

    • The emphasis on Toblerone as a "symbol of joyful returns" and a "gift for those waiting at home" connects the product to established travel behaviors.

    • The creation of immersive in-store experiences encourages travelers to actively engage with the brand as part of their airport journey.

    • The campaign's sub-tagline, "remember to bring one back," explicitly prompts travelers to continue the tradition of purchasing Toblerone.

  • How the Trend Is Changing Consumer Behavior (summary):

    • Increased Awareness of Travel Shopping Traditions: Campaigns remind travelers of established shopping norms.

    • Reinforcement of Brand Association with Travel: Travelers are more likely to link specific brands with the travel experience.

    • Encouraging Intentional Purchases: Consumers are prompted to consciously include traditional items in their travel shopping.

    • Fostering a Sense of Nostalgia and Connection: Marketing efforts can strengthen the emotional bonds associated with travel and gifting.

  • Implications Across the Ecosystem (For Brands and CPGs, For Retailers, For Consumers, summary):

    • For Brands and CPGs: Provides an opportunity to strengthen brand loyalty and drive sales in the travel retail channel by tapping into established consumer behaviors.

    • For Retailers: Can benefit from increased sales of traditional travel retail items by supporting and promoting these targeted marketing campaigns.

    • For Consumers: Can enhance their travel experience by participating in familiar and enjoyable shopping rituals, often associated with bringing joy to loved ones.

  • Strategic Forecast: This trend is likely to continue, as brands in the travel retail sector recognize the power of tapping into existing consumer habits to drive sales and build brand affinity. Expect more brands to develop targeted campaigns that reinforce traditional travel purchasing behaviors.

  • Final Thought: By strategically reinforcing established travel rituals, brands like Toblerone are not just selling products; they are becoming an integral part of the travel experience itself, fostering positive associations and encouraging consumers to continue these cherished traditions.

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