The TFWA World Exhibition & Conference returned to Cannes, France, from September 27 to October 2 2026, bringing together brands, retailers and travel industry partners to explore the latest developments in duty-free and travel retail.
From new onboard snacking formats and premium spirits to travel retail-exclusive confectionery and evolving approaches to shopper engagement, this year’s show highlighted the importance of product innovation, distinctive packaging and creating reasons for travellers to buy.
The Onboard Hospitality team was on the show floor to find out what’s new. In the first of our two-part round-up, we look at some of the launches, partnerships and trends catching our attention. Look out for more news from Cannes next week.
Pringles expands into nachos
Pringles used Cannes to showcase its new Pringles Nachos Sharing Crisps, extending the brand into the corn-based snacks category with three flavours: Original, Cheese and Paprika.
Presented in the brand’s familiar cylindrical tube, the range is designed for sharing and offers a new option for travel retail shoppers looking for convenient snacks. It launched in Benelux and global travel retail markets in September, ahead of a wider European rollout in spring 2027.
The range will be exclusive to travel retail in Asian and Middle Eastern markets, giving retailers in these regions a differentiated proposition. The launch forms part of Pringles’ wider strategy to drive growth through product innovation, travel retail exclusives and in-store activations.
Ferrero adds new Kinder formats
Ferrero Travel Market showcased further expansion of its biscuit and confectionery portfolio, with Kinder Crunchy Cookies and Kinder Crispy among the products featured at the show.
Kinder Crunchy Cookies combines Kinder’s milk and white chocolate flavours with a crunchy biscuit, in a 136g pack developed specifically for travel retail. Following its initial exclusive launch with Avolta, the product became globally available in September.
Kinder Crispy, meanwhile, brings together milk and hazelnut fillings, crispy wafer, milk chocolate and biscuit crumbs in a layered format. Ferrero also highlighted a new digital game for Kinder, designed to extend consumer engagement beyond the point of purchase, alongside a new flavour for Tic Tac TWO, the brand’s sugar-free range.
Cartwright & Butler refreshes its travel retail offer
British gifting and food brand Cartwright & Butler presented its refreshed visual identity at Cannes, alongside new products aimed at expanding its presence across travel retail.
The new look combines traditional English detailing with soft pastel colours and gold accents, creating a more contemporary premium identity. Its redesigned stand brought the different product ranges together in a more cohesive retail environment.
New developments include twin-pack and single-biscuit formats designed for complimentary and retail snacking menus, with launches planned with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, WHSmith and World Duty Free Group. The brand is also expanding its confectionery offer, including fudge, truffles and chocolate nuts, while developing destination-inspired gifting products and new travel retail exclusives.
Ricola explores new gifting formats
Swiss herbal confectionery brand Ricola highlighted two travel retail-exclusive products at Cannes: a Tower Sharing Pack and a 180g Gift Set, both launched in September.
The new formats bring together a selection of the brand’s sugar-free sweets, extending its offer beyond its established 75g tins, which remain its best-selling travel retail format. The packs are designed to create additional opportunities across gifting, sharing and souvenir retail.
Ricola also presented its new “Who invented it?” campaign and a preview of its refreshed travel retail identity, which is due to roll out across the range from mid-2027. The updated branding aims to strengthen the visibility of the company’s Swiss heritage and Alpine herb expertise in airport retail environments.
Vinarchy puts experience at the heart of wine retail
Vinarchy outlined its consumer-led approach to global travel retail at Cannes, highlighting how experiential activations, occasion-led merchandising and new product formats can help attract shoppers to the wine category.
The company, formed in 2025 through the merger of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers, is using consumer insights to make wine more accessible and relevant to different occasions, from everyday purchases to gifting.
Recent airport activations demonstrate the potential of this approach. A month-long tasting campaign featuring Jacob’s Creek, Echo Falls and Campo Viejo at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol delivered a 241% sales uplift, while a “World of Wine” activation at Dubai Duty Free generated a 62% increase against the average for March to June.
Vinarchy is also exploring new flavours and formats to attract consumers beyond traditional wine drinkers, while developing premium travel retail propositions, including Campo Viejo’s Tempranillo de Selección.
Suntory takes Toki into Tokyo after dark
The House of Suntory presented Streets of Tokio, a new limited-edition collection from Japanese whisky brand Toki inspired by Tokyo’s neighbourhoods and nightlife.
The first release takes inspiration from Shinjuku, known for its neon-lit streets and bar culture. Created in collaboration with Tokyo-based photographer Massa Uemura, the bottle design draws on vintage film aesthetics to reflect the contrast between traditional Japanese craftsmanship and contemporary culture.
The collection marks Toki’s first global travel retail exclusive and is the beginning of a planned multi-year series. Future editions will explore other aspects of modern Tokyo, including streetwear, vinyl listening bars and culinary culture.
The one-litre bottle is intended to be supported by in-store displays and collection photography across selected travel retail markets, using storytelling and distinctive packaging to encourage discovery.
Maker’s Mark explores global oak
Maker’s Mark introduced its World Wood Collection, a new global travel retail-exclusive series exploring the influence of oak on bourbon’s flavour.
The first release, Expedition 01, combines whisky finished using Japanese Mizunara, French and American white oak. Each wood contributes different characteristics, from floral and umami notes to vanilla, caramel and baking spice.
Initially available through selected Avolta travel retail locations ahead of the holiday 2026 season, the one-litre expression will roll out more widely across global travel retail from February 2027. The launch builds on the brand’s existing travel retail-exclusive Artist Series – City Edition and its focus on premium, story-led spirits.
U’Luvka targets international expansion
Polish vodka brand U’Luvka used Cannes to showcase its portfolio and strengthen relationships with travel retail partners as it pursues further international growth following its acquisition by Aspri Spirits.
The brand is already available at travel retail locations across Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, including Dubai Duty Free, GAL Delhi Duty Free and selected Avolta locations. Further expansion is planned across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
U’Luvka is focusing on targeted distribution, supported by brand ambassador activity and staff training, as it looks to build awareness among travellers seeking premium spirits with a distinctive identity and heritage.
Champagne Castelnau joins Air Austral
Champagne Castelnau has partnered with Air Austral to bring its Brut Millésimé 2009 onboard, offering the champagne to passengers travelling in Comfort Class and members of the airline’s Club Austral loyalty programme.
The partnership gives passengers the opportunity to sample the vintage champagne, which the producer describes as combining aromatic complexity with freshness and delicate bubbles.
Air Austral, based on the French island of Réunion, operates regional, domestic and long-haul services connecting the Indian Ocean with destinations around the world. The collaboration adds a premium champagne option to the airline’s onboard offering.
More from Cannes
The 2026 edition of TFWA World Exhibition & Conference attracted a record attendance of 8,011 visitors from 185 countries and featured 482 exhibiting companies.
Look out for part two of our TFWA World Exhibition round-up next week, with further launches, products and developments from across the travel retail sector.
