German chocolate company Ritter Sport will launch three products – Tasty Vibes, Fruity Yogurt Mix Pouch and a refreshed travel retail-exclusive Vegan Tower – at this year’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, 1-5 October (Mediterranean N18).
According to Ritter Sport, the products are in line with the company’s focus on development and its assortment strategy.
Ritter Sport said it expects the products to strengthen its perception towards ‘Chocolate full of Joy and Goodness’ and underline a focus on innovation in the confectionery category. The company believes the portfolio newcomers will achieve incremental distribution and volume and increase the brand’s overall on-shelf brand visibility.
All three lines contain 100% certified sustainable cocoa, underscoring Ritter Sport’s status as a carbon-neutral company. The product launches will be backed by promotional activities and updated PoS and consumer touchpoints.
Ritter Sport Marketing Manager Global Travel Retail Nicole Miltenberger said: “We believe these new products are stand-out winners for travel retailers. They not only showcase the brand’s determination to innovate and stay one step ahead of trends, but they also meet the current demands of travelling consumers.
“The new tastes are on-trend, and our packaging is colourful and contemporary and shows, once again, Ritter Sport’s determination to maintain a high profile in the travel retail sector.”
The limited-edition Tasty Vibes is set to replace the brand’s Taste the World line, which launched earlier this year. A travel retail edition, Tasty Vibes introduces three new flavours and a new design concept, and is expected to roll out into global travel retail from late January 2024.
The Tasty Vibes flavours include Chill out Creamy Milk, Groovy Crunchy Pretzel (combining milk chocolate with chunky pretzel) and Funky White Lemon (with a fresh and fluffy lemon mousse in crisp white chocolate).
The Ritter Sport Tasty Vibes Summer Selection Tower includes 5 x 100g Ritter Sport Tasty Vibes square bars. Packaging design shows a modern interpretation of music genres.
Travel retail-exclusive Fruity Yogurt Mix Pouch is an extension of Ritter Sport’s Choco Cubes assortment, which, according to Ritter Sport, is a strong performer in travel retail. The pouch includes Yogurt, Blackcurrant Yogurt and Strawberry Yogurt flavours.
“Ritter Sport is looking to strengthen the Choco Cubes product line-up as we know that small bites are performing very well in travel retail,” Miltenberger added.
Targeting sharing, the Ritter Sport Choco Cube bag contains a mix of 20 Choco Cubes. The chocolates do not contain artificial colouring and flavouring, and the bag is paper based. The Fruity Yogurt Mix Pouch will also roll out into travel retail late January 2024.
Ritter Sport’s travel retail-exclusive 5 x 100g Vegan Tower offers a new flavour mix including newcomers Crunchy Almond and Crispy Cookie. The tower was launched last year, with five pieces in three different flavours (2 x Salted Caramel, 2 x Smooth Chocolate, 1 x Roasted Peanuts).
“It is our goal to rejuvenate Ritter Sport’s brand appeal to younger generations, as well as to buyers,” Miltenberger added.
“The Vegan assortment with its wide range of flavours appeals not only to vegans but also to vegetarians and flexitarians. It is a flavour update that will attract and maintain the awareness of our consumers.”
The 100% vegan product also underlines Ritter Sports’ sustainability credentials using 100% certified sustainable cocoa. The product will be available in global travel retail from late February 2024. 
