- New Tic Tac TWO launch: Ferrero Travel Market has rolled out Tic Tac TWO, a sugar-free, double-layered Tic Tac flavor (Strawberry & Lime; Spearmint Fresh & Mild) designed to appeal to Gen Z/Millennial tastes . Each box contains 38 Tic Tac TWO mints (twice the size of classic Tic Tacs) delivering two flavors in one pill .
- Partnership with Avolta & Ticketmaster: In a high-profile travel-retail campaign, Ferrero has teamed with global retailer Avolta and ticketing giant Ticketmaster . The promotion runs mid-September through October in high-traffic Spanish airports (Barcelona, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca), targeting young travelers .
- Contest details: Shoppers enrolled in Avolta’s Club loyalty program who buy two Tic Tac TWO packs are entered into a draw to win a Ticketmaster voucher up to €300 (US$347) . Each location has 10 winners, blending candy purchase with the chance to attend music festivals or concerts.
- Marketing push: The campaign is amplified via email newsletters and mobile push notifications to Club Avolta members, marrying digital engagement with in-store activation gtrmag.com. Ferrero Travel Market General Manager Sergio Salvagno says the campaign “showcases innovation in product development” and delivers “an engaging, relevant experience for today’s travellers” gtrmag.com.
- Target audience: The prize draw and music tie-in lean into Tic Tac’s long-standing association with festival culture, specifically crafted to excite Gen Z and Millennials – the fastest-growing travel segment gtrmag.com asianhospitality.com. Recent research confirms Millennials lead travel-retail spend (~$151 per trip vs. $128 avg.), while Gen Z is set to become the largest flying generation by 2028 asianhospitality.com asianhospitality.com. Brands are urged to embrace “experiences, service and digital-first” strategies to win over these groups asianhospitality.com.
- Travel context: The timing coincides with a surging travel boom. U.S. carriers and IATA project 5.2 billion global air passengers in 2025 (up ~6–7%), fueling record airline revenues ts2.tech. Analysts note leisure travel spending is growing (~+1.9% in 2025) as consumers “continue to prioritize travel” ts2.tech. In short, travel demand is very strong, setting a bullish backdrop for airport retailers.
- Market pressures: Yet travel retail has headwinds – Kearney reports that despite record traffic, global travel-retail sales (US$74.1 bn in 2024) still lag 13% below 2019, as passengers spend less per trip . Promotions like Tic Tac’s help counter waning spend-per-passenger by reinvigorating interest and targeting value-conscious young shoppers.
Ferrero’s initiative reflects a broader trend of making travel retail more experiential. As Salvagno notes, Tic Tac TWO’s launch “represents an exciting new chapter” and a way to “better connect with different consumer profiles” by blending innovation and fun gtrmag.com. Industry experts say this approach is timely: m1nd-set CEO Peter Mohn emphasizes that Millennials currently dominate spending, but Gen Z will soon lead. “With the right mix of experiences, service and digital-first approaches, retailers can harness Millennial spending today while building loyalty with Gen Z tomorrow,” he explains asianhospitality.com. In other words, Tic Tac’s pairing with Ticketmaster and mobile loyalty messaging taps directly into the preferences of these cohorts.
Forecast & Analysis: In the near term, Tic Tac TWO sales at airports are expected to get a boost from the campaign. Analysts forecast that if travel demand holds, travel retailers will see solid year-end results. (Delta CEO Ed Bastian has called the industry “well-positioned” for a record season ts2.tech.) Ferrero’s campaign also plays on the premium-travel trend: carriers have cut capacity, pushing up airfares and travel revenues ts2.tech, meaning airport shoppers may still have discretionary budgets for treats and prizes.
Stock performance: In line with positive travel/entertainment demand, key stocks are strong. Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV, parent of Ticketmaster) closed around $153.86 on Oct 13, 2025 stockanalysis.com (analysts rate it a “Strong Buy” with ~+11% upside) stockanalysis.com. Swiss retailer Avolta (DUFRY AG), formed from Dufry and Autogrill’s combined travel retail business, closed about 42.22 on Oct 13 investing.com. (For comparison, these retailers were trading in similar ranges and generally rising as travel and luxury demand recover.) These trends suggest investors see growth in concert ticketing and duty-free retail.
Looking ahead, experts warn that travel retail must stay agile. Kearney notes that digital tools and price transparency are cutting into duty-free’s edge , so inventive promotions are key. Ferrero’s Tic Tac TWO campaign – sweetening travel with concert tickets – exemplifies such innovation. If executed well, it could help reverse the slide in per-passenger spend by turning a simple purchase into an adventure. As travel rebounds continue, watch for similar tie-ups (for instance, Carriers & Cruise lines are exploring loyalty perks for Gen Z). For now, Tic Tac TWO x Ticketmaster gives young travelers a novel reason to hunt for candy at duty-free.
Sources: Ferrero, Avolta and Ticketmaster press releases and trade press ; travel industry reports ; marketing research ; market data ; expert analyses .
