Nestlé International Travel Retail has brought the excitement and color of the world famous F1 Grand Prix to São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport. In partnership with Avolta, NITR opened two immersive spaces celebrating the fan-favorite event with a KITKAT branded F1 race car, right before the F1 Grand Prix took place in Brazil.
KITKAT recently announced a landmark partnership with Formula 1, making KITKAT the Official Chocolate Bar of Formula 1. This three-year collaboration, launched in November 2025, is Nestlé’s largest global brand partnership to date and is set to play a key role in the company’s travel retail strategy.
With Formula 1’s fanbase of over 827 million worldwide – especially among younger, diverse audiences – the company says this partnership enables KITKAT to bring its “Have a Break, Have a KITKAT” message to more people, creating memorable experiences for travelers and fans alike.
The partnership is set to drive shopper and consumer activations and exclusive promotions in travel retail, leveraging the excitement of the F1 calendar and the unique energy of global motorsport events.
“This is not just renovated permanent visibility; it’s a symbol of a shared vision, put in place just days before the F1 Grand Prix here in Sao Paulo,” said Frédéric Porchet, General Manager, Nestlé International Travel Retail. “Together, Nestlé and Avolta are on a mission to transform travel retail. We aim to accelerate category growth by engaging travelers like never before. We believe in delivering immersive experiences that delight a new generation of passengers, championing health and sustainability for conscious consumers, and making duty free the go-to destination for affordable gifting and great experiences. This ambitious vision is only possible because of partnerships built on shared goals and mutual trust.”
The new KITKAT and Nestlé spaces are designed to Attract, Convert, and help the whole category Thrive, following Nestlé’s new and innovative A.C.T. category framework (Attract, Convert, Thrive).
“We all recognize the challenge in our industry: only a small fraction of travelers even set foot in the confectionery area today, and of those who do, only about half end up making a purchase. But imagine the potential if we can change that. Just by attracting a few more of those passengers into the stores and inspiring a few more of them to buy, we can unlock tremendous growth. And that is exactly what we intend to do,” added Porchet.
Porchet says that the bold, engaging space invites travelers in, delights them with the world of KITKAT and Nestlé, and sets the stage for sustained growth.
“On behalf of the whole NITR Team, I would like to warmly thank Avolta, our long-standing partner, for their trust in us and for giving us the opportunity to create something different, something exceptional.”
Commenting on the renovated space, Gustavo Fagundes, CEO Avolta Brazil, said “It is very rewarding to take part in such a consumer experience project with KITKAT! It reinforces our obsession with consumer centricity, and we are confident that this activation will be a success.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on November 7th.
