Bologna, 20 June 2019. Travel Retail Italiana, a subsidiary of Gebr. Heinemann, and the Bolognese chocolate manufacturer Majani yesterday officially unveiled a spectacular 150 cm chocolate sculpture in the Heinemann Duty Free & Travel Value Shop, located in the Schengen area at Bologna Airport. The sculpture is entirely made of chocolate and depicts the iconic symbols of the Italian city: “Le due Torri” (the Two Towers) – representing a popular landmark and the main tourist attraction of Bologna. The sculpture is placed in the centre of the shop’s popular Italian market place area and will be there on a permanent display.
“The chocolate sculpture is a truly amazing particularity which will attract every chocolate loving passengers’ attention. At Heinemann our passion is to set the bar high with new creativity that travellers will only find in our stores, helping them find new ways to enjoy the local brands we sell. We are very excited how Majani is delivering this exclusivity and distinctiveness,” says Karl Niendorf, Managing Director of Travel Retail Italiana.
Four new Heinemann-exclusive Majani products
In the light of the event two products from Majani in a Heinemann-exclusive packaging are launched at the shop and two more will be coming soon to complete the existing assortment.
“Majani is a proudly cherished specialty of Italian entrepreneurship. The company has been in the hands of the same family for seven generations who is lovingly dedicated to the chocolate production and closely linked to the region. Due to this heritage – and thanks to the opportunity offered to us by Heinemann –we have realized a chocolate sculpture depicting the Two Towers, the most representative monument of Bologna,” states Barbara Orofalo, Marketing and Sales Manager at Majani.
Local sense and local brands for “dolce vita” feeling
The country of Italy is associated with high quality food and “dolce vita”. As a result, passengers can find a large selection of popular local brands and products in the Heinemann Duty Free & Travel Value Shop, reflecting the local spirit of the shop and the airport. High quality goods produced locally in Bologna are in particular high demand among foreign travelers who are eager to acquire a part of Italy to bring back home with them.
“We are very pleased to foster the link between local brands such as Majani and global partners like Heinemann and promote our territory through our excellences. This collaboration represents another important step toward our strategy of providing uniqueness and excellence in airport shopping with a proposition of products that can stimulate the spend per pax through important local brands,” says Stefano Gardini, Business Non-Aviation Director at Bologna Airport.
Majani: Preserving chocolate tradition since the 18th century
Majani is the oldest chocolate producer in Italy; the origins of the family-owned company date back to the year 1796. In 1878 the chocolatier became official supplier of the Royal House of Savoy, receiving the permission to decorate its store sign with the royal coat of arms, which is still present in the company’s logo today.
Also the product range has always been marked by milestones that continue to shape the company to the present day. In 1832 the Sfoglia Nera was introduced as the first solid chocolate in Italy. In 1911 the “Cremino Fiat” was born as a clever marketing idea for the introduction of the new Fiat Tipo 4 , when Majani won a contest that was arranged by the famous automotive company. Today, Majani produces its chocolate masterpieces still following traditional methods and old recipes, passed on by the family from generation to generation.
About Travel Retail Italiana
Travel Retail Italiana, the subsidiary of family-run global Duty Free Player Gebr. Heinemann, is operating eight Heinemann Duty Free & Travel Value Shops at three Italian airports: Bologna (2), Turin (1) and Catania (5). Gebr. Heinemann is present in Italy since 2011.
Press contact:
Gebr. Heinemann
Julia Knors / Corporate Communications Manager
Telephone: +49 40 3010 2186
Bologna Airport
Anna Rita Benassi / Corporate Communication and Press Office Manager
Telephone: +39/051/6479961
