Mondelēz World Travel Retail (WTR) has partnered with Heinemann and Unifree Duty Free to launch Toblerone Pistachio Gelato in an exceptionally limited release at Istanbul Airport. Just 3,000 handmade bars will be available from October to December 2026, with only 34 released each day. Hard to get. Harder to forget.
Inspired by pistachio gelato, the new flavour combines smooth white chocolate with caramelized pistachios, creamy pistachio paste and crunchy wafer pieces. Pistachios are at the heart of Turkish confectionery tradition, from baklava to Turkish delight, making Istanbul the natural home for this exclusive release. The combination brings a new twist to Toblerone’s signature triangular chocolate bar, offering travellers a distinctive flavour they won’t find anywhere else.
To celebrate the launch, Mondelēz WTR and its partners have created a dedicated Pistachio Gelato boutique at Istanbul Airport. Designed in shades of pistachio green, the space features a rounded canopy and product-inspired displays, creating an inviting setting for travellers to discover the new flavor. With only 34 bars released each day, a live countdown shows travellers how many remain, and when they are gone, they are gone.
Inside the boutique, a dedicated discovery area gives travellers a closer look at what makes Pistachio Gelato special. Brand ambassadors guide visitors through the product, introducing the inspiration behind the flavor and explaining how its different ingredients come together. Travellers can also personalize their favorite Toblerone bars using an in-store sleeve printer, adding a personal touch to their purchases.
At the heart of the Istanbul launch is a Trinity partnership between Mondelēz WTR, Heinemann and Unifree Duty Free – a three-way collaboration between brand and travel retail partners that brings the campaign well beyond the boutique itself. Eye-catching visuals across the terminal are designed to build excitement around Pistachio Gelato and draw travellers into the confectionery space, including those who would not normally seek it out. The partners celebrated the launch with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a proud milestone in their collaboration and setting the stage for what promises to be a standout activation in travel retail.
The launch reflects Mondelēz WTR’s Destination: Value vision, an approach grounded in behavioral science and real traveller insight that consistently delivers double-digit category growth across the entire confectionery aisle. The impact goes far beyond the featured product itself: by creating genuine reasons for travelers to stop, discover and engage, Mondelēz WTR and its partners generate measurable value across the full confectionery space. Through exclusive products, memorable retail experiences and strong Trinity partnerships, Destination: Value gives more travellers a reason to engage with duty free and gives retail partners a stronger commercial return.
Joost Rosmuller, Vice President and Managing Director, Mondelēz World Travel Retail, said: “Toblerone Pistachio Gelato is what happens when a global brand meets a local story, and retail partners willing to build something bold together. With Heinemann and Unifree Duty Free, we have turned Istanbul Airport’s confectionery space into a destination in its own right. Only 34 bars a day, handcrafted and gone when they are gone. But the real impact goes far beyond those 34 bars: activations like these consistently deliver double-digit category growth across the entire confectionery aisle. That is the power of experience-led retail, it does not just sell a product, it lifts the whole space. That is Destination: Value, and that is what strong partnerships unlock.”
Rüdiger Stelkens, Director Commercial Global LTC, Gebr. Heinemann, said: “At Gebr. Heinemann, we bring together distinctive products and engaging retail experiences to give travellers a compelling reason to shop. Together with Mondelēz WTR and Unifree Duty Free, we have created a dedicated experience space for Toblerone Pistachio Gelato that combines product discovery, personal interaction and personalisation. This launch shows how close collaboration with our partners can turn an exclusive product into a distinctive retail experience for travelers.”
Ceren Tonguç, Chief Commercial Officer, Unifree Duty Free, said: “At Unifree Duty Free, we are committed to creating unique shopping experiences that inspire travellers to discover something new. The launch of Toblerone Pistachio Gelato at Istanbul Airport reflects this commitment, bringing together the heritage of an iconic global brand and a flavor deeply rooted in Türkiye’s culinary culture. With pistachio featuring prominently in Türkiye’s rich gastronomic traditions, Istanbul is a natural setting for this exclusive launch. Together with Mondelēz World Travel Retail and Heinemann, we are delighted to bring this special product to Istanbul Airport, offering travellers an exciting opportunity to discover a new take on an iconic brand.”
