Smoke-free nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, were in the spotlight when convenience companies presented awards for success in everyday retail in early autumn.
Smoke-free nicotine products are highly valued by Swedish shops and chains. This was particularly evident after two of Sweden's major players in the convenience industry presented awards during the autumn. First up was the Reitan Convenience Sverige group, which recognised the Velo Crispy Peppermint slim nicotine pouch as Product of the Year in the Pressbyrå chain when Reitan held its annual supplier meeting in September. Reitan owns the chains 7-eleven and Pressbyrån and recently announced that it aims to phase out the smoking product from its range in the future. This is as sales decline and interest in smoke-free nicotine products increases.
"Increased investment"
Next to be recognised was the owner of a Direktenbutiken in Nora, who took home the prize for the best in the category Tobacco at the trade association Convenience Stores Swedens Conveniencegala 2024, for its commitment to promoting smoke-free nicotine in the retail environment.
"Receiving the first prize for the best tobacco shop at the first Convenience Gala is great fun and encourages us to increase our efforts. You can never sit still and be satisfied, you have to keep moving forward." says Jörgen Ingemarsson who runs Direkten in Nora, to Convenience Stores Sweden News.
"Taking smoke-free seriously"
According to the award citation, Jörgen Ingemarsson has a store that "constantly keeps up with developments in the industry, which also makes it always feel relevant. This is truly a store that takes the category seriously and treats it with respect, towards both customers and suppliers."
"We display snus on pallets" says Jörgen Ingemarsson to CSS News. "We don't hide the tobacco, but we obviously stay within the limits of how tobacco can be displayed."
White snus attracts new customers
According to Jörgen Ingemarsson, new oral nicotine products have taken over some of the sales from traditional snus. However, nicotine pouches are a product that mainly attracts new customers to the shops, especially women aged 25-35, who prefer to buy white snus over traditional snus.
Largest margin on e-cigs
E-cigarettes, currently 12 different brands, also bring new customers and have become very important in the last two years. It has become an important product for the store, especially as the margin is basically double that of white snuff. Of the store's total turnover of 12.5 million, tobacco now accounts for 10 million.
"Of these 10, snus accounts for 6 million and white snuff for 1 million. E-cigarettes also account for about 1 million and cigarettes for 2. The best profit is clearly on e-cigs, followed by white snus," says Jörgen Ingemarsson to CSS News.
