Drive sales by meeting shopper needs with quality, value and choice

from The Convenience Guide 2023/24

GETTING THE TEA MIX RIGHT FOR SALES

As the economic climate continues to impact on consumer confidence and shopping habits, Scotland’s tobacco accessories category is maintaining its strong performance.

The category’s robust performance has resulted in year-on-year growth of 6.1%*1, with annual sales of tobacco accessories now valued at a massive £32.7m*1 in Scotland.

The category’s fastest growing sector is rolling papers, which is showing double digit growth and is also the highest value sector in Scotland, worth £10.6m*1.

The Slim & Tips subcategory is also recording impressive growth, as more consumers opt for premium formats. This growth reinforces the role that brands such as OCB can play, not only in retaining existing consumers but also in attracting new shoppers to the fixture.

Gavin Anderson, Sales & Marketing Director at Republic Technologies (UK) Ltd, states: “As demand for factorymade cigarettes continues to decrease, tobacco accessories are very well placed to offer consumers a quality, value for money alternative.

“Our brands have a proven track record of delivering quality, affordability and, in relation to new products, all-important innovation, and shopper loyalty is high. The added bonus for stockists of the most popular brands is that tobacco accessories consumers are creatures of habit, with strong levels of repeat purchase. By offering tobacco accessories brands which consumers know and trust, including filters, papers and lighters, retailers can make the most of a category which is performing well in the face of a challenging economic headwind.”

Must Stock Products

Republic Technologies acts as a one-stop shop for retailers serving the needs of RYO smokers across filters, papers, lighters, matches and rolling accessories. The company has developed an unrivalled broad consumer offer which includes innovation in flavour and format, such as: Swan Fresh Burst Crushball, which continues to be the best performing menthol capsule filter in the market, giving retailers great sales and margin. The crush capsule delivers a strong peppermint flavour and comes in a 2-part sliding pack containing 54 filters. RRP: £1.43.

Sustainable products remain high on the agenda for shoppers across all categories, including more natural ingredients, and reduced single-use packaging, these include Swan Eco Loose: The most environmentally friendly filter in the UK market is 100% biodegradable and made from unbleached paper. RRP: £1.45 (200 per box).

There are also OCB Virgin Slim: RRP £1.10 and OCB Virgin Slim & Tips: RRP £1.73. These unbleached papers are manufactured using OCB natural gum, which is sustainably sourced, vegan and GM free.

Top Tips

Shoppers are more demanding than ever, looking for quality and value in every purchase. Rollyour-own products have long been synonymous with value, and look set to appeal to even more consumers who want to cut down on spending, without having to make major lifestyle changes or compromise on quality.

Top-quality products and innovation are important, complemented by broad availability and distribution, but the importance of a competitive price point should not be underestimated.

Tobacco accessories from Republic Technologies continue to offer retailers a solution that ticks all the boxes, while providing unbeatable margins.

Ensure plenty of space is available for new products and bestsellers and keep an eye on product availability throughout the day.

Products such as lighters benefit from dual-siting, creating an opportunity to upsell with cross category purchases, such as candles or BBQ items.

Speaking to your customers is crucial to build awareness and create a range that caters to demand. Finding out what products people like, informing them on popular brands and new product developments will boost loyalty, so shoppers come back time and time again.

Republic Technologies has a team of category experts who can help with information and frequently asked questions, contact enquiries@ republictechnologies.co.uk to arrange a visit.