Category Management | Vape
“JUUL is the one that makes me the most nervous about FDA decisions regarding the big brands. To use an old-school term, they’ve had a bullseye on their back,” said Anna Bettencourt, senior category manager for Haffner’s convenience store chain, which is owned by Energy North Inc. Headquartered in Lawrence, Mass., the company also runs car washes and foodservice sites. It appears Bettencourt and others will have to wait a bit longer. On Sept. 9, the FDA requested additional time to make a final decision on the pod system, along with other big-name brands. “It is absolutely absurd that the same agency that found time to ban over 6 million vaping products manufactured by small businesses is now indicating they need more time to review products with massive market shares,” said Conley in an AVA statement. “This decision brings even more uncertainty on the day FDA
had previously pledged to provide the public with answers.” The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), along with four other national retail associations, wrote to the FDA requesting a public release of the list of products that are receiving MDOs. “Without this list, our retail members, who make every effort to comply with the law, do not know which products must be removed from shelves,” the NACS letter stated. “As the agency takes action on PMTAs, it is imperative that there is continued transparency in the process and that stakeholders across the tobacco trade know all of the products that have had PMTAs rejected as well as all of the products that have had marketing orders granted.” SUMMER SALES
Despite the prolonged regulatory process, the category continues to post noteworthy profits. Market research firm IRI recorded nearly 33.8 million unit sales of electronic smoking devices in U.S. convenience stores for the 66
CSTORE DECISIONS •
October 2021
cstoredecisions.com
