Tescos is the latest UK supermarket to stock vape brand Elf Bar, but convenience retailers are concerned it will take more of their sales, just as it did when the brand was first stocked at Asda and Morrisons.
“Tesco has probably held off so far because they thought it was just a short-lived fad, and the fact it has so many issues around underage appeal and waste. But now they’ve seen the sales and they want a bite,” said Best-one retailer Kay Patel to The Grocer.
“The mults will move into where there is profit opportunity. But they will take sales from us with cheaper pricing by killing their margin.”
Tobacco and Vaping are the largest sales category for convenience stores in the UK, growing 13.3 percent since 2019.
"The inependents shouldn’t be worried, as Tesco is just following what we do best. It’s not going to be easy for them. I know how efficient you have to be in managing this category,” said Sue Nithyanandan, another convenience retailer to The Grocer.
