Quarter of smokers to explore smoke-free products in 2022
Grocery sales reached
More than a quarter (26%) of adult smokers in
£31.7bn over the 12 weeks
the UK are likely to explore smoke-free products
to 26 December 2021 as
in 2022, an independent survey carried out by
shoppers made the most of
Lake Research on behalf of Philip Morris reveals.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Consumers seize the chance to enjoy Christmas Christmas festivities, new research reveals.
The research shows that 61% of smokers said they would feel comfortable asking their local
Data from Kantar shows that
retailer for advice on what smoke-free products
people seized the chance to
might be right for them in 2022. Meanwhile,
enjoy Christmas with friends
58% of respondents believed they hadn’t
and family after last year’s
yet found a satisfying alternative to cigarette
muted festivities, and grocery sales hit £11.7bn over the month
smoking to help them quit, and 32% wished
of December.
they knew about a better range of options available to them.
The data shows premium own-label sales broke records this Christmas and shoppers spent £627m on retailer’s own premium
The survey revealed several challenges local
lines over the four weeks to 26 December, an increase of 6.8%
retailers may need to consider to better support
versus 2020. The appetite to celebrate and splash out that little
adult smokers switch to alternative products.
bit more this year pushed sales of luxury own-brand products up
Only 17% of smokers were likely to ask retailers
across the board. Sparkling and still wine sales grew 22% and
what smoke-free products they stock and for
18% respectively, while crisps surged by 31%.
recommendations on what alternatives might be right for them. In addition, 65% of smokers were
In addition, sales of sweet treats reached £62m in December,
unlikely to ask which alternatives matched their
a jump of 7% on 2020. A similar amount, £61m, was spent on
preferences, such as taste and nicotine strength,
Christmas chocolates too, with sales soaring by 21%. It looks like
and for information they could take away from
people came prepared for indulgent celebrations and indigestion
the point of sale to find out more.
remedy sales also rose by 8%.
‘One in three’ go low or no UK consumers are increasingly choosing low and no alcohol products all year round and not just for Dry January, according to the fourth annual online study by drinks watchdog The Portman Group, carried out in December. Carried out by YouGov, the report found that almost one in three (32%) UK drinkers now ‘semi-regularly’ consume low and no alcohol products compared to one in four (25%) in 2020. A fifth (20%) of those
who have tried low and no alcohol say they are more likely to drink these products now compared to a year ago, almost double the number saying this in last year’s survey (11%). The most popular reason given is ‘being able to drive home from social events’ (33% of respondents) while healthier consumption concerns were cited
by 22% of consumers. More than one in 10 consumers (12%) said they currently alternate between low or no products and regular strength alcohol to moderate their overall consumption. However, well over half (58%) of non-drinkers have never even tried a low or no product and just 14% are semi-regular consumers.
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