CATEGORY ADVICE CIGARS & CIGARILLOS
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18-31 MAY 2021 betterRetailing.com
THE RISE OF CIGARILLOS FOLLOWING the menthol ban last year, cigarillos have been taken up by some smokers still looking for that menthol hit and suppliers have stepped up to meet that demand. Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped Cigarillos come in a packet of 10 king-sized, with a cigar which contains cigarette tobacco and a dual capsule minty flavour in the filter. JTI UK recently launched a new 20-pack format of the brand, with an RRP of £9.10. “In the UK, the cigarillo category saw significant growth during May and June 2020, as a result of the characteris-
ing flavour ban, with adults looking for alternatives in the cigarette category,” says Hennessy. “This is a trend that has continued to see steady growth since then.” Imperial Tobacco and Blu are also bridging the gap left by the ban of menthols with JPS Crushball Cigarillo. Also delivered by crushball technology, JPS Players Crushball comprises an America blend tobacco, wrapped in a tobacco leaf. The cigarillo packets can be legally branded so benefit from the addition of attractive branding, which will grab the attention of shoppers when the
gantry doors are open. The JPS Players Crushball cigarillo is available to buy in packs of 10 with an RRP of £4.20 in a pricemarked pack. “The launch of our Crushball variety provides value for money with a price-marked pack that offers shoppers the visible value they are looking for, from a well-known brand they can trust,” says Duncan Cunningham, UK corporate affairs director at Imperial Tobacco and Blu. STG has also got in on the menthol action with its Signature Dual cigarillo, which contains a peppermint capsule under a lasered marker.
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MERCHANDISING EFFECTIVELY IN terms of stocking cigars, Endreson from STG recommends siting cigars on the middle shelf because cigars and pipe tobacco are exempt from plain packaging. “If customers see branded packages on the shelves, they’re more likely to buy it,” says Endreson. “In fact, any placement in the gantry that ensures they’re visible to cus-
tomers is recommended due to the visible branding.” JTI’s Hennessy advises retailers to not only stock the right products, but to speak to customers about their cigar and cigarillo requirements. Vasanti Jesani, of Bargain Booze Atherton in Greater Manchester, and Neelam’s Sood says they take the lead from their customers when it comes to introducing
Dennis Williams, Broadway Premier Convenience Store, Edinburgh new products as this isn’t a massive category for them. However, Sood is considering the introduction of a glass cabinet that could show off Dhamecha’s wide range of Cuban cigars, as he sees this providing a point of difference over nearby rivals. “Everyone can do cigarettes and vapes, but not everyone can do a good cigar range,” says Sood.
“Cigarillos sales have increased by about 10% over the past year, mainly due to the fact that customers are looking for value and you can buy cigarillos in packets of 10. This means cigars and cigarillos usually have a much lower price than cigarettes. “However, in general, sales of cigars, cigarillos and cigarettes appear to be on the rise, due to the fact that fewer illegal products are entering the market due to the coronavirus pandemic. “It has been harder to get these illegal supplies into the country, and less people are coming back with cheap tobacco products from their holidays.”