E-cigarettes one of UK’s fastest-growing products

Electronic cigarettes, sports nutrition bars and gluten and dairy-free food were the fastest growing products sold in UK supermarkets and grocers during the last year, according to a story by Simon Neville for The Independent, citing new data from Nielsen.

Nielsen reported that electronic cigarette sales increased by 50.0 percent year-on-year, while sales of nicotine replacement products, such as patches and gum, dropped by 6.1 percent.

The electronic cigarette market, which is currently estimated to be worth £91.3 million a year, is expected to be worth £340 million next year.

Supermarkets have been particularly keen to cash in on the craze, partly because tobacco counter displays are banned at larger stores.

And pharmacies, too, have started selling the products for the first time.

Meanwhile, landlords have revealed that electronic cigarette shops are some of the fastest-growing outlets on the high street.

Adam Leyland, editor of industry magazine The Grocer, who analysed the Nielsen data, said that Ten Motives had overtaken E-Lites as the leading brand in the UK.

The story is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/grocers-light-up-as-ecigarette-sales-soar-50-per-cent-in-a-year-9949381.html#.