Vapes are now four times more profitable for convenience stores than traditional tobacco products, according to a University of Edinburgh study. Retailers earn an average profit margin of 37.1% on vape sales compared to just 8.5% on tobacco. The surge in vape popularity has driven a nine-fold increase in weekly vape transactions, jumping from 10 in 2019 to 93 by 2022. Researchers suggest this upward trend has likely continued, signaling a significant shift in consumer preferences.
Tobacco-related sales have plummeted in recent years, dropping nearly 40% since 2015. Transactions involving tobacco fell from 21% in 2015 to 12.8% in 2022, reflecting a broader decline in smoking rates. Office for National Statistics data shows the percentage of UK adults who smoke has decreased from 16% in 2016 to 12% in 2023.
