SWAN NPD boosts buoyant filters sector

SWAN NPD boosts buoyant filters sector

Northern Ireland’s tobacco accessories market has been given a massive boost by Republic Technologies (UK) Ltd’s biggest ever NPD programme.

The timely move has seen the introduction of three new menthol filters as part of a range of six new SKUs from the UK’s market-leading* Swan brand.

“People who used to smoke menthol cigarettes are looking to retailers for advice and guidance and we’ve provided a category-boosting solution which provides all-important choice, quality and menthol flavour delivery. This is enabling smokers to easily transition to Swan menthol filters,” says Gavin Anderson, General Sales Manager of Republic Technologies (UK) Ltd.

“As rising numbers of smokers are looking at alternatives to factory made cigarettes, and the emerging vaping sector is still under close scrutiny, timely, category-boosting  NPD of this kind enables retailers to meet demand amongst menthol smokers whose strong preference is to continue with their preferred flavour.”

The three new menthol filters in the Swan range comprise:

Cool Menthol Extra Slim: A sister product to the best-selling Swan Menthol Extra Slim in a pocket-sized pack containing 120 filters. This product delivers a cool menthol flavour. RRP: £1.09.

Cool Burst Crushball: In a 2-part sliding pack containing 54 filters, this crush capsule delivers a cool menthol flavour sensation. RRP: £1.29.

Fresh Burst Crushball: This crush capsule delivers a strong peppermint flavour and also comes in a 2-part sliding pack containing 54 filters. RRP: £1.29.

In addition to the three menthol SKUs, Republic Technologies (UK) Ltd is offering RYO smokers more choice of filters with three other SKUs which enable retailers to enhance their tobacco accessories offer.

The three other SKUs are:

Swan Graphite Filter: A 100% biodegradable filter, this extra slim product is made with carbon paper and delivers the ultimate in filtration. RRP: £1.14 (120 per box).

Swan Long Extra Slim Filter: Developed to reduce the amount of tobacco required per cigarette (and more representative of a factory-made cigarette), this is the longest ever Swan filter (50% longer than the standard 14mm Extra Slim Filter). Extra Slim is widely accepted as the filter of choice in the UK. RRP: £1.03 (80 per box).

Swan Eco Loose Filter: 100% biodegradable and the most environmentally friendly filter on the UK market. Natural ‘ochre’ coloured, due to no bleaching of the paper. It degrades three times faster than standard cellulose acetate filters**. RRP: £1.39 (200 per box).

“In what is already a strong performing market sector, we’re very confident that our new range of menthol filters, complemented by three other SKUs which each offer a point of difference, will enable retailers to meet growing consumer demand for new and innovative filter formats,” concludes Anderson.

*  IRI Total Market 52 weeks to 19/04/20

** Tested over 12 months in an external environment