Find out how suppliers and retailers are capitalising on Scotland’s growing demand for nicotine pouches and other smoking alternatives.
The disposable vape ban may have disrupted the nicotine market, but it has also created fresh opportunities for retailers. As adult consumers rethink their nicotine choices, demand is growing for alternative products that offer convenience, discretion and variety.
“Amongst UK adults, only 8% of vapers admit to using disposable vapes in 2026 compared with 24% in 2025 [Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and YouGov],” says Snü International Business Development Lead and Manager Javier Soria De Vicente.
“While disposables once dominated due to their convenience and accessibility, their removal has accelerated interest in alternative nicotine formats, particularly nicotine pouches.”
Scotland reflects many of the wider UK trends, but its nicotine landscape is shaped by several unique demographic and regional factors, notes Soria De Vicente.
Scottish demand for pouches
He observes that Scotland sits ahead of the rest of the UK in a metric that is particularly significant to retailers: heavy usage. “A quarter (25%) of Scottish nicotine pouch users use five or more cans per week [Haypp Nicotine Pouch Report 2026], creating a valuable opportunity for retailers to build a dependable base of repeat purchasers.
“Snü has recorded a returning customer rate of 60% over the past year, demonstrating the level of loyalty that can be achieved when adult consumers are offered products that align with their preferences. For retailers, this equates to more frequent purchases, sustainable category performance and long-term revenue.”
Interest in nicotine pouches surged in Scotland last year, with internet searches up 33%, claims Snü, adding that Edinburgh emerged as a key growth driver, recording the highest nicotine pouch search activity per capita [Nicotine Insider].
“Its large adult student and young professional population has helped fuel demand for modern, discreet nicotine alternatives, reinforcing the importance of tailoring product ranges to local consumer preferences,” says Soria De Vicente.
Imperial Brands concurs that c-stores need to pay attention to locals’ preferences.
“Retailers should analyse customer buying habits and stock flavours that sell best locally,” advises UK Market Manager Andrew Malm. “We’d advise engaging with customers to understand key trends within your store and take notice of the products and flavours that customers are frequently purchasing. This will also help you to refine your vape offerings over time.
“Whilst refinement shows a personal touch, offering a variety of products and flavours is important too.”
One retailer who has done her homework is Jen Paton, manager at SLR Smokeless Alternatives Retailer of the Year finalist Spar Greenock, Inverclyde. She recognises that pouches appeal to certain customer groups.
“We get Greenock football club players come in who buy the nicotine pouches,” she says. “I’ve also had quite a few 19-year-olds buying the Velo pouches.”
One customer explained that she used pouches instead of vaping while bodybuilding, highlighting the appeal of a nicotine format that can be used discreetly during training and other activities.
Jen is also alerting customers to the benefits of pouches in terms of their convenience and discreetness.
“When my older customers come in and they have to make hospital visits where they won’t be able to smoke, then I tell them: ‘We’ve got Nordic Spirit; Zyn are quite good because they’ve got a big menthol range; we’ve got Pablo, Velo and Fumi – try these, they’ll help.’”
Her bestsellers are Velo 3 strength in Peppermint and Tropical, Spearmint Nordic Spirit and Grape Pablo.
Mint makes its mark
The bestselling flavour of 2025 in Scotland was Mint, followed by Fruit, Spices and Citrus, according to Haypp Group.
And there is a raft of more mint variants on the way.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has introduced a new mint range into its XQS nicotine pouch portfolio. The Spearmint 6mg, The Peppermint 10mg and The Menthol in 11mg and 17mg strengths will be supported by a ‘Get Minted’ campaign, which will give both consumers and retailers the chance to win cash prizes and rewards.“It’s mint flavours which are really driving the pouch category at the moment, currently accounting for 78% of total sales [SoS, IRI, December read 2025],” says Prianka Jhingan, STG UK’s Head of Marketing.
Meanwhile, Philip Morris Limited (PML) has announced the launch of Zyn Menthol Ice 16.5mg, the new highest-strength nicotine pouch offering in the Zyn range.
Imperial Brands has also added a high-strength mint addition to the mix in the form of Zone Cool Mint 17mg, which it defines as a fast-acting and intense nicotine experience.
A further three mint variants are arriving courtesy of tobacco accessories supplier Republic Technologies UK, which is making its pouch debut with the launch of Zig.
Named with an affiliation to Republic’s established Zig-Zag brand, the Zig range includes 8mg, 12mg and 17mg strengths across six flavours: Berry Cool, Citrus, Ice Mint, Peppermint, Power Mint and Tropical.
Snü also believes there’s mileage in the high nicotine-strength segment. The firm recently launched Fizzy Energy in 6mg, 12mg and 18mg per pouch, as well as a 60mg-per-gram option, which will be the fourth flavour in the brand’s extra-strong range.
Tougher rules
As we head into the second quarter of 2026, vape retailers face a plethora of challenges.
Vaping Products Duty is set to kick in on 1 October, with a duty rate of £2.20 per 10ml applied to any bottle, cartridge or pod containing vaping liquids – even nicotine-free variants. Plus, retailers must adhere to the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme and ensure that all non-duty-liable stock is sold through before 1 April 2027.
And now the Government is consulting on proposals to ban the display of vapes and nicotine products in the same way as tobacco products; introduce plain packaging; limit branding and imagery; and restrict flavour names.
Jen feels that a full display ban would be detrimental to sales, but she isn’t concerned about packaging and flavour restrictions or the new tax.
“I don’t think the Vaping Product Duty will impact sales as long as we stay on top of everything,” she says. “As long as I’ve got the knowledge and information that we need for the changes, I think we’ll be fine.”
As regulation becomes more complex and nicotine formats continue to diversify, consumer education is becoming a critical component of category success, agrees Snü.
Soria De Vicente says: “Well-trained retail staff remain one of the category’s most underutilised commercial assets, helping consumers navigate strengths, formats and usage confidently.”
