Tobacco firms tight-lipped as stores count down to display ban

Tobacco manufacturers are remaining tight-lipped about how they will accomplish the gargantuan task of helping the UK’s small stores comply with the display ban in just over one year’s time.

Manny Patel of Manny’s in Long Ditton, Surrey, was still waiting for JTI to confirm his position. “JTI has told me that I’m due a new gantry as my current one is five years old, but I’m still in the dark about exactly when I’ll get it and if doors will be automatically be fitted to it,” he said.

However, while some small store retailers with low tobacco turnovers have been forced to terminate their gantry agreements and take on responsibility for making alterations themselves, other stores with more significant tobacco sales are reporting a sudden increase in support.

Many have had their gantries measured in preparation for the ban on April 6, 2015, with sliding doors set to be retrofitted in a large number of small outlets as early as this summer.

“Imperial Tobacco came in and measured my gantry in preparation for the ban last week, so I’m fairly confident that it will be funding the changes, but I’ve not had official confirmation of that yet,” said Devon Premier retailer Dan Cock, whose 1,000sq ft store sells about 60 outers a week.

“The sales representative also assured me that support was set to improve, and that it would be launching a new reward and display scheme, which I was pleased to hear.”

Imperial Tobacco has also been distributing information packs containing key information about the forthcoming display regulations. The four-page guide includes information on how retailers can remain compliant, and tips on how to explain the change to customers.

JTI has also launched a category management approach called ‘ARTIST’, designed to advise retailers on availability, range, training, innovation, sales and technology, in advance of the ban.