The National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) has agreed a deal with Nicolites to help members enter the electronic cigarette market.

The new scheme allows NFRN members to take advantage of preferential rates across the complete product range, allowing them to make up to 45% profit on return -10% more than normal payment terms.

Retailers can also purchase products, including starter packs, on a sales or return basis and will receive a specially designed perspex counter display unit and point of sale material.

Unveiling the deal NFRN national president Alan Smith said: “Electronic cigarettes offer independent retailers a great opportunity as the multiples are well behind the game when it comes to stocking these products.

“Not only will stocking e-cigarettes give independent retailers the chance to carve out a niche for themselves, we are already receiving reports from members of some great sales. Indeed some retailers have announced sales of more than £500 a week after stocking Nicolites for only six months.”

The electronic cigarettes contain liquid nicotine that is heated inside the cigarette tip and turned into a tobacco-flavoured vapour. There are more than 300,000 UK adults who are now regular e-cigarette users, or ‘vappers’, as they are otherwise known, and the market is soon expected to hit £10m.