Elf Bar’s Arrival at Tesco: A Concern for Convenience Stores The introduction of Elf Bar into Tesco, one of the UK’s supermarket giants, has sparked concerns among convenience retailers. With Tesco launching a range of 12 Elf Bars, local stores worry about the impact on their sales, especially since Morrisons and Asda have already seen success with the brand earlier this year.
Retailers Voice Their Concerns and Strategies
- Best-one retailer Kay Patel: “Tesco joining the vape market was inevitable, but it raises concerns about underage appeal and waste.”
- Nisa retailer Kishor Patel: Warns of competition from supermarkets undercutting prices, affecting local store margins.
- Londis retailer Atul Sodha: Considers price adjustments to compete with Tesco, but also diversifies by stocking alternative brands like Lost Mary, Crystal, and Klik Klak.
Retailers Leverage Their Strengths Against Supermarkets Despite the competition, convenience store owners remain confident in their unique strengths:
- Premier retailer Serge Notay: Emphasizes the value of personalized advice and quick adaptation to new flavors, a service supermarkets can’t match.
- Costcutter retailer Sue Nithyanandan: Highlights efficient category management and specialized staff knowledge as key differentiators.
- Filco Supermarkets MD Matthew Hunt: Points out the agility of convenience stores in responding to market changes compared to larger supermarkets.
The Growing Significance of Vaping for Convenience Stores The vaping category has become a crucial part of trade for convenience stores. According to IGD Research, tobacco and vaping is the largest category in convenience in terms of sales, with a 13.3% growth since 2019. This demonstrates the importance of vaping products as a key driver for footfall and profitability in the convenience sector.
