Tobacco accessories specialist Republic Technologies (UK) Ltd is launching its biggest ever NPD programme with the introduction of six new filters from the market-leading* Swan brand to the UK’s £292 million* category.
The move comes as the accessories market continues to outperform total tobacco, with growth of 5.4%* year-on-year. The filters sector is leading the way, up 8.4%* year-on-year.
The major new product rollout comprises a carbon paper filter for enhanced filtration, a Swan Long Extra Slim Filter (50% longer than standard), the most environmentally friendly filter in the UK market and three menthol products, including two crushball filters.
“As increasing numbers of smokers are turning to roll your own, we’re developing a wider range of products for improved customer choice, enabling retailers to capitalise on the strong performance of the accessories category and to take advantage of the margin opportunities offered by Swan, the UK’s best-selling filter brand*,” says Gavin Anderson, General Sales Manager, Republic Technologies (UK) Ltd.
“The range of six new, high margin SKUs provides both more environmentally friendly filters and filters which reduce the amount of tobacco required to roll your own and offers menthol customers an increased choice of flavour.”
Suggested RRPs for the new products range from £1.03 for the Swan Long Extra Slim Filters (80 per box) to £1.39 for the Swan Eco Loose filters (200 per box).
“At a time when increasing numbers of smokers are looking at alternatives to factory made cigarettes, and the emerging vaping sector is still under some scrutiny, carefully considered new product development of this kind enables retailers to provide the solutions, options and quality reassurance which rising numbers of smokers are seeking,” adds Anderson.
“We’re confident that the introduction of six new filters from the iconic Swan brand will contribute to the sustained value growth of the tobacco accessories category in the future.”
The full range comprises:
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).
Swan Cool Menthol Filter: This filter is a sister product to the current Swan Menthol Filter, comprises high quality cellulose acetate fibres and delivers a cool menthol sensation. RRP: £1.09 (120 per box).
Swan Cool Burst Crushball Filter: The embedded capsule can be activated at any time to release a cool menthol flavour sensation. These filters contain no animal products. RRP: £1.29 (54 per pack).
Swan Fresh Burst Crushball Filter: The strong peppermint flavour capsule can be crushed at any time, giving consumers full control of the taste experience. These filters contain no animal products. RRP: £1.29 (54 per pack).
* IRI Total Market 52 wks to 01/12/19
** Tested over 12 months in an external environment
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