STOCKS of price-marked packs of cigarettes are already running low, according to retailers.
Just a month on from the introduction of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD2) and the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015, wholesalers are already said to be running out of some price-marked and smaller packs.
Ian Mitchell of Premier Girvan said: “I have noticed price-marked packs are starting to disappear quite quickly. I think our main suppliers are intending to be shot of all their PMPs by the end of July. That’s what I’ve heard, anyway. But the packs have started disappearing already. It’s quite noticeable.”
Cults KeyStore owner Chris Cobb said he had been told that some local wholesalers were starting to run out.
“From what I’ve heard, Players PMPs could still be around for a while, but Lambert & Butler Silver, which is a major one up here, will go in the next few weeks,” he said.
“We’re making decisions on slow sellers. Because it’s such high value stock, you don’t want to be left with it.”
Omar Nasir, of Spar Leven Street, Motherwell, said: “I’ve noticed that cash & carries have stopped selling Richmond PMPs. It’s going the same way with Lambert & Butler, they’re running out of PMPs and small packs. I’m cutting back on 10s to get the customers used to it.
“Price-marked packs are still out there, but I’m not going to stock up because I don’t want to tie up my cash in cigarettes.
