REPUBLIC Technologies has announced what is being touted as the biggest ever NPD programme for the firm.
Six new filters are being added the to its Swan brand, as part of a roll out that aims to capitalise on the strong growth enjoyed by the accessories category in Scotland.
The NPD programme includes three new menthol products, including two crushball filters, a carbon paper filter for enhanced filtration, a Swan Long Extra Slim Filter (50% longer than standard) and an environmentally friendly SKU.
Rolling out ahead of the menthol cigarette ban – which comes into force on 20 May – the three new menthol products are: Swan Cool Menthol Filter, Swan Cool Burst Crushball Filter, and Swan Fresh Burst Crushball Filter.
The range of six new, high margin SKUs offers existing and new menthol customers an increased choice.
The new carbon paper filter, Swan Graphite Filter, is an extra slim, 100% biodegradable tip; Swan Long Extra Slim Filter offers consumers an extra slim filter that is 50% longer; and Swan Eco Loose Filter is claimed by Republic Technologies to be the most environmentally friendly filter on the UK market.
Suggested RRPs for the new products range from £1.03 for the Swan Long Extra Slim Filter (80 per box), to £1.39 for the Swan Eco Loose Filter (200 per box).
Republic Technologies latest batch of NPD has come at a time of solid growth for the tobacco category in Scotland.
IRI Total Market figures covering Scotland for the 52 weeks to 1 December, 2019, found accessories outperforming total tobacco. As a whole accessories were up 4.5% year-on-year, with filters leading the way, up 9.2%.
Gavin Anderson, general sales manager at Republic Technologies commented on the roll out.
“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, Scotland’s best-selling filter brand.
“The range of six new, high margin SKUs offers existing and new menthol customers an increased choice of flavours and provides both more environmentally friendly filters and filters which reduce the amount of tobacco required to roll your own.
“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.”
