*Within the world of nicotine, the idea of combustion-free products seems to have become something of a catchphrase.
While the reasons for choosing these smokeless products are wide and varied, their upward sales trajectory has been far more straightforward and distinct. In fact, NicoKick, an online company that specializes in the retail of nicotine pouches, reported a monthly sales growth of more than 250 percent within six months.
Moreover, it has been predicted that the compound annual growth rate of these products will rise by 4.7% between 2019 and 2024.
Interestingly, when smokeless nicotine products first hit the market, reports showed that they mainly seemed to appeal to a very specific target group of rural white males with lower educational backgrounds. Now, however, this has shifted to include young, high-income earners – although the demographic still remains largely male-dominated.
What is driving this increasing trend to purchase smokeless products?
According to Markus Lindblad, the Head of External Affairs at the Haypp Group – the parent company of NicoKick – “Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are one of the fastest-growing smokeless tobacco products on the market today…as more Americans switch to a healthier tobacco-free lifestyle”.
Now we all know that smoking might be bad for our health. This message has been ingrained in us through warning labels, as well as several reports from authorities such as the World Health Organization. We have possessed this knowledge for years, which then must mean that other factors are also contributing to this change in our purchase decisions.
Of course, there can be little doubt that the search for healthier environment and lifestyle options is on the rise in general – you only need to browse supermarket shelves to notice an increase in vegan, celiac, vegetarian, etc. options, as well as a range of environmentally friendly cleaning products. Society has progressively become more health-conscious, and aware of the effect that our lifestyle may have on our external environment. However, beyond these motives, there are other persuasive reasons to go smokeless.
Three other reasons for choosing smokeless products
One reason could be the general ban on smoking in public. Restaurants, bars and other public spaces have become far more restrictive, and smokers may often find themselves standing out in the cold and alone, away from the social vibe of a night out. Indeed, even smoking in the outdoor space of a restaurant may result in some chastising glares and impolite mutterings from non-smoking patrons. In cases such as this, oral and combustion-free products such as nicotine pouches may feel far more discreet and socially acceptable. No other guests should notice the pouch hidden beneath your upper lip, provided that you dispose of it in the garbage rather than on the ground.
The health of our wallets has also become more important than ever before. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it financial insecurity, and people are being forced to tighten their purse-strings. The heavy taxes on traditional cigarettes may be another reason for consumers to choose a more budget-friendly option – and provided the opportunity for smokeless nicotine products to gain more traction in the market. Switching to nicotine pouches will surely seem far more preferable than being forced to kick (or scale down) your nicotine habit altogether.
A third cause for choosing smoke-free nicotine products could be the variety of flavors to choose from. Especially nicotine pouches have an array of flavors, ranging from savory options such as coffee and citrus, to the sweeter tastes of chocolate and berries. There is a flavor to suit every palate, which can be rather tempting to try out.
The rise of smokeless nicotine products has only just started, and we have only seen the beginning stages of its predicted dominance on the nicotine market.