Our impact as a category leader in the vaping industry.

At Phoenix 2 Retail, we're always looking to do better. This month we're continuing our commitment to provide our customers with the highest quality products and services in one of the leading FMCG categories, backed by the reliable service our retailers and brand partners have come to expect.?

As a category leader in the vaping industry, we’ve taken some positive steps to help improve category standards internally and externally. During March, we introduced and launched the following:?

1. The industry's first pre - and post-market testing program?

2. A partnership with Serve Legal to support our retailers against under-age sales?

3. Onboarded a new Head of Quality and Compliance?

4. Onboarded a new Finance Director?

5. Onboarded new Head of Learning and Development?

6. Independently tested almost 500 products (and counting)?

7. Supported voluntary withdrawal of non-compliant products?

8. Returned a compliant product that has gone through pre-market testing?

9. Successfully Launched Vape Local?

10. Secured a 5-year partnership with Morrison’s Supermarket?

11. Secured a 5-year partnership with United Wholesale Group?

Vaping is a relatively new category in the FMCG market. Vape suppliers, retailers, and wholesalers have seen a dramatic increase in revenue streams since the rise in popularity of the vaping category. As more and more businesses started selling vape products such as coils, mods, batteries, disposables, etc., the category began to face significant challenges such as non-compliance (with popular vape brands admitting to overfilling their disposable vapes with 3ml of nicotine salt e-liquid, which is more than specified by the TRPR (UK Tobacco and Related Product Regulations 2016) and increased youth uptake (which was highlighted in a recent article by? The Sunday Times Magazine)?

Pre - and post-market testing program?

The vaping sector still has a lot of room for improvement. As a category leader in the industry, we have the responsibility to help improve the category against non-compliant products and youth uptake. As a business, we’ve taken the challenge and launched the pre- & post-market testing program on the 1st of March 2023 to support and maintain standards across the vape FMCG market.??

This program is supported by many leading category brands, FMCG Retailers, Trade Bodies, and Trading Standards to ensure Phoenix 2 Retail can support improvements to help the target of a smoke-free date of 2030 across the UK.

Chris Kelly, CEO of Phoenix 2 Retail, said: "The Vaping Industry is still relatively new, constantly evolving and developing. Vaping presents one of the most significant global public health opportunities, and we must continually strive to improve standards and policies. Working in partnership with regulators, brands, and retailers, developing a pre- and post-market testing program will deliver the improvements the market and the industry requires. Phoenix 2 Retail has taken the initiative to assist and lead the discussion and solution on how we improve and support brands and retailers in delivering a smoke-free future."?

Our Pre & Post market testing program gives us the confidence to relaunch fully tested and compliant vape products nationally in all significant FMCG stores. To date, we have independently tested almost 500 products, with this number increasing daily. Trading Standards have endorsed our program, and we will share the results with the relevant bodies to ensure full industry transparency.?

Read more on our pre- and post-market-testing program here.?

We partnered with Serve Legal?

As a market leader in distributing vaping and alternative nicotine products in the UK, Phoenix 2 Retail has entered into a long-term strategic partnership with Serve Legal. We took on the challenge to safeguard our youth's access to vaping products. As part of this commitment, our partners, Serve Legal, will visit the UK FMCG landscape to allow Phoenix 2 Retail to support retailers with education, compliance, and high-quality, accurate age verification testing programs.?

We onboarded three major roles within Phoenix 2 Retail.?

We'd like to congratulate Jackie Reed (Head of Quality and Compliance), Mark Overton (Finance Director), and Chris Knight (Head of Learning and Development) on their new positions with the company.?

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Jackie will handle everything related to our Pre- and Post Market testing program. Mark will oversee all financial matters at Phoenix 2 Retail, and Chris will be responsible for all training and educational activities within the company.?

Successful launch of Vape-Local??

The only way to ensure your business complies with TPD regulations is to take a proactive approach. That’s why we’ve launched our new and improved Business to Business platform, Vape Local. This was done so that retailers across the UK can experience a hassle-free experience when ordering TPD-compliant vape products online in bulk.?

As part of the platform, we offer:?

• A fast and practical website application so that retailers can order small or large quantities of products, depending on their needs;?
• Functionalities on our website that allows for easy and fast order processing.?
• A dedicated team of experts will guide you through every step of the process from start to finish.?
• Vape Local Gantries, in various styles, to suit all store types, to effectively showcase your vape products in-store.?
• Stocking of the best and most popular vape brands in the UK?

Our new B2B platform is built around three key pillars:?

1) Simplicity: We've made sure that ordering with us is as simple as possible. Now you can order all your stock in one place without needing multiple quotes or invoices.?

2) Convenience: Our team has worked hard to ensure that the system works seamlessly across all devices and screen sizes so that you can be sure that retailers will get the best experience possible from their device of choice.?

3) Security: at Phoenix 2 Retail, we take security very seriously. We're committed to protecting your data and ensuring that our customers are always protected by the latest technologies available today.?

“The acquisition of Vape Local and the rebranding is on another level. Supported by a best-in-class range, team and customer platform, I am very excited about the future with Vape Local.” – Phoenix 2 Retail CEO Chris Kelly.?

We’ve launched our Age Gated YouTube Channel to communicate with our retailers and provide education on the category and how to navigate Vape Local. https://www.youtube.com/@vapelocal?

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Our partnerships?

We're proud to announce that we've secured a 5-year partnership with United Wholesale Group and Morrison's Supermarket. The Morrisons Supermarket Partnership will see us install Gondola ends and Counter top units in their 498 store locations.?

We'll also be installing Countertop units in their 335 petrol stations. The partnership will mean we have 1300+ pieces of kit installed within Morrisons Supermarket stores, offering a full range of disposables, closed pods, 10ml, and oral nicotine products.?

This excludes the pending wholesale agreement with them, which will see us launch 2000 pieces of kit across 1000 stores coming soon!?

We've worked hard over the last few months to improve the overall experience and service delivered to all retailers and brand partners. These improvements and the other initiatives introduced to date will contribute to a more positive experience within the leading FMCG vape category. This will be key to the industry's continued growth, and initiatives like Pre 2 Post Market tests, age gating, grading standards, and proper compliance will ensure a higher standard of care for the vaping industry and community.?