Delivered wholesaler Palmer and Harvey will release the first of several new initiatives to educate and advise retailers on the upcoming EU tobacco (TPD2) legislation.
The trilingual guide, printed in English, Urdu and Gujarati, will be sent to all Palmer and Harvey customers and available for download from the P&H website at the start of August.
Recent research carried out by Palmer and Harvey and Him research and consulting revealed a third of retailers are still not aware of EUTPD2 legislation and its potential impact, and 75% think their consumers do not know about the legislation.
From 20 May 2017, retailers will no longer be allowed to sell any packs or pouches of cigarettes and tobacco which do not comply with the new legislation.
The guide is designed to educate retailers on how to deal with the transition efficiently, with specific details on how the new rules will affect packaging, display, quantity and pricing of tobacco.
Palmer and Harvey is encouraging retailers to focus on key aspects, including the availability and price of products, by working closely with their wholesaler.
Paul Hagon, group strategy and development director at Palmer and Harvey, said: “Through research we have identified that availability levels and having the correct, competitive pricing will be the most impactful aspects of the transition for retailers.”
Palmer and Harvey recently visited Australia to fully understand the impact similar tobacco legislation, introduced in 2012, has had on retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and consumers. Cigarette and tobacco sales there have not been negatively affected.
Hagon added: “The impact of new tobacco legislation in Australia shows that retailers here in the UK should not panic about the upcoming changes, but instead, plan and react accordingly.
“We learnt that clarity, communication and co-operation between retailers, suppliers and wholesalers is crucial, and planning for the changeover ahead of time is essential.”
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