Alt New Zealand
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Michael Mason manning the Vapo stand at last month’s Vaper Expo UK in Birmingham.
Leading Kiwi-owned vaping brand Vapo has officially launched in the UK, making it the first New Zealand company to hit
retail shelves with nicotine vape products in the booming British market.
Vapo National Sales Manager for the UK/EU, Michael Mason, says interest and uptake has so far been strong. Vapo UK will
establish a highly visible physical retail presence, as well as strong online availability.
“We’re set to sign with some of the UK’s best well-known vape retailers. Already, we’re in the Phoenix Vapers’ network
of stores, with Vapo products also available in Ziggicig throughout Northern Ireland in the coming weeks. Then of course
we’re online with our own Vapo UK site, the massive UK Ecig Store, and we’re going live with the extensive Vape Club UK
soon,” says Mr Mason.
Vapo UK has brought on board both an established retail distributor and channel partner, with their warehouse in
Croydon, just south of London.
The priority product for market is Haiz - one of Vapo’s top selling vape devices in New Zealand, now being actively
promoted in the UK. Once sales for Vapo Haiz pod kits and products are well underway, the company’s popular Alt devices
will be launched into the UK early next year.
Mr Mason says the UK market is sadly saturated by cheap, low quality, Big Tobacco products that are not a genuine
alternative to smoking.
“By launching Haiz first, we’re targeting British smokers and vapers with a premium quality device that lasts all day,
hits the throat like a cigarette, and is well designed and dependable.
“We're also unleashing New Zealand’s best-selling flavours, which we created ourselves and so our products carry the
sought-after ‘Made in New Zealand’ certification mark. Our e-liquids have also been put through arduous testing, passing
with flying colours.”
New Zealander Michael Mason, who has considerable sales and marketing experience, says specialty vape shops and smaller
independent retailers are now being approached to be stockists. The next step will be securing larger retailers.
“Vapo and Alt have achieved saturation across supermarkets and service stations in New Zealand. Rest assured, we’ll be
using that experience and success to get a foot in the door with large volume UK retailers in the next few years.”
Last month Vapo enjoyed success with its large stand at Vaper Expo UK in Birmingham – Europe’s largest vaping
convention, featuring hundreds of the world’s leading vape brands. More recently, on 17 November, Vapo showcased at the
Hall of Vape Hamburg – Germany’s largest trade and consumer fair for vaping.
“Our aim here is it find distributors into key EU markets, initially with Germany, France and Italy, then wider afield
including Scandinavia. In the meantime, launching in the UK is a huge development for Vapo. Things are off to a great
start and I’m proud to be leading the charge,” says Mr Mason.
Vapo and Alt are leading vape brands in New Zealand and Australia. As the largest Kiwi-owned vape company, their
products are now available in over 1,500 outlets throughout New Zealand, including 11 Vapo-branded premium retail
outlets.
Vapo founders and owners, Jonathan Devery and Ben Pryor, are delighted Vapo UK has launched. They say the British market
presents enormous opportunities, given it now has 3.6 million vapers - up from 700,000 in 2012.
The Kiwi vape entrepreneurs also believe New Zealand’s Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa should take heed of the
highly successful UK regulatory framework and positive public health attitude before legislating against vaping’s appeal
to Kiwi smokers.
Vapo Japan has also recently been launched, with the business partners looking at further overseas expansion.
Ends