VPZ plans to open 23 new stores across UK by mid 2024

• VPZ, a UK vaping retailer, has announced that it plans to open 23 new stores by the middle end of 2024.
• The new stores will offer specialist stop-smoking advice, sustainable products and a recycling service in new locations throughout England, Wales, and Scotland, increasing the specialist’s UK footprint towards 200 stores and creating in excess of 80 jobs.
• The growth will include 19 new mainline stores across communities and high-footfall shopping centre locations, with plans in place to open 4 new franchise stores through new and existing partners.

VPZ, a UK vaping retailer, is set to open 23 new stores by the middle of 2024.

The new stores will expand the brand’s presence to over just under 200 stores throughout the country, with key opening locations including Cardiff, Bristol, Plymouth, Stirling and Exeter.

The move will grow the retailer’s specialist stop smoking services into more local communities throughout the country and will also include sites in high-footfall shopping centre locations, following the successful launch at Newcastle’s Metrocentre in December last year.

Further growth will come from VPZ’s franchise model through existing franchisees and an onboarding programme with new partners.

The new stores will also widen access to VPZ’s vape recycling service, introduced in response to the rising environmental concern over disposable vapes. The service is open to all vapers, anyone can visit any store within the VPZ network and dispose safely of their vaping devices or e-cigarettes, and is complemented by a sales strategy that focuses on sustainable, re-usable products.

VPZ is pushing ahead with growth at a time when the UK is moving towards ambitions to be Smoke Free by 2030.

To date, Edinburgh-based VPZ has already helped over 700k smokers in the UK quit since it was established in 2012.

Doug Mutter, Director, said: “As the UK’s leading vaping specialist, we are spearheading the fight against the nation’s number one killer – smoking.

Our plans to open 23 new stores by the middle of the year reflect our ambition to help more smokers take the first steps on their quit journey and properly address the environmental impact of disposable vapes.

The new stores will further embed us in communities throughout the country, with a number being developed through our franchise programme.

It’s also hugely exciting to be expanding our presence in high-footfall retail environments. The launch in Newcastle’s Metrocentre in December has been a strong success and we are looking forward to further developing this model during 2024.”