E-cigarette profits surge as South Africa embraces vaping

As more and more smokers turn to e-cigarette devices to quit smoking, the number of e-cigarette retail outlets has significantly increased.

The brand Twisp saw a 4000% increase in sales from 2012 to 2016.

Former smoker and e-cigarette enthusiast Sharri van Zyl owns a private e-cigarette store in Gauteng, South Africa. She says the number of people vaping is growing because smokers find that "they can still get nicotine while climbing stairs without getting out of breath."

She and her business partner Warren Pleass quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes and opened an e-cigarette store, Vape King, in 2013.

Over the past two years, their store has grown by 10% annually. Last year, the number of customers at their four locations increased from 8,000 to 15,000.

Some customers come weekly to get the latest models of devices, Van Zyl mentions. Their store regularly updates products, accessories, various flavors of e-liquids, and batteries.

Pleass states: "In technology, it’s like any other device. What was cool six months ago is no longer cool now."

Next month, there will even be a one-day vaping conference. In its second year, this conference will attract 40 companies to exhibit, doubling last year’s participation. The event will include vapor competitions.

However, while many doctors support using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation method, a new study released by the American Academy of Pediatrics raises concerns about e-cigarettes, noting that more and more never-smokers are trying vaping.

However, a study in the UK shows that only 1% of never-smoking teenagers have tried e-cigarettes, and most did not continue using them.

A survey conducted by Twisp in South Africa found that among its 4,000 customers, 98% were former smokers.

The South African E-Cigarette Association states that its member organizations do not sell e-cigarettes to minors, do not sell e-cigarettes containing hazardous chemicals, and will provide warning labels for children on e-liquids.

British American Tobacco believes that the e-cigarette market in South Africa is still small and has not penetrated local cigarette sales.

Senior PR Manager FEROZ KOOR stated: "While the e-cigarette category is growing, it is still in its infancy in South Africa and can be considered negligible."