Smoking rates in parts of England have increased for the first time in nearly two decades, shows a new research published on Tuesday (18). Industry experts suspect misinformation around vapes and impending regulation on flavours are pushing vape users back to smoking cigarettes.
While smoking rates have decreased since 2006, the rate of decline has flatlined from 2020, and in some areas of the UK smoking rates are increasing again.
New research, by Haypp, looks into vape user’s perception of harm across a range of nicotine products, highlighting a serious lack of awareness when it comes to which products are more harmful than others, potentially contributing to this rise in cigarette use.
The survey, to which all respondents were current vape users, showed that consumers did not see a significant difference in harm levels between cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine pouches.
In fact, respondents believed that the three products were similarly harmful, rating all three as being between 4.5 to 6 out of 10, on a scale from not harmful to very harmful.
This is a shocking statistic given that there is a substantial body of evidence, including NHS research, that proves that cigarettes are much more harmful than vapes and nicotine pouches.
This research coincides with the latest data from University College London, highlighting a rising issue with smoking cigarettes, and the understanding of their harm to public health.
Haypp’s latest vape report also highlights that significant number of vapes users could return to smoking cigarettes, depending on how UK laws on vaping may change:
20 per cent of current vape users would return to smoking cigarettes if vapes were no longer available to them while ·37 per cent admitted they would return to smoking cigarettes if vape flavours were to be banned in the UK.
10 per cent of vape users say they may return to smoking cigarettes following the disposable vape ban in June.
Markus Lindblad, Nicotine Expert and Head of External Affairs at Haypp, said, “For many years, the UK government has had great success in reducing smoking rates.
"However, this new research, combined with Haypp’s statistics paint a very worrying picture, one that industry experts have been concerned about for some time now.
"There is a great deal of confusion amongst UK consumers as to how harmful cigarettes are compared with alternative nicotine products and most smokers wrongly believe that vaping is as harmful as cigarettes.
"UK consumers are exposed to a great deal of misinformation about vapes and nicotine pouches, and this needs to be addressed to enable people to make informed choices about less harmful nicotine products.
"Public information campaigns about the true harm levels of cigarettes compared with vapes should be facilitated by health authorities.
“As a responsible retailer, we hope to help inform nicotine users about the dangers of smoking cigarettes, and highlight the benefits of switching to alternative products, such as nicotine pouches.
"Thanks to snus and nicotine pouches, Sweden is set to become Europe’s first smoke-free country and we have further research to show that if the UK adopted similar laws, up to 28,410 lives could be saved every year.
"The importance of this type of education cannot be understated and we hope more is done to deter potentially millions of people from smoking cigarettes.”
Despite being a nation of food lovers, when it comes to food waste, fresh produce are the UK’s most binned items, states a recent report, recommending that more fresh produce needs to be sold/bought loose to help break the "UK’s £1,000 a year food waste habit".
In Food Waste Action Week, Love Food Hate Waste publishes its annual Household Food Management Survey giving a snapshot of the nation’s behaviours and attitudes towards food.
Each year in UK homes an estimated 510,000 tonnes of potatoes are binned, representing 46 per cent of all potatoes bought.
The largest and longest running survey of its kind, the latest Love Food Hate Waste Household Food Management Survey show that self-reported food waste has increased to 21 per cent for the four key food items monitored (bread, milk, potatoes and chicken), meaning a fifth of these end up in the bin.
The rise in self-reported food waste recorded coincided with the easing of several key pressures that had kept food waste in check over recent years, including food price inflation and concerns about the cost-of-living and food availability.
But Love Food Hate Waste says one reason why so much fresh produce ends up in our bins is because most is sold packaged, denying shoppers a chance to buy an amount closer to their needs.
In the UK, only 19 per cent of fresh produce is sold loose by large retailers.
Jackie Baily, Senior Campaign Manager Love Food Hate Waste, “We see fresh produce as the real kitchen victim when it comes to food waste. Because most fruit and veg is sold packaged, we have to buy what we’re given not what we need, and that means a lot goes to waste.
"As a result, our bins have a diet that most nutritionists would envy. And we’re a long way from breaking our food waste habit because of this packaging.”
Ahead of the roll out of separate food waste collections in England, Love Food Hate Waste is keen to help people reduce the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables ending up in the bin through better access to loose produce.
An estimated 60,000 tonnes of food waste could be prevented if all apples, potatoes and bananas were sold loose, representing 8.2 million shopping baskets’ worth of food.
Love Food Hate Waste is using Food Waste Action Week to show the growing public demand for more loose fruit and veg in the fresh produce aisles. And WRAP, the environmental action NGO behind Love Food Hate Waste, is also calling for a consultation for a potential ban on packaging for 21 products in the fresh produce aisles.
Food waste made flesh
Love Food Hate Waste found that our ability to judge how much is the right amount to buy has weakened slightly for the first time in several surveys and that except for bread, most people find judging the right amount of fresh produce trickier than any other product – particularly potatoes.
When it comes to buying loose, people enjoy not having a date label on loose fresh produce and we’re happy to use judgement alone on when fruit and vegetables are still good to eat far more than a Best Before date - most noticeably for onions (75 per cent).
Outside of the fresh produce category, people use date labels (Use-By) for items for which food safety is an issue, such as fresh chicken and pork. But for milk, we’re evenly split between using our judgement or a date label.
On a per capita basis, the latest survey suggests that 27 per cent of UK citizens classify as ‘higher’ food wasters. In addition, Love Food Hate Waste found a disparity between people’s perception of their own waste and the reality, with nearly 8 out of 10 interviewees believing they waste less than the average.
Food waste occurs across all sociodemographic groups in the UK, without exception. But Love Food Hate Waste warns that certain groups are more prone to falling into the high food waste category.
Higher levels of food waste were concentrated among younger people, those with children and those with a higher number of displaced meals (when plans change last minute, or something happens meaning we don’t eat the food we’d planned at home).
In addition, Love Food Hate Waste found a link between people who use alternative methods of food shopping and higher levels of reported food waste, albeit a far lesser number.
This includes those who use Click and collect (38 per cent higher food waste), fruit and veg box schemes (48 per cent), subscription delivery (47 per cent) and delivery companies (40 per cent).
Love food Hate Waste has put forward a range of recommendations to help mitigate against household food waste.
These include making it easier to purchase the right amount of food through better access to loose produce, introducing smaller pack sizes at comparable prices and curbing in-store promotions encouraging over-purchasing for perishable foods (e.g., impulse-driven multibuy offers).
And enhancing individual citizens’ skills in meal planning and portion estimation.
Shoppers, especially those on a lower income, are expected to continue spending with caution for the foreseeable future, predicts a leading industry analyst, stressing that retailers must build emotional connections with shoppers.
IGD has released a new report that examines the economic and demographic trends expected to shape the next five years for shoppers, retailers, and the food and grocery industry.
According to the report titled "Shoppers in 2030", single households are projected to contribute 95 per cent of the overall growth in the number of households, the growing population will create a higher demand for housing.
With disposable income levels unlikely to grow significantly, shopper confidence will remain subdued, impacting volume spending.
The food and grocery industry is expected to be somewhat protected compared to other industries, but IGD states that retailers must build emotional connections with shoppers.
The report highlights the need for retailers and manufacturers to produce the right products for the right shopper.
The report adds that as shoppers remain less confident in the years to come, their ability to focus on their health will likely be impacted. However, with an increasing prevalence of obesity, it will be up to the food and grocery industry to continue providing accessible healthy foods for shoppers.
Similarly for sustainability measures, while shoppers may not prioritise the impact on the environment in each of their product purchases, the food and grocery industry will need to lead the way to make meaningful change for the food system, states the report.
“The outlook is far from positive news for retailers and manufacturers,” said Bryony Perkins, Senior Insights Analyst at IGD.
“We expect shoppers to continue spending with caution for the foreseeable future, especially those on a lower income. This means volume challenges are set to continue. '
"The silver lining for food and grocery is that shoppers will still look to treat themselves in small ways. Retailers and manufacturers should look for ways to help shoppers elevate the everyday with small, affordable treats.”
Majority of 1,200 crisps, nuts and popcorn snacks sold in stores contain such high levels of “hidden salt” that they fail to meet government’s criteria for healthier food, a new report has warned, raising alarm ahead of October 2025 advertising restrictions.
From October, there will be a pre-9pm television watershed on junk food adverts, as well as a blanket ban for online and social media ads.
The Action on Salt and Sugar research team, based at Queen Mary University of London, analysed sugar and salt in nuts, crisps and ready-to-eat popcorn on supermarket shelves.
According to the report released today (18) by the research group, one in three bags of ready-to-eat popcorn contain more salt than a packet of cheese and onion crisps.
Additionally, 77 per cent of crisps, 56 per cent of nuts and 88 per cent of popcorn would fall foul of healthy eating criteria.
The saltiest popcorn was Joe & Seph’s Sweet & Salty Popcorn, with 2.25g salt per 100g, higher than most crisps.
As well as often being too salty, 42 per cent of popcorn would also receive a red warning label for sugar content. The worst offender was Morrisons Market Street Toffee Flavour Popcorn with 59.1g of sugar per 100g.
Some crisps also continue to provide excessive levels of salt in our diets, with one in three products requiring a high (red) salt warning label on the front of the pack.
Among the worst offenders is Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon, which contains 3.6g of salt per 100g – a staggering amount that’s saltier than the concentration of seawater and exceeding the government’s salt target, states the report.
Meanwhile, plain nuts are naturally low in salt, but many flavoured varieties fail to meet healthier standards.
Nearly one in four flavoured nuts exceed salt targets, with Forest Feast Slow Roasted Colossal Cashews containing 2.60g of salt per 100g – more than double the government’s salt target, states the report.
Total sugar levels are just as concerning. Whitworths Shots Chocolate & Hazelnut packs an alarming 51g of total sugars per 100g10, meaning a small 25g serving contains over three teaspoons of sugars.
Whilst many snacks are high in salt and sugars, notably the data presents a wide variation in nutrition content demonstrating that, in many cases, it is unnecessary and they can be made with less salt.
The report adds that despite clear evidence that salt reduction is both achievable and necessary, only "eight companies have fully met the salt targets set for these snacks, with a further four achieving ≥95 per cent compliance".
Disappointingly, nine companies have failed to meet the targets in at least half their snacks portfolio, despite being given four years to succeed.
Sonia Pombo, Head of Impact and Research at Action on Salt, says, “It’s clear that voluntary efforts to improve food nutrition have largely fallen short. Yet this isn’t about feasibility as some companies have already shown that reformulation is possible.
"It's about time the government get tough with companies and implement mandatory targets with strong enforcement. Without this, the UK’s hidden salt and sugar crisis will persist, putting consumers at risk and leaving responsible brands at a disadvantage in an uneven marketplace.”
Dr Pauline Swift – Chair of Blood Pressure UK adds, “Reducing salt isn’t just a health recommendation – it’s a lifesaving necessity. Excess salt, often hidden in everyday foods, raises blood pressure, which is the leading cause of strokes, heart and kidney disease – all of which is completely avoidable.
"Without urgent action to cut both salt and sugar levels, we’re gambling with lives. The government must step up with enforceable targets to protect public health."
Grocers are set to benefit on Mother's Day this year as more consumers are expected to have a special meal at home, states a recent report, adding that spending on Mother’s Day is set to reach £2.4 billion in 2025.
According to GlobalData Retail Mother’s Day Intentions Report 2025, the proportion of UK consumers planning to purchase at least one item for Mother’s Day 2025 has risen to 56.4 per cent, a 2.9ppt increase on 2024.
Grocers will benefit from decreased interest in takeaways and dining out this year. 17.5 per cent of Mother’s Day shoppers plan to have a special meal at home with mum, a 3.1ppt increase on 2024.
Dine-in options are crucial, given that Mother’s Day shoppers intend to spend £52.32 on average on food and drink for the event. There will be plenty of room in consumers’ budgets to trade up to premium ranges.
Furthermore, consumers plan to spend £17.43 more on their mums than last year, resulting in an average spend of £125.30. Gifting will be the most popular expense this year, with categories such as clothing, fine jewellery and watches and health and beauty among the most sought-after.
Eleanor Simpson-Gould, Senior Retail Analyst at GlobalData, comments, “Retailers should offer personalised gifting options, including customised clothing, bespoke jewellery pieces, and curated beauty gift sets.
"Providing unique and thoughtful gifts will appeal to the customers looking to make a special gesture on Mother's Day. Additionally, retailers must enhance the shopping experience by offering gift-wrapping services and convenient delivery options to make the process seamless for shoppers.”
Simpson-Gould adds. “The UK consumers are prioritising quality time at home with their mums this Mother’s Day, focusing on special meals, presenting a lucrative opportunity for grocers.
"Upselling opportunities include luxury wines, champagnes, confectionery, and premium meats, and grocers must focus on catering to these preferences to maximise sales potential.”
According to the report, 62.5 per cent of Gen Z consumers agree that “retailers do not do enough to provide gift inspiration.” This sentiment is far higher than that of their cohorts. Almost half of this age group plan to spend more on Mother’s Day this year.
Simpson-Gould concludes, “Retailers must engage with Gen Z shoppers on key social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to promote affordable Mother’s Day gift ideas, offering exclusive discounts and engaging content to attract budget-conscious shoppers.
"Next-day delivery options will be a significant draw for this age group. Given that 63.8 per cent of Gen Z shoppers agree they ‘tend to leave Mother’s Day shopping until the very last minute’ online retailers offering expedited delivery stand to benefit the most from the expenditure ahead of the event.”
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Henry Westons Vintage 500ml is the number one cider SKU in the convenience channel
The unstoppable rise of crafted apple cider is setting the benchmark for success in the UK’s £1.1 billion off-trade cider market, according to the latest Westons Cider Report.
The leading cider producer advises that convenience retailers who prioritise premium products and strategic ranging will be best placed to drive sales in 2025.
Despite crafted cider thriving across the broader market, its share in convenience still lags slightly behind (20% vs. 24%). This gap presents an exciting opportunity for convenience retailers to tap into the premium crafted cider trend and unlock significant revenue.
Westons Cider’s milestone report reveals that, while total cider sales have edged up by just 0.1 per cent YOY, crafted cider is experiencing remarkable growth with a significant 14.6 per cent surge in convenience alone.
As consumers increasingly seek authenticity, quality, and heritage, premium crafted ciders are becoming essential for retailers eager to drive long-term success.
A decade of transformation in cider
Westons Cider predicted the rise of crafted cider in 2018 and, seven years on, the numbers prove just how transformative this shift has been. Back then, crafted cider made up just 9 per cent of apple cider sales — today, it accounts for nearly a quarter of the total cider market, adding an impressive £26.3 million to the category in the past year alone.
While the overall cider category has edged forward (+0.1%), crafted cider has surged ahead, growing at ten times (11.1%) the rate of the total market. This unwavering momentum cements crafted cider’s place as the fastest-growing segment in the industry.
This shift reflects a fundamental change in consumer preferences. A decade ago, cider was a broader, more fragmented category, featuring more brands and greater variety. Today, the focus has shifted — fewer brands, stronger premium offerings, and an emphasis on quality over quantity.
Crafted cider: A major untapped opportunity in convenience
Despite commanding a premium price of £4.32 per litre in convenience, compared to £2.76 for the total category, crafted cider remains underrepresented in this channel, with distribution at 95.4 per cent compared to 98.4 per cent across the total market. Bridging this gap could unlock an impressive £3.7m in value sales.
Even with limited shelf space, crafted cider continues to show a solid 5.8 per cent YOY growth, highlighting a strong and growing consumer appetite for high-quality options.
“Shoppers are looking for premium cider options in convenience, and retailers who give crafted cider the prominence it deserves will reap the rewards,” said Tim Williams, insight and innovation manager at Westons Cider.
“With crafted cider delivering strong margins and demonstrating double-digit growth, giving it prime position in chillers and on shelves will drive greater profits. The demand is already there – retailers just need to back the right brands.”
Key growth opportunities for 2025
The opportunity to recruit younger drinkers is ripe for the taking. While cider remains a household staple, penetration has slipped to 40.9 per cent, down from 43.9 per cent in 2022, showing that the category must evolve to stay relevant.
However, younger shoppers, particularly those under 45, are actively trading up to premium drinks, making crafted cider an aspirational yet accessible choice. Crafted cider is already gaining traction with affluent consumers, with ABC1 shoppers now accounting for 65.8 per cent of spend — up from 61 per cent last year.
Notably, crafted cider has the highest proportion of younger shoppers, with under-45s making up a larger share of spend compared to any other cider segment. This clear shift towards quality and authenticity presents a huge opportunity for convenience retailers to refresh their cider range and attract a new wave of consumers.
Apple cider remains the core of the category
Apple cider remains the core of the category. Accounting for nearly two-thirds (63.7%) of market value, apple cider continues to dominate. While pear cider’s overall share remains small at 4 per cent, premium crafted pear ciders are seeing renewed interest. Henry Westons Vintage Pear has added £550,000 in sales over the last year, alongside growth in other premium pear offerings. This suggests a clear opportunity for retailers to premiumise the pear cider segment, tapping into the same consumer demand that has propelled crafted apple ciders to success.
With limited chiller space in convenience, ensuring crafted apple cider has adequate facings is crucial to maximising sales. Stocking the right mix of single-serve formats for impulse purchases and larger multipacks for planned consumption will help capitalise on both shopper missions.
Shoppers are trading up across the drinks aisle, and cider is no exception. The crafted cider segment’s growth of over 10 per cent highlights the increasing willingness of consumers to pay more for quality, taste, and heritage. Convenience retailers who prioritise premium SKUs stand to gain the most from this trend.
Convenience category spotlights:
Crafted cider’s Southern stronghold: Crafted cider is particularly strong in the South, accounting for 73 per cent of volume in the five most southern TV regions. Convenience retailers in these areas should allocate more shelf space to premium crafted options to maximise sales.
British weather may be unpredictable, but cider sales don’t have to be: While summer remains cider’s peak season, unpredictable British weather has led to inconsistent sales patterns in recent years. June 2024 was unseasonably cool, leading to a 20.5 per cent drop in cider volume sales YOY, while August saw more rainfall than previous years, pushing volume down 12.5 per cent versus 2022. However, sales rebounded slightly compared to August 2023, which had particularly poor weather. Given this volatility, retailers should double down on major selling moments — like bank holidays and sporting events — where demand remains strong regardless of weather conditions.
No & low is pouring into the mainstream: The segment has grown 8.4 per cent YOY, highlighting increasing moderation trends. Stocking low/no alcohol apple and fruit ciders ensures a complete range to meet evolving consumer needs.
Independent retailers are outperforming the market: While total convenience cider value is up 2.1 per cent YOY, independent retailers are growing even faster, at 4.4 per cent YOY. This shows a particularly strong opportunity for crafted cider, which still holds only 17 per cent share in independents versus 20 per cent across total convenience. There is clear potential for independent retailers to expand their crafted cider offering and close this gap.
“As Westons celebrates 145 years of cider-making, it’s remarkable to reflect on how much the category has evolved,” Darryl Hinksman, head of business development at Westons Cider, said.
“What’s also clear is that authenticity and provenance matter more than ever. The past decade has seen major brewers attempt to capitalise on cider’s popularity with brand extensions, yet these failed to resonate with consumers in the long term. This reinforces a key lesson — shoppers are looking for genuine cider brands with real heritage, not just big names entering the category.
“Looking ahead to the next decade, we expect this refinement to continue, with cider becoming even more premium-driven. Shoppers are actively seeking authentic, high-quality options, and convenience retailers who align their ranges with these consumer trends and prioritise best-selling premium ciders, like Henry Westons and Stowford Press, will be the ones to unlock growth and maximise their cider sales.”
Top ten cider SKUs in the convenience channelWestons Cider Report
Henry Westons Vintage 500ml is the number one SKU in the convenience channel, more than twice the size of the second-placed product and in strong growth (+8.2%). Thatchers Gold 500mlx4 was ranked eighth last year and has risen to second. Inch’s is new to the top ten this year in eighth place.
Pack sizes are smaller in this channel with singles and four packs dominating the top ten. Larger packs have a role, however, as Strongbow Dark Fruit 10 pack is the third highest ranked pack.
The full report – including impartial stocking advice for retailers – is also available for digital download here.
All data Westons Cider Report 2025, Circana 52 w/e 28 December 2024 and Kantar, 24 December 2024.