Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Vape brands Elfbar and Lost Mary announce UK advisory board 

Vape brands Elfbar and Lost Mary announce UK advisory board 

HG Innovation, operator of the Elfbar and Lost Mary brands, has on Friday announced the formation of an advisory board in the UK to provide strategic advice to the company.

Board members are drawn from across relevant disciplines with senior level experience, including in national and local government, the medical profession and law enforcement.


Members will have a remit to advise the company on key aspects of its work and operations in the UK.

“The creation of an advisory board is an important step in the company’s operations in the UK market and our global journey. This aligns with our long-term commitment as the responsible market leader for the vaping sector and its role in smoking cessation,” Victor Xiao, global vice-president at HG Innovation, commented

“Board members have served at the highest levels of their respective professions and have direct experience working in the fields relevant to vaping, including the environment, the NHS and law enforcement. They will bring a wealth of expertise to this role.”

Members of the UK advisory board include:

  • Steve Bennett, former director of investigations at the National Crime Agency
  • George Eustice, former secretary of state for the department of environment, food and rural affairs
  • Susie Kemp, former chief executive of Swindon Borough Council and deputy chief executive of Surrey County Council
  • Lord Porter, former council leader and chair of the Local Government Association
  • Sairah Salim-Sartoni, qualified health psychologist with 20 years of experience in smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction, including for the NHS
  • Lord Walney, crossbench peer, former Labour MP and special advisor to prime minister Gordon Brown and business secretary Lord Hutton

Xiao said HG Innovation advocates for a more robust approach to vape retailing alongside an enhanced regulatory environment. This includes retail licensing for vape products, support for a proportionate vape tax, and an end to the use of inappropriate imagery and language on packaging and flavour descriptors.

It also calls for safeguards around the display of vape products in-store, greater powers for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and more resources for Trading Standards to investigate instances of non-compliance and illicit activity.

“Elfbar and Lost Mary are dedicated to addressing concerns around vaping, including youth access, its environmental impact, and illicit trade. The creation of the advisory board further signals this intent. We are honoured to have this group of experts to guide us to be a more socially responsible corporate citizen,” Xiao added.

More for you

Trust in UK-produced food reaches highest level in three years

iStock image

Trust in UK-produced food reaches highest level in three years

Trust in UK-produced food has reached its highest level since 2021 following three years of falling confidence in standards.

Most (75 per cent) adults now say they trust food produced in the UK. This is a rise from 71 per cent in 2023, although still below the level of trust felt by shoppers in 2021 (81 per cent).

Keep ReadingShow less
Carlsberg Britvic launches officially as acquisition deal completes

Image from Britvic

Carlsberg Britvic launches officially as acquisition deal completes

Carlsberg Britvic is celebrating its official launch today (17) following the completion of the deal for Carlsberg Group to acquire Britvic plc.

In a landmark moment in the history of Carlsberg Group and the British drinks industry, today (17) marks the official launch of Carlsberg Britvic – the new company uniting Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) and Britvic’s UK business.

Keep ReadingShow less
Paul Friston

Paul Friston

M&S veteran Paul Friston joins 2 Sisters Food Group as chief financial officer

Boparan Holdings Limited (BHL), the parent company of 2 Sisters Food Group, has announced the appointment of Paul Friston as its new group chief financial officer (CFO).

Friston will join the 2 Sisters Food Group business in early February and become a member of the BHL board.

Keep ReadingShow less
Fundraiser launched to restore Oxfordshire Spar store damaged in ram-raid

Spar Minster Lovell store damaged by ram-raid

Fundraiser launched to restore Oxfordshire Spar store damaged in ram-raid

A resident of Oxfordshire has started a campaign to raise funds to install metal shutters for Spar Minster Lovell store the front doors of which were completely devastated during a ram raid recently.

Calling the shop as "cornerstone" of her community in Oxfordshire, resident Karen Turner-Dutton is calling on people to offer donation to restore Spar Minster Lovell, owned and run by the family of retailer Ian Lewis, after its front was damaged badly during the shocking ram-raid.

Keep ReadingShow less
Davie’s Mobile Grocery Shop

Davie’s Mobile Grocery Shop

Photo: Payzone

A store on the move: Davie’s grocery van transforms convenience retail in Glasgow

In Glasgow's East End, Davie’s Mobile Grocery Shop is rewriting the rules of convenience retail. Operated from a van, this innovative store brings groceries and essential services directly to the community, making shopping easier and more accessible.

Through a partnership with Payzone, Davie has extended his offerings to include bill payment services, enhancing both customer convenience and his business prospects.

Keep ReadingShow less