According to “Convenience Store”, the British e-cigarette retailer VPZ stated that on February 2nd, the company announced the launch of a “millions of pounds” investment plan. The aim is to expand the domestic manufacturing capacity in the UK, strengthen supply chain control, and create hundreds of job opportunities.
According to the report, this plan will add a fifth production line to the VPZ UK production facility, and the company also plans to open 40 new stores across the UK in 2026.
VPZ stated that the newly created positions will cover various fields such as front-line retail, store leadership, logistics and warehousing, marketing, and administration.
The report also states that VPZ plans to set up a bonded warehouse at its headquarters in Edinburgh. This system is already widely used in the duty-free industry. VPZ believes that this facility will help support law enforcement and, in the face of growing concerns about the illegal e-cigarette market from the outside world, further help distinguish between compliant retailers and illegal operators.
Jamie Strachan, the director of operations at VPZ, stated that this investment is aimed at enhancing the supply chain’s resilience and flexibility in response to the “2026 E-cigarette Tax” increase; by strengthening the infrastructure in advance, the company will be able to manage tax requirements more efficiently, maintain supply continuity, and reduce the impact on the retail network and consumers.
The Trading Standards Institute of the UK and HMRC (the UK’s Revenue and Customs Agency) recently reported a record number of illegal and non-compliant e-cigarettes seized. The authorities warned that such products would undermine public health protection, tax revenue, and the business environment for legitimate enterprises.