There has been enough coverage on nicotine pouches in the UK to last a lifetime already. Paradoxically, despite much of the information being accurate, much is skewed to suit narratives. There are studies on the usage of the products by professional athletes, thin blogs written by online stores to sell, and promoted posts on social media. However, much of the UK are yet to understand what snus is, what it does, and why it exists. There is a deep history to comprehend and an evolution of a product that has existed on the fringes for decades. Welcome to the future; snus and nicotine pouches are here to stay. Hang with us; this will explain it all.
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Nicotine Pouches UK: It’s Introduction to The Marketplace
The typical “what are nicotine pouches and snus” question is becoming increasingly difficult to answer. What it is and what it was are two different things now. The first time I tried snus, it was a tobacco-based product that originated in Sweden. These products were typically shipped from other countries at the retail level directly to consumers by online stores. As an ex-professional footballer, it was something that was frequently in our changing room.
Snus was exclusively a tobacco-based smoking alternative that you place between the gum and upper lip. Of late, there has been some confusion as to exactly snus is, much to the rise of nicotine pouches. To make things even more confusing: nicotine pouches are also called snus. The only difference is that snus has tobacco, and nicotine pouches do not. A simple analogy is a hoover. Hoover is actually a brand. Hoover was so well known due to being a pioneer in vacuum cleaners; they became the product! Snus is so well known that nicotine pouches have become snus. More importantly, tobacco-based snus is illegal in most countries outside of Sweden. Tobacco-free pouches are not.
First of all, Where do nicotine pouches come from?
Okay, so there are 101 theories as to where snus comes from. We can safely say that the Swedish are purists of the product. The tobacco-based products are generally sold in Sweden (obviously because they are legal there). However, the history is marketed to support narratives wherever I look online. For all of the white noise, it is generally considered that these products were developed between the US and Sweden. There is a distinct correlation between snuff and snus. Snuff is a tobacco product that comes in two forms: dry and moist. Snuff, in its dry form, is inhaled whereby the nicotine dispenses through the nose. The moist form is pinched, and then placed between the gum and upper lip. Much like snus and nicotine pouches, nicotine is extracted into the system via the buccal mucosa. The buccal mucosa is a mucus membrane inside of the cheeks and lips.
The Ins & Outs
Generally, it is widely accepted that snus, in its current form of pouches, originated in the early 1970s. These pouches initially contained original or white portion tobacco. The original version is of a moister composition and therefore dispenses nicotine faster. The white portion are dried and tends to last a longer time in usage. Most people refer to these two types of snus as traditional snus. Purists (like some of our staff) have travelled to Sweden to find various brands and products in traditional pouches. Pre 2010 these were typically the only variants available for consumer purchase. In the UK, we needed to order bulk orders from Sweden to get our hands on snus. The market was screaming out for a company like Snusboys to offer faster delivery and domestic service to buy snus.
While it is difficult to follow a trace of exactly where snus started, Sweden holds a valid claim. England also claims to have first started football to elucidate the obscurity of truth further. Technically, this is not true. Football has been traced back as far as 2BC in China, and is late as the mid 1800’s in Italy as a 22 a-side game. What we do know, however, is that England wrote the rules for how we play the game now. So, while there is no real evidence of where, why, and when, we do know that Sweden has played a significant role in snus.
Modern Day Snus: Arise Nicotine Pouches
I explored the history of nicotine pouches and frequently came across the name Thomas Erickson, who is widely credited with creating the tobacco-free version of snus we know today. The timeline of their development, however, is somewhat unclear. Niconovum played a key role in this process, contributing to the creation of these products. Notably, they registered Zonnic, a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product, in 2008. In 2009, British American Tobacco acquired Niconovum’s parent company, further influencing the product’s development.
Tobacco-free snus (nicotine pouches) have been revolutionary in the rise in popularity of snus globally. While it may seem like some stroke of genius, it is the fact that a loophole in the ability to advertise makes the difference. As tobacco-based snus is illegal in most countries and tobacco-free is not, companies can advertise. Infused with the hype of social media, the propensity, and timing of those seeking vaping alternatives, snus has become more widely recognized than ever before.
Big Two Pushing the Movement
Two huge drivers of these products becoming so widely recognised are the US and UK. Brands like Zyn are as to Velo in the UK. Huge domestic marketing campaigns have attracted the attention of vapers, smokers, and the neutral. As a source of nicotine available that, for the most reported part, is safer in consumption, these pouches are a phenomenon.
Types of Snus: A Guide for you Newbies
Now that we know about the three different types of snus (that is, until another is developed), we should talk about them. It may seem pretty simple, but the difference will be significant, especially for first-time users. Obviously, one’s physiology should be factored in, as each of us is different, so one can expect varied effects.
How to use Pouches
Many of us frequent users take for granted using pouches as a form of nicotine consumption. For the unseasoned user, however, opening a bag of nicotine-filled micro-teabags could be daunting. I found a great video before we go on to the more important bits.
Snusboys Top Tips
Store your Nicotine Pouches in the refrigerator
The first time someone told me to put my sleeves of nicotine pouches in the fridge I had to laugh. What kind of life hack is this, I thought. However, further research found that the Swedes had done this for a long time. Regardless of the types of pouches you are using, there is a propensity for them to dry out over time. Especially once you break the seal, the air mixes with the pouches and dries them out. By keeping the pouches cool, you can ensure fresh and consistent use every time.
Buy a suitable pouch container
This may sound like a sales spill when purchasing an aftermarket container. But, it is not! These pouches are sometimes packaged 6 months in advance, and the flavour can be affected over time. The freshness is impacted by plastic, for sure. Using a good container, typically from metal can enhance the flavour. Also, there is usually room for more pouches, which means you can safely get through a day without carrying two cans. If you are a heavier user then you will know what I mean! There are some great nicotine pouch cans out there, and we have just released a Snusboys can made from high-quality aluminum.
Make the nicotine pouch last
One of the biggest questions that we get about using pouches is how long I should keep snus in. I have seen people load a pouch, keep it for three minutes, and discard it. One of the great things about them is they can disperse nicotine for up to forty minutes. Much of how long it lasts depends on physiology. So, if you have a mouth like the dog from Turner and Hooch, it may last a little less time. But, typically, anywhere from twenty minutes is optimal for keeping snus in. Why buy a meal and throw away three quarters of it? Those that know how long to keep them in usually go through less on a daily basis. As such, monetary savings can be made from using them correctly.
Choose the proper strength in the morning
If you have ever smoked cigarettes or vaped, most will know the morning hit is usually the most gratifying. As such, the same is true in using pouches. But, if you have ordered online and decided to go with a basket of all 150mg’s, then you could suffer every morning. As the body is dehydrated after sleep, your mouth is dry, and nicotine uptake into the system is faster. So, the stronger pouches can be overbearing on the system and cause you to feel nauseous. Despite many people enjoying a slight head rush, the head rush can be disorientating. Choose the right pouch strength in the morning, and you will have a nice laydown floating between sleep and the real world.
The Economics Explained
The unprecedented uprise of nicotine pouches has been a cause for much debate worldwide. Some countries have been slow to react to importing these pouches from foreign entities. Some have quickly stopped the supply by enforcing large taxes or banning them altogether. Hence, the prices vary greatly from country to country depending on whether you have a domestic entity, or foreign to order from.
Snus Culture & Community
Scandinavian snus culture is thought to have ventured out of domestic notoriety through sports. Transfers worldwide in sports like soccer and ice hockey brought snus to athletic changing rooms. In a team environment, referral business is rife with opportunity. Hence, marketing in professional sports is like a holy grail for businesses. There is a trickle effect, especially in a country like England, with over 40,000 soccer teams. As we know, if a professional athlete markets a product, the community that exists from the parallel and lower levels follow suit. My first snus was given to me by another professional footballer. I have given a first one to countless players. The seeds of business reproduction are firmly planted within professional team sports.
Social Media Impact
Social media influencers have played a significant role, especially in 2022 – 2024. Brands like Zyn and Velo have used social media influence to market their products. In a largely unregulated product, some have questioned the ethics of corporate powerhouses. Much like the vaping industry, which has been under global scrutiny for some time, snus is also under debate. The packaging, flavour choices, and strength levels have all caused concern.
There is a real an imminent danger to those under the age of 18 becoming hooked on pouches. It is justified to draw conclusions about some brands’ acute marketing. Paradoxically, the same could be said about McDonald’s and ultra-processed foods. Currently, there is no evidence to support tobacco-free pouches causing any harm. The hypothetical arguments that trend in some countries target the word snus. Very rarely do they refer to nicotine pouch variants that are known to contain no carcinogens. By leaning on the holistic reference point of snus they can skew narratives to show some findings. However, there has yet to be a harmful study on anything other than the tobacco variant.
Nicotine Pouch Performance in Online Sales
Having been in the industry for some time, we at Snusboys have managed to collate data. We have used both our data and data from two other online stores. Our goal was to find out the highest-performing nicotine pouch brands online between our three stores by sales percentages in 2024. We have to admit there was no surprise. We will not share the granulated data but are happy to share the overall market percentages with our audience.
Where does it go from here?
Snus, nicotine pouches, upper decky’s – whatever your colloquialism may be where you are – are here to stay. The myriad of brands entering the market, typically from the EU, will continue to grow. China has made efforts to market its brands in vertical markets but has yet to secure any real traction. Quality will always be at the forefront of the consumer’s mind, and things are improving. The market has significantly shifted toward more accurate and flavourful products. As such, the demand continues to grow, especially amidst the health fears now correlated with vaping.
One thing is for sure: there are so many considerations to make before using snus, especially for the first time. The nicotine market can be rife with cheap knock-offs and subpar products. Remember, these pouches are placed in your mouth. Therefore, we should make every effort to buy from reputable, long-term companies that understand their products inside out.
The journey continues to take centre stage among the snus community and the tens of thousands that join us monthly!
