Dutch supermarkets open tobacco shops to avoid tobacco sales ban

Dutch supermarkets open tobacco shops to avoid tobacco sales ban

According to "Dutch News", due to the tobacco sales ban that will come into effect on July 1, Dutch supermarkets have opened dedicated tobacco shops next to food retail stores.

Starting in July, the Netherlands will ban supermarkets from selling cigarettes and cigarettes, but tobacco shops can open without a license.

Anti-tobacco group TabakNee is pushing for the introduction of tobacco sales licenses.

"Demand is huge," said Rolf Hoogkamer, owner of the Jumbo franchise, which has a store next to his own. "It's often older people who live in nearby apartments who can't walk." Far. They can still pick up a cigarette easily now, which is a good thing."

Hukamer also said: "There is a 7.5% profit margin per pack." By 2020, the total tobacco product market will reach 4.4 billion euros (4.8 billion U.S. dollars), of which 2.4 billion euros will come from supermarkets.

Jumbo chief executive Ton van Veen said: "About 7% of our turnover comes from tobacco, so you are talking about €700 million a year."

The outgoing government raised taxes and raised the price of a 20-pack of cigarettes to €10; it also banned advertising and introduced plain packaging. By 2032, tobacco sales will be limited to specialty stores.

The government has agreed to leave the tobacco shop licensing issue to the next government.
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