Packaging

Depending on which studies you read, the grab-and-go (GNG) industry has been — and continues to be — a booming industry.

In the convenience foodservice space, some retailers are experienced veterans that have fine-tuned their programs and how they introduce new menu items.

The Ontario Convenience Stores Association and its affiliate property, FreeourBeer.ca, are partnering with the Ontario Government on a new website designed to educate the public and convenience store operators about plans to expand alcohol sales in the province.

The convenience channel has long been known for its cokes and smokes, but if you ask any convenience store retailer, supplier or distributor what really has the ability to drive profits by increasing basket size, they will tell you it's the highly profitable and highly impulsive candy and snacks categories.

Although Health Canada acknowledges that vaping is less harmful than smoking, the country’s national health overseer also has serious concerns about e-cigarettes and related products.

Is that a customer or a secret shopper?

In the wake of the Health Canada's new legislation, Imperial Tobacco is coming out swinging, calling plain packaging a “nanny state” approach that does little to change consumer behaviour.“We remain shocked that despite all of the evidence, the Government of Canada is moving ahead with bad public policy,” said Eric Gagnon, head of corporate and regulatory affairs at Imperial Tobacco Canada.  “The experience of other countries demonstrates that plain packaging does not change consumer behaviour and that it’s a proven way to fuel an already booming illegal tobacco market in Canada.”Imperial Tobacco points out 20 percent of the market remains controlled by illegal operators and criminal organizations selling products outside of any regulatory framework and untaxed (depriving Canadian governments of more than $2 billion in tax revenue every year).“The illegal tobacco problem in Canada is poised to get much worse now that it will be impossible to differentiate between a legal and illegal product.  Not only has the federal government had its head in the sand for long enough when it comes to illegal tobacco, they have facilitated the thriving illegal market by allowing illegal operators unfettered access to the Canadian market,” says Gagnon. “The RCMP have stated that there are 50 illegal factories operating in Canada and 175 criminal gangs involved in the illegal trafficking of tobacco, and the feds have done nothing about it.  They now need to step up and address the issue they created themselves.”Still, plain packing continues to gain traction around the globe.

Canadian cigarette packs will have to be plain drab brown with standardized layouts and lettering under new rules that start this fall, Health Canada says.Manufacturers will have to begin complying with labelling rules for packages and dimensions for cigarettes by Nov.