Vaporized announces plan to open 200 new UK stores

The vaping specialist, which was established in 2012 and has 55 franchisee-owned outlets among its 112-store UK network, has pledged to double its staff numbers to 1,000 to support its ambitious growth strategy.

Public Health England estimates vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes.

Latest figures also show that approximately two million people in the UK have already quit smoking by switching to vaping, with 500,000 more trying to switch.

Vaporized director Doug Mutter says: “We have grown into the UK’s leading chain of vaping stores by offering our customers the widest range of quality approved products backed by a personalised service that brings a knowledgeable and well informed experience for our growing customer base.

“Vaping represents a huge public health opportunity and the market will continue to grow as increasing numbers of smokers recognise its effectiveness in helping people to quit smoking.

“To meet this growing demand, we are set to embark on significant organic and acquisitional growth that will see our store footprint rise to 300 by 2021.”

Vaporized has not put a figure on the number of new stores that will be franchisee-owned.