In Chill Brands Group PLC (LSE:CHLL, OTCQB:CHBRF)’s latest trading update, the nicotine-free vaping distributor underscored robust growth in both the domestic and international markets.
Since releasing its vape products to the UK market this August, Chill Brands has now made sales to more than 475 independent retail stores throughout the UK.
These locations have been secured through the company's partnership with The Vaping Group and include franchised branches of Premier, Spar and Nisa Local.
In addition to these independent stores, Chill ZERO products will soon be stocked in 150 WHSmith stores.
Chill Brands said it “has observed a positive trend in reorder rates from independent retailers”.
As announced in October, Chill ZERO products are now available for purchase by UK consumers on Amazon Prime, where listings have gained thousands of monthly views with a sustained weekly increase in traffic and first-page rankings for 'nicotine-free vape' and other key search terms.
Purchases have now been made by more than 200 individual customers and Chill Brands expects sales of its products on the Amazon platform to expand in 2024.
US presence steams ahead
In the US, Chill Brands received a purchase order for its nicotine-free vape products from Smoker Friendly, the largest dedicated chain of smoke shops in the country.
"We're excited to work with Chill Brands and look forward to trialling the Chill ZERO products,” stated Sean Musgrave, vapour category director for Smoker Friendly.
Starting in 2024, Chill ZERO products will enter an initial 60 stores of Smoker Friendly's many US locations across Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Indiana.
These stores will carry all 13 existing vape product variations across the 600, 1,500 and 3,000 puff ranges.
Callum Sommerton, chief executive of Chill Brands, commented: "The company has come a long way during 2023 and I am incredibly proud of the significant milestones we have achieved.
“The coming months will see us take action on our plans to expand the retail footprint of our Chill ZERO products, secure new listings with major retailers, and further define our Chill.com marketplace as a go-to destination for health and wellness including alternative products featuring hemp, nootropics, adaptogens and other popular natural ingredients.
"Having laid firm foundations from which to grow, I am confident that Chill Brands has strong growth potential and we are keen to deliver value as we seize the opportunities ahead of us."