£504.9m
£XX.Xm
4,837
1,666
£XX.Xm
Over the five years through 2024-25, the Tobacconist industry is forecast to fall at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% to £504.9 million. Rising public awareness of smoking’s health risks, spurred by intense government and activist anti-smoking campaigns, has significantly slashed sales alongside overall smoking rates. Stringent legislation that has arisen alongside smoking rates has proved challenging for tobacconists, compounded by stiff competition from supermarkets and convenience stores, those of which have siphoned off revenue from specialist tobacco retailers. Additionally, a highly fragmented market — where no single firm controls over 1% of the market share — and persistent illegal tobacco markets have further contributed to the slowing of sales.
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £504.9m in 2024.
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
---|---|---|
JJ Fox (St James's) Ltd | 2.9 | |
Exiga (UK) Ltd | 2.8 | |
Smokers Corner Ltd | 0.6 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cigarettes, Tobacco, snuff and pipes and Cigars. Cigarettes is the largest segment of the Tobacconists in the UK.
The cigar ages gracefully despite rising duties
This industry includes the retail sale of tobacco and tobacco products in specialised stores. It also includes the sale of smoking accessories like pipes, lighters, cigarette papers, cigar cases and other smoking-related paraphernalia.
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SIC 47.26 - Tobacconists in the UK
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
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Government policies and climbing inflation pressure profit. Rising excise duties, falling sales and mounting purchase costs have picked away at tobacconists’ returns.
Including values and annual change:
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Key data sources in the UK include:
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These sources include:
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The market size of the Tobacconists in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £504.9m in 2024.
There are 1,666 businesses in the Tobacconists in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
The market size of the Tobacconists in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
Over the next five years, the Tobacconists in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to decline.
The biggest companies operating in the Tobacconists market in United Kingdom are JJ Fox (St James's) Ltd, Exiga (UK) Ltd and Smokers Corner Ltd
Cigarettes and Cigars are part of the Tobacconists in the UK industry.
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is JJ Fox (St James's) Ltd.
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Tobacconists in the UK industry in United Kingdom.