Elfbar, the manufacturer behind two of the UK's leading vape brands, asserts its readiness to weather the impending ban on disposable vapes, according to its distributor.

With the forthcoming prohibition on disposables looming, Elfbar and Lost Mary have already introduced reusable versions of their popular disposable vape products. While this move has been met with approval from the company's distributor, concerns have been raised by councils regarding potential exploitation of loopholes in the ban.

Green Fun Alliance, a key distributor of Elfbar and Lost Mary in the UK, reassures stakeholders of the company's resilience in the face of regulatory changes. Owned by Chinese entrepreneur Shengwei Zhang, Green Fun Alliance has witnessed a significant surge in sales, nearly tripling to £117.3m in the year leading up to January 31, 2023, propelled by the popularity of disposable vapes.

Acknowledging the impact of the impending ban on sales and profitability, Green Fun Alliance affirms its preparedness to transition towards the exclusive sale of non-disposable vapes and related products. As part of this strategy, Elfbar and Lost Mary have already rolled out reusable alternatives featuring replaceable pods and rechargeable batteries, offering a sustainable option for consumers.

While Elfbar emphasizes its commitment to diversifying product lines and catering to consumer demand for harm reduction tools, critics caution that the environmental benefits intended by the ban may not be fully realized. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential environmental impact of the shift towards vapes using pods, as they remain low-priced and easily disposable items.

Meanwhile, Elfbar's main competitor, SKE, controlled by the Chinese government, has also introduced a reusable version of its popular Crystal Bar product. However, SKE did not provide a comment on its strategy in response to inquiries.

Green Fun Alliance serves as the primary distributor for Elfbar and Lost Mary products in the UK, managing sales to convenience stores and independent vape shops. Sales to supermarkets are handled through UK-based master distributors like Supreme PLC and Totally Wicked.

Despite the regulatory challenges ahead, Green Fun Alliance remains profitable, reporting a significant increase in profits and paying out dividends. However, these figures likely represent only a fraction of Shengwei Zhang's overall profits from vape sales in the UK. Photo by TBEC Review, Wikimedia commons.