Republic Technologies UK — the company behind the Zig-Zag rolling-paper brand that has sat in tobacco shops for over a century — has launched its first nicotine pouch range. The brand is called ZIG, and it hits UK shelves in August 2026.

The move is a straightforward bet that the consumers who left disposable vapes behind after the UK's 1 June 2025 ban are looking for their next nicotine format. Republic is betting that the pouch is it.

What happened

ZIG launches with three strengths — 8 mg, 12 mg, and 17 mg — across six flavours: Berry Cool, Citrus, Ice Mint, Peppermint, Power Mint, and Tropical. The recommended retail price is £4.50.

The flavour line-up was not guesswork. Republic's consumer research found that mint is the leading flavour preference among UK pouch users, followed by fruit and citrus — so the range leans heavily into those three categories. The choices track with market data: flavoured nicotine pouches accounted for approximately 94 percent of UK pouch revenue in 2024, according to Grand View Research figures cited by Grocery Trader.

The UK nicotine pouch market is now worth £198.2 million, Republic said, citing the same research firm. That figure has been climbing since the disposable vape ban pushed former vape users toward alternative oral nicotine formats.

Gavin Anderson, Sales Director at Republic Technologies, framed the launch as a response to both regulation and retail demand: "At Republic Technologies we're continuously adapting to the changes in tobacco and vaping legislation and supporting retailers with new products to fulfil shoppers' needs. Following the UK's ban on disposable vapes, consumers are increasingly turning to alternative nicotine delivery systems."

Why it matters

This is the first time Republic Technologies has sold a nicotine pouch. The company is one of the largest tobacco-accessories suppliers in the UK and Europe — its Zig-Zag brand of rolling papers has been on shelves since the late 19th century. Bringing that brand equity into the pouch category gives Republic an advantage that most new pouch entrants lack: existing retail relationships, distribution infrastructure, and name recognition among exactly the retailers and consumers who buy tobacco accessories.

The launch also reflects how the UK nicotine pouch market is maturing. A year ago, the category was dominated by ZYN (Philip Morris) and Velo (British American Tobacco), with Nordic Spirit (JTI) and on! (Altria) competing for shelf space. Republic's entry adds a non-tobacco-company challenger — one that is not navigating combustible-tobacco regulatory constraints or PMTA-style authorisation timelines in the UK, where nicotine pouches are not yet regulated as medicines.

The pricing is competitive. At £4.50, ZIG sits in the same band as mainstream UK pouch brands, which typically retail between £4 and £6. The 17 mg top strength puts ZIG in the upper range of the UK market, where most products sit between 3 mg and 16 mg per pouch.

What's next

ZIG is available from August 2026 through Republic's existing UK retail and wholesale channels. The company has not announced plans for markets outside the UK.

The broader question is whether the UK's forthcoming nicotine pouch regulation — the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which brings pouches under age-of-sale restrictions from 29 October 2026 — will reshape the competitive landscape. Flavour restrictions remain under consultation as part of the EU-oriented TPD3 process, though the UK is setting its own rules post-Brexit. If flavour bans or nicotine caps arrive, Republic's six-flavour, 17 mg launch could look very different a year from now.

For now, the company behind one of tobacco's oldest brands is in the pouch business — and the UK's £198 million market just got another player.

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Compare nicotine pouch brands and prices at PouchFinder.

SOURCES:

• SLR Magazine, "Republic enters nicotine pouch category with Zig." 14 July 2026. SLR Magazine
• Grocery Trader, "Republic Technologies launches into Nicotine Pouches market for the first time, with new brand, ZIG." 15 July 2026. Grocery Trader
• Convenience Store, "Republic Technologies enters the nicotine pouch market with ZIG." Jake Kennedy, 14 July 2026. Convenience Store
• Scottish Grocer, "Republic Technologies launches ZIG nicotine pouches." 15 July 2026. Scottish Grocer
• GOV.UK, "Single-use vapes banned from 1 June 2025." GOV.UK
• Grand View Research, UK nicotine pouch market data (cited via Grocery Trader).