Irish e-cigarette retailer and brand Hale has not allowed the Covid-19 pandemic to blow its growth plans up in smoke. The company, headed by Stuart Fagan, has announced its merger with fellow e-cigarette retailer VIP.
Ergo has learned the newly merged company will have more than 75 standalone stores and two online stores. The company s products will be stocked in over 2,000 convenience and forecourt retail outlets.
Headcount at the combined company will be just over 200, with plans to increase the number further this year. Hale group revenues are expected to be around €20m this year.
Fagan said Hale intends to initially co-brand the VIP stores before eventually moving to the Hale Brand and then completing a system integration. All VIP stores will carry the full range of e-liquids and Hale will have the VIP favourites giving the consumer the best of what both companies offer .