IQOS a battery-powered cigarette device with tobacco leaves will begin to sell from June 6, and the convenience store chain has been chosen as the first sales outlet. It is expected to gain from the increased customers, said analyst Nam Ok-jin.
The new e-cigarettes are hugely popular in Japan since its launch in the second half of 2015 and its market share has risen to over 8 percent, noted the analyst.
New regulations on convenience stores under the new administration will not affect it, but minimum wage hike is a concern, said Nam forecasting that it will lead to a gradual rise in labor costs.
By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)