Understanding ZYN Nicotine Pouches: Popularity, Use, and Much More

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As the health and economic risks associated with smoking tobacco become common knowledge, consumers have turned to tobacco-free alternatives for a smoke-free lifestyle. Among the emerging products in this category are nicotine pouches, which satisfy nicotine cravings and smoking urges through direct oral delivery. According to The Insight Partners’ report, the global nicotine pouch market was valued at $2.4 billion in 2022, with the North American region accounting for the largest share.

One of the key players in the nicotine pouch industry is Philip Morris International’s pouch brand, ZYN. As ZYN nicotine pouches make rounds on social media and steadily grow in sales, this article looks at the drivers behind their popularity, product usage, and future market considerations among consumers and the brand alike.

A look at ZYN unit sales

Although nicotine pouches originated from European markets, the smokeless alternative is seeing significant growth and popularity in the United States. A report by PMI, the owner of ZYN manufacturer Swedish Match, confirms a 62% year-over-year increase in the shipments of flavored nicotine pouches in 2023, amounting to nearly 385 million units. 

While there can be discrepancies between shipments to distributors and retailers and actual consumer sales, PMI maintains an optimistic outlook for ZYN’s sales this 2024 with a forecast of roughly 520 million cans of pouches. This performance cements ZYN’s place among the industry’s dominant brands, so the next section looks at the factors influencing its popularity in social media and consumers of smoke-free products in general.

Behind the popularity of ZYN nicotine pouches

A notable factor in ZYN’s rapid growth in sales and popularity is its product variety. Specifically, ZYN pouches are available in a wide range of flavors designed with American consumers in mind, particularly those who do not like the taste of tobacco and instead prefer menthol- and fruit-based flavors like spearmint, wintergreen, and citrus.

Meanwhile, smokers looking to reduce their tobacco intake can benefit from ZYN’s tobacco-free properties and varied strength options of up to 12mg, allowing them to match pouch use to their nicotine needs and tolerance levels. Amid the rise of e-commerce, ZYN has expanded consumer accessibility through online distributors, with retailer Prilla, in particular, shipping to most US states with express delivery options.

Proper use of ZYN nicotine pouches

In light of ZYN pouches being increasingly adopted among consumers of smokeless products, it highlights the need to spread awareness of their proper use. Thus, a previous post entitled ‘Unbelievable! Discover The Surprising Truth About Swallowing Zyn Nicotine Pouches’ reminds pouch users about the health consequences of improper use, followed by essential steps to use the product safely.

Despite the direct oral delivery of nicotine pouches, ZYN pouches must not be swallowed as it increases the risk of nicotine poisoning, characterized by symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, increased heart rate, and respiratory failure for severe cases. Instead, pouches must be at the right dosage an individual can tolerate and placed between the gum and lip for the recommended duration of 15 to 60 minutes.

Future developments and considerations for ZYN

Considering ZYN saw record sales and shipments in 2023, PMI’s growth targets include nicotine pouches in its smoke-free product category, which is expected to generate more than two-thirds of the company’s total net revenue. Consumers can thus expect heightened promotional campaigns and distribution for ZYN pouches, alongside other PMI products like the heated tobacco device, IQOS.

However, consumers and the brand ZYN itself must remain on the lookout for possible barriers to access. Flavored nicotine pouches, including ZYN, have been recently the topic of discussion among lawmakers looking to tighten regulations on nicotine products. Overall, potential and current pouch users must prioritize safety and moderation to minimize health risks.