ASH Australia media release                                       March 5, 2008

Cigarettes still dominate top sales list 

Survey highlights need for tobacco to be put out of sight

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Tobacco has continued to dominate Australia’s list of top-selling grocery brands – showing how difficult it will be to drive smoking rates down without strong action to get tobacco out of sight in shops. 

Nielsen’s Top 100 Brands Report  for last year shows:

• Tobacco brands occupy six of the top seven positions - including the number 1 spot, a cigarette brand turning over more than $750 million a year.

• All three major tobacco companies are included in the Top Ten manufacturers’ list.

• One tobacco brand is listed in the Top Ten fastest growing brands.

Says Anne Jones, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia:
“Tobacco brands, despite bans on their direct media advertising, continue to sell more than the top brands of milk, bread, fruit, vegetables, cheese, toothpaste and toilet paper.

“That’s because tobacco products continue to be prominently displayed – including to children. It’s out there in the faces of kids and their families in thousands of supermarkets, convenience stores, corner shops, service stations, tobacconists, newsagents and newsstands.*

“The Nielsen survey shows how well-founded is Tasmania’s move to put tobacco products out of sight – and the current proposal by NSW Cancer Minister Verity Firth to do the same.

“It concerns us that the fastest growing tobacco brand has also been aggressively marketed to youth at music events, featuring DJs and models. Tobacco’s prime target is young people.

“Quit attempts, and the NSW government’s Cancer Plan, are undermined by the widespread promotion of tobacco in retail outlets.

“Shop display is acknowledged by the tobacco industry as a powerful form of promotion. Independent evidence shows it normalises tobacco to children and encourages them to smoke.

“Smoking is not normally an adult choice, but a result of childhood recruitment and addiction.”

Banning retail display of tobacco is supported by 38 health, medical, child welfare, church and community organisations at  www.ashaust.org.au/lv4/ProtectChildrenEndorsements.htm .

Tasmania has legislated to end retail display by February 2011. Woolworths has indicated its support for this date as a target for all retailers to put all tobacco products out of sight, with no exceptions.

* See ASH (Oct 2007) survey of tobacco display in shops at   www.ashaust.org.au/lv4/POSsurvSyd0710.doc

Comment:    Anne Jones, CEO, ASH Australia    m. 0417-227-879

Media info:   Stafford Sanders, ASH Australia     ph. (02) 9334-1823;  m. 0412-070-194

Page last updated 5/3/08