Swedish Billionaire Invests in Nicotine Pouch Brand

Business
Jul.21.2022
Erik Selin has invested 4.4 million SEK in the Swedish nicotine pouch brand Sting Free AB, which is now valued at just under SEK 31 million.

This is the third time Selin has invested in the snus industry. He is already the largest Swedish shareholder in the snus giant Swedish Match and also a major shareholder in the largest e-trader of snus and nicotine pouches in Europe, Haypp Group. “We welcome Erik with open arms and could not have found a better partner,” said Sting Free AB chairman Bengt Wiberg.

 

Swedish Billionaire Invests in Nicotine Pouch Brand

 

Wiberg’s passion for snus, started approximately 30 years ago, when the product started being sold in pre-packed pouches rather than as opposed to the traditional “loose” way. Moreover at this time, flavours appeared on the market, which enticed Bengt to try the product and become a user.

 

A number of years as a dual user followed, after which he eventually managed to quit cigarettes. “Snus is my companion whenever I need it and it doesn’t bother anybody else,” said Bengt as quoted by Snusforumet. “It’s a safer way of consuming nicotine that also helps me stay focused.”

 

 

Sting Free AB added a layer to snus pouches to protect users’ gums

While being thankful that snus helped him quit smoking, Bengt wanted to do something about the burning/stinging sensation which came with using the product and irritated his gums. He began working on a technology for adding a protective layer to snus pouches to protect users’ gums and reduce the unpleasant stinging sensation without affecting the flavour or nicotine strength of the product, and as a result Sting Free AB was born.

 

More recently, Sting Free AB conducted a survey among over a 1,000 snus and nicotine pouch users. The results indicated that the patented technology is in demand among users concerned with oral and other health problems. “The survey results shows that 59% of users dislike the familiar burning sensation and 56% have worried about their oral health in connection with their use of the products presently on the market,” shared Sting AB in a press release.

 

The content excerpted or reproduced in this article comes from a third-party, and the copyright belongs to the original media and author. If any infringement is found, please contact us to delete it. Any entity or individual wishing to forward the information, please contact the author and refrain from forwarding directly from here.

InterTabac 2026: Further Sessions on Regulation, Market Access and Innovation Confirmed; 2FIRSTS to Host China Market Forum
InterTabac 2026: Further Sessions on Regulation, Market Access and Innovation Confirmed; 2FIRSTS to Host China Market Forum
InterTabac 2026 will bring together international experts to discuss European regulation, tax policy, Track & Trace, market access, retail impacts, consumer behavior and innovation. Sessions will also examine Poland’s tobacco-growing perspective and the growing fragmentation of Europe’s tobacco and nicotine market. Media partner 2FIRSTS will host the second “2FIRSTS Connect at InterTabac” on September 16, focusing on developments in China’s tobacco and nicotine industry.
Aug.06
Illegal Vape Sellers Still Use TikTok and Other Platforms to Drive Sales Despite Australia’s Ad Ban
Illegal Vape Sellers Still Use TikTok and Other Platforms to Drive Sales Despite Australia’s Ad Ban
Illegal vape sellers are still promoting nicotine products on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube despite Australia’s 2024 advertising ban, while illicit tobacco sales are increasingly moving from physical stores to online marketplaces.
Jul.15
Japan Health Ministry Cites Limited Evidence in Decision Not to Tighten Heated Tobacco Rules
Japan Health Ministry Cites Limited Evidence in Decision Not to Tighten Heated Tobacco Rules
Japan’s health ministry has proposed not tightening regulations on heated tobacco products to the same level as cigarettes as part of a review of passive smoking measures, with an expert panel broadly agreeing with the proposal, Jiji Press reported.
Jul.10
Haypp Report: Women Emerge as a Key Growth Driver in the UK Nicotine Pouch Market
Haypp Report: Women Emerge as a Key Growth Driver in the UK Nicotine Pouch Market
According to Haypp’s 2026 UK Nicotine Report, women are a key growth driver in the UK nicotine pouch market. Overall sales for Haypp and Northerner rose 60% year‑on‑year in 2025, but purchases by women surged 202%, versus 25% for men. Women’s share of consumers jumped from 22% to 40%. The report attributes this to discretion, perceived health benefits, and more gender‑neutral product positioning, suggesting future growth will come from a broader range of adult nicotine users.
Jul.01
PMI Q2 Call: ZYN Growth, IQOS Pricing and a Diverging Global Tobacco Market
PMI Q2 Call: ZYN Growth, IQOS Pricing and a Diverging Global Tobacco Market
Philip Morris International’s second-quarter earnings call offered new detail on its smoke-free strategy. Management said it would increase U.S. investment behind nicotine pouch brand ZYN, keep IQOS focused on volume before stronger pricing, and use SENTIA, DELIA, LEVIA, VEEV and ZYN to manage tax and regulatory pressure across Japan and Europe. Analysts from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS and other firms also pressed PMI on profitability, market share, cigarette resilience and the durability of its global transformation over coming quarters.
Jul.24
Product | SKE Launches FRESA PRO in the U.S., Introducing Fresh Lock Technology for E-Liquid Management in High-Capacity Vapes
Product | SKE Launches FRESA PRO in the U.S., Introducing Fresh Lock Technology for E-Liquid Management in High-Capacity Vapes
Shenzhen SKE Technology has launched the FRESA PRO in the United States, a high-capacity rechargeable disposable vape featuring Fresh Lock electromagnetic valve supply control technology. The device combines a claimed capacity of up to 40,000 puffs, dual mesh coils, dual output modes and a transparent tank design. The launch reflects the high-capacity disposable vape segment’s shift from puff-count competition toward improved e-liquid management and device-level experience.
Aug.03