PANAJI
Close on the heels of tobacco manufacturers including ITC and Godfrey Philips deciding to shut factories over Centre's decision on large pictorial warnings on tobacco packs, traders and retailers in Goa have already started feeling the heat.
The Goan spoke to several dealers and retailers who said they were already running low on cigarette stocks which they claim would run out in three-four days in the State.
Several shops in Panaji and nearby areas aren’t getting regular supply of cigarettes for more than a week now from their distributors. Most shopkeepers while complaining of declining sales expressed helplessness and said the distributors aren’t telling them any reason.
This has become so bad in the last few days that a number of shops aren’t getting supply of the fastest moving brand ‘Gold Flakes’ at all. Owner of Deepak Super Market in Taleigao said, “We don’t have stock of bada Gold Flakes and even chota Gold Flakes for two weeks now. We are only keeping ‘Marlboro’ brand”.
In the absence of clear explanation from distributors, shopkeepers were left guessing. Some said it’s because the central government had increased excise on cigarettes in the recent budget and therefore companies will release stock only when they increase price from first week of April.
Some other sections felt this could be because companies like ITC and Godfrey Philips would would shut their factories from April 1 because of the larger pictorial warnings against smoking on tobacco packs.
Whatever be the reason, shop keepers have already lost a lot of business. Sarvesh from a mini-store which sells cigarettes and confectionary items in St Inez said, “We didn’t get any stock of cigarettes on April 2. Today, we had stock, so sales weren't t affected. But, if this continues, stock will dry up in 3-4 days”.
Another mini-shop had only three packs of Gold Flakes. The trouble is ITC’s brands like Gold Flakes make up most of cigarettes’ sales and their supply is hit. Brands like Marlboro are available but there are not takers for them.
