Philip Morris opens first IQOS flagship in Africa

The only IQOS standalone store on the African continent opened its doors in South Africa recently. The new 160sqm flagship boutique, located in Sandton City Shopping Centre, will help Philip Morris South Africa (PMSA) – the local unit of international tobacco giant Philip Morris International (PMI) – introduce more cigarette smokers to its smoke-free tobacco products and educate them on the science it.

The Gauteng boutique shares the same sleek, modern minimalist look that characterises IQOS devices and accessories. The interior extends the Scandinavian design thread present in other IQOS flagship stores in the likes of London, Tokyo and Milan.

Sandton City was selected as the flagship location as it boasts annual foot traffic in excess of 25-million visitors, and is a destination mall with an appeal to both local and international consumers. With South Africa being the only market in Africa where IQOS is sold, the flagship retail presence will help serve as a springboard to expand into the rest of the continent.

Heat, not burn

The IQOS innovation is based on the premise that the vast majority of harmful chemicals associated with cigarette smoking is produced when tobacco is burnt. An IQOS therefore uses an electric heat source to heat the tobacco at controlled temperatures below combustion levels, emitting “95% lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes”, according to the tobacco company.

This device is used with specific tobacco sticks called Heets, which are available in different ‘flavours’. This means that IQOS is able to satisfy cigarette smokers with the taste of real tobacco, which is where devices like ‘vapes’ – which rely on a flavoured nicotine liquid – fall short. IQOS doesn’t produce a cigarette smoke smell, second-hand smoke or ash.

PMI has openly committed to a move away from the cigarette business, and has invested more than $6 billion into the research and development of IQOS.

Speaking at the launch, Marcelo Nico, managing director at PMSA, said PMI is more than a tobacco company, it’s also a science and technology company. With three versions of IQOS devices already available, along with a host of matching accessories, Nico said that PMI will continue to design and launch new products.