Demand for ZYN has been steadily rising over the last few years, and the brand may have finally become a victim of its own success. Many US states have been struggling to replenish their stock levels since May 2024, especially for the most popular flavors.
But on the bright side, Prilla has restocked ZYN’s bestselling products. We’ve also implemented a temporary purchasing restriction to help distribute items fairly, which will remain in place until the supply chain returns to normal. With the brand’s parent company announcing it will build a new production facility, we can rest assured the shortage won’t last forever.
This post explains exactly what that means for customers, sheds some light on the situation, and offers suggestions for obtaining the nicotine pouches (or a suitable alternative).
What’s Happening?
Anyone who has noticed a lack of ZYN at their local shop isn’t alone.
On 17 May 2024, Bloomberg reported that various retailers and wholesalers were out of stock, noting New York, New Jersey, and Florida were among the affected states. Many users have also taken to social media to express concerns, terming the event a "Zyndemic".
It’s understandable that customers are feeling alarmed, but the shortage is a temporary issue caused by excessive demand and insufficient supply.
Earlier in the year, the CFO of Philip Morris International (which owns the ZYN brand) commented that the products’ increasing popularity was “creating some tensions on the supply chain.”
Once manufacturers ramp up production accordingly, stocks will return to normal.
When Will Supply Return to Normal?
Parent company Philip Morris International (PMI) has already increased its production. In late July the firm increased its sales forecast, predicting it will sell 580 million cans this year, compared to 385 million units in 2023. However, it needs to ramp up its manufacturing even further to match demand and replenish stock levels.
Fortunately, PMI has now made concrete plans for how it will achieve this.
All manufacturing currently takes place at a factory in Owensboro, Kentucky. Philip Morris spokesman Travis Parman revealed that the company has adjusted its processes to boost production here, saying: “The actions that we’ve taken have already started to ease the squeeze.”
This involves an investment of $232 million from a Swedish Match affiliate to boost production.
Even better, on July 16 2024, the firm announced it will invest $600 million into building a new manufacturing facility in Aurora, Colorado.
PMI says it plans to start preliminary operations in Aurora by late 2025 and regular production in 2026. This is expected to increase ZYN production capacity to 900 million cans per year.
Is ZYN Still Available On Prilla?
Prilla is working hard to maintain healthy stock levels of ZYN products. We recently received a fresh shipment, which includes bestselling flavors like:
- ZYN Peppermint 3mg
- ZYN Menthol 3mg and 6mg
- ZYN Coffee 3mg
- ZYN Smooth 3mg
We also have plenty of other taste profiles, so be sure to check out the full selection!
But we want to ensure everyone has the same access to products and avoid running down our supply, so we also have a temporary purchasing restriction.
Current Purchasing Restriction: 30 cans every 30 days per customer.
(Page last updated on 25th September 2024)
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How Long Will the Purchasing Restriction Last?
Nobody knows when supplies will return to normal, so we can’t guarantee that we will remove the purchasing restriction on a fixed date.
But we can guarantee that we’ll keep you in the loop and increase the restriction (or remove it) as soon as possible. We’re in close communication with the brand and doing what we can to meet our customers’ needs.
Why Is There a Shortage?
ZYN is struggling to keep up with deliveries due to the brand’s massive surge in popularity recently, which is partly driven by “Zynfluencers” and the brand’s appearances in the media and politics.
This boom is great news for investors. The stock for Philip Morris International Inc has experienced impressive growth over the last year. It started 2024 with a price of $95.56, but this rose to $122.41 by the end of August, representing an increase of 28%.
But for customers, this has caused a mismatch between demand and supply.
In April 2024, Philip Morris International reported shipping 131.6 million cans in the US alone in the first quarter of 2024 — an 80% increase compared to the first quarter of 2023.
The shortage has caused panic among some regular users, leading to online rumors that there are alternative explanations for the lack of supply. However, there’s no evidence the issues are due to anything other than unprecedented demand.
In other words, there’s no need to worry about these products disappearing forever!
Is There a ZYN ban?
Some have speculated that the shortage is due to an upcoming ban.
This theory emerged because some political actors have involved ZYN in their campaigns, such as Senator Charles Schumer.
However, there’s nothing to suggest a ban is impending.
Was There a Fire at the Warehouse?
Others have blamed the shortage on a fire at a manufacturing plant.
However, this appears to be a case of misinformation.
It’s true there was a fire at the Swedish Match factory in Gothenburg, Sweden, which manufactures ZYN for the European market. However, all pouches for the US market are produced in Kentucky. There is no evidence of a fire taking place at the Kentucky plant.
How to Get ZYN Amid the Shortage
There may be a shortage, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to obtain ZYN. Below, we’ve listed the best options for concerned customers.
Seek out Alternatives
Retailers may have a limited number of ZYN products available, but the good news is that the brand is far from the only product of its kind on the market.
ZYN is simply a brand of nicotine pouches (a type of tobacco-free product that contains nicotine in sachets for oral consumption). On social media, nicotine pouches are sometimes referred to as “upper deckies.”
Thanks to the brand’s popularity, many consumers now associate nicotine pouches solely with ZYN, similar to how most people associate clear adhesive tape solely with Scotch Tape. But there are many other brands available (and many of them have enjoyed an increased market share since the ZYN shortage began).
We have compiled a guide to our favorite ZYN alternatives.
However, some are also using the shortage as a chance to try out nicotine-free pouches, such as those that use caffeine as a replacement (“caffeine upper deckies”).
These are the same shape and texture as nicotine pouches, and often contain flavorings — but because of the lack of nicotine, the “buzz” provided is more similar to a coffee or energy drink. Some brands include:
- Grinds
- Mojo
- Berserker
- NECTR
We don’t yet offer caffeine or nicotine-free pouches on Prilla, but watch this space!
Stock Up
Since many retailers are out of ZYN completely or have imposed restrictions, it’s unwise to wait until running out of supplies before buying more.
There’s no need to start stockpiling like crazy, especially if it means paying over the odds or purchasing from questionable sources. But it makes sense to stock up on when presented with the opportunity.
Nicotine pouches don’t expire for at least six months, and they can even be frozen.
Look Outside of Local Stores
The shortage appears to have affected physical stores the most, especially gas stations. This is likely due to their low stock levels compared to specialist or online retailers.
So, consumers shouldn’t panic if their local store has been out of ZYN for the past few weeks. Most online stores still have stock, including Prilla. And we’re managing our supplies carefully to ensure this won’t change any time soon.
Consider Less Popular Flavors
If buying in-store, the current shortage is most pronounced with certain flavors.
On social media, some users reported that their local shops were only running short on certain products. Others, such as ZYN Coffee 3mg, may be more widely available.
Now could be the time to experiment with new flavors. Who knows — a temporary replacement could become a new favorite product!
What Does the Shortage Mean for Other Brands?
Currently, alternative brands are one of the top solutions for pouch users looking to get their ZYN fill. But as more people do this, it will drive up demand for those other brands — meaning that further supply issues could be in the cards in the future.
However, this will depend on how many consumers turn to the same products.
Considering the ever-increasing demand for nicotine pouches, the potential profit could also incentivize more brands to enter the market. For instance, Tucker Carlson recently unveiled plans to launch a nicotine brand called Alp.
The Bottom Line? Don’t Worry
Nobody wants to hear their favorite product is in short supply, but there’s no need to panic. Consumers can still purchase ZYN on Prilla, turn to other brands of nicotine pouches, or consider alternative flavors.
