It was once called ‘the weaving capital of the world’. But now that the textile industry is long gone, Blackburn has a new – and perhaps more dubious – claim to fame as Britain’s vaping hotspot.
The former mill town in Lancashire has the highest concentration of shops in the country selling controversial e-cigarettes. According to online vape retailer Go Smoke Free, there are 22.56 registered vape outlets per 100,000 residents.
The North West is the worst place in Britain for underage vaping.
Blackburn and the neighboring town of Darwen are also home to some of Britain’s wealthiest vape barons.
These businessmen are profiting handsomely from the vaping boom, amid concerns about the impact on young people – despite a ban on sales to under-18s – and the environmental impact of discarded e-cigarettes.
Success Story: Mohammed Patel, Founder of Vape Dinner Lady, Sells Dessert-Inspired Products in 115 Countries
Blackburn’s vape magnates have carved out a lucrative niche in an industry dominated by brands such as China’s Elf Bar, which has 70 percent of the market, and giants such as British American Tobacco.
The rising number of vapers has helped line their pockets. According to anti-smoking campaign group Ash, the number of people vaping will increase by 9 percent to 4.7 million by 2023. About 230 specialist vape shops opened last year, bringing the total in the UK to 3,573, according to the Local Data Company.
In addition, market research company NIQ and trade magazine The Grocer found that vape sales would be worth £897 million by 2023. The government, which has encouraged vaping as a way to help cigarette smokers quit, has seen a much-needed opportunity to generate revenue. Ministers are said to be considering a new vape tax, which could be introduced in next week’s Budget.
There is no apparent reason why so many unrelated vaping companies, whose owners are not connected to each other, have formed a cluster in a small area of Lancashire.
However, Blackburn can boast of being home to other high-profile entrepreneurs, including the Issa brothers, Zuber and Mohsin.
In the 1960s their parents moved from India to Blackburn. The siblings, who grew up in a terraced house, now own supermarket chain Asda.
Blackburn was named as one of Britain’s most enterprising towns in 2022, based on the number of new small business start-ups.
Another Blackburn founder making waves is Mo Isap, a technology entrepreneur who recently closed a deal for his award-winning company IN4 Group with energy giant Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest companies.
Philip Boyle (photo) and his business partner Nathan Walton founded Flavor Warehouse twelve years ago
Philip Boyle
Estimated value: £114 million
Company: Flavor Warehouse
Turnover: £140 million
Profit: £22.2 million
Philip Boyle and his business partner Nathan Walton founded Flavor Warehouse twelve years ago.
It now produces 30 million bottles of liquid per year and sells it in more than 80 countries. In addition to its base in Darwen, it has a factory in Guildford, Surrey. The company employs 300 people and aims to be “the most trusted vape company in the world” by taking “full control of the entire manufacturing process.”
According to the latest reports, sales increased by 95 percent to £140 million in 2022, and profits almost tripled to £22.2 million. Boyle netted the bulk of a dividend of £3m, up from £42,253 last year.
Its flagship brand is Vampire Vapes and export sales extend as far as Eastern Europe and the United States.
It also acts as a wholesaler for brands such as Elf Bar and has expanded into retail with its own Vapestore stores.
The company owns the Premier Retail supermarket brand. Boyle, 40, sits on the board of the Independent British Vape Trade Association. That organization “exists to give the independent vaping industry a voice before government agencies, regulators, enforcement agencies and many other interested parties” – while being “free from control of any tobacco industry.”
Former salesman Boyle now lives in a £1.2 million mansion in Clayton-le-Dale, a chic village located in the Ribble Valley near Blackburn.
Mohammed Patel
Company: Vape Dinner Lady
Turnover: £24 million
Profit: £2.9 million
Another big Blackburn success story is Vape Dinner Lady – which boasts of selling its dessert-inspired liquids in 115 countries. The unusual flavors include Berry Blast, Melon Twist and Kiwi Melon. Founded in 2005 by Mohammed Patel, 43, it was named Best Vape Brand at the 2022 ‘Vapouround’ industry awards and employs 200 people.
Turnover grew to £24m in 2022, up from £15.3m the year before, while profits almost doubled to £2.9m.
A total of £8 million in dividends has been paid over the past three years. The company is rebuilding its base in Blackburn after a devastating fire last September and has moved production to ‘multiple international centres’. Patel said he set it up because he was “fascinated” by the booming business of vaping as an alternative to smoking. “But the real motivator was driven by my own experience using e-liquids,” he said.
‘Despite the wide range of products and flavors, in my opinion the range was simply not that wide.’
Christopher Parker remained as chief financial officer
Matthew Moden, Christopher Parker and Abraham Spain
Estimated value: £14.5 million
Company: Liberty Flights
The three founders of vape company Liberty Flights shared up to £14.5 million when they sold their Darwen-based business to retail group Supreme in 2022. The company, founded in 2009, had grown its annual turnover to £9m and profits to £1.5m.
By the time of the sale it had a thriving business selling in convenience stores. It had also launched a rechargeable vaping device called the Dot Pro. Liberty Flights has seven stores and a brand that sells dozens of types of liquids used in e-cigarettes.
Christopher Parker, 36, remained chief financial officer after the sale, but Matthew Moden, 50, and 46-year-old Abraham Spain took their fortunes to new pastures.
Jason Cropper and brother Fraser (pictured) founded Totally Wicked in 2008
Jason and Fraser Cropper
Estimated value: £107 million
Company: Totally bad
Turnover: £90 million
Profit: £1.6 million
Jason Cropper and brother Fraser founded Totally Wicked in 2008 and are said to have a fortune comparable to Boyle’s. The Blackburn-based company, which employs more than 370 people, has seen turnover soar – almost doubling to £90.4m in 2023, up from £54.4m the year before. Profits rose from £360,000 to £1.6 million in 2023.
Former smoker Jason, 59, once even kept gold bars in his home. He left the company in 2013 after refusing to retract comments about e-cigarette licensing in a controversial email to regulators.
Fraser, 57, will remain at the helm as chief executive. He lives with his wife in a £700,000 house in a Somerset village.
But the siblings remain close to their East Lancashire roots and sponsor Blackburn Rovers Football Club.
Jason was the victim of a shocking robbery at his home in Samlesbury, Lancashire, in 2013. Four masked robbers, armed with crowbars, broke into his home before tying him up, dousing him in bleach and covering his head with a towel.
They made off with his £60,000 Range Rover, two gold bars worth £50,000, plus £70,000 in cash and three expensive watches.
The tycoon suffered a head injury and was unable to walk properly for a week.
He said he believes the gang robbed him because they thought he had £4 million worth of gold in his house.
After the raid he spent around £20,000 on state-of-the-art security for his £750,000 home, including 10 cameras, lighting, 8ft fencing, a monitored alarm system and a watchdog.
The local vape companies listed were contacted for comment.
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