SBF GB&I cracking down on ‘Rybena’ e-liquids

Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF) has enlisted Trading Standards in a clamp down on retailers caught selling ‘Rybena’ branded e-liquids.

Messages sent to retailers by the firm, seen by Better Retailing, stated it had seen an “increasing volume of blackcurrant flavoured vaping” products imitating the Ribena brand. It said: “As you will understand and appreciate, these are not official Ribena products, and have no connection to [SBF].

“We are now working with Trading Standards to take enforcement action against retailers selling such vaping products. As well as infringing on Ribena’s intellectual property rights, in many instances, the vaping products do not comply with the UK legal regulations and therefore pose a risk to users’ health.”

In its communications, the firm demanded any retailer selling the product to stop immediately, and for store owners to report any business found doing so.

Better Retailing found the 100ml product available on several online vape stores, with prices ranging from £3 to £6.94.

An SBF GB&I spokesperson said: “SBF GB&I is not associated with any vaping product.

“We will pursue all possible action to protect independent retailers and consumers from unsafe and counterfeit products.

“As well as infringing on Ribena’s intellectual property rights, most worryingly in many instances these vaping products do not comply with the UK legal regulations and pose a risk to users’ health. We ask that any retailer selling such vapes please stops immediately, and if other retailers are, or become, aware of sales of ‘Ribena’ vapes in the channel, please bring this to SBF GB&I’s attention to allow us to take the necessary action.”