Inverclyde sweets firm hit out at fake 'Millions' nicotine pouches sold in shops

Yahoo

7 days ago

INVERCLYDE sweets firm Golden Casket has vowed to pursue legal action where they can after fake 'Millions' nicotine pouches targeted at children were found to be sold in shops.
Outraged bosses at the Greenock company, which sells their products all over the world, spoke out after it was revealed their household brand was being ripped off in this way.
They told the Tele that not only were they concerned that it was violating their property rights but it was posing 'a potential threat to health'.
In a BBC Disclosure programme released on August 7, trading standards warned that the pouches - taken orally to release nicotine - are branded as 'Millions' flavoured to deliberately to dupe children.
An example of a standard nicotine pouches (Image: PA)
A shot from the documentary about the pouches which have been made to appear like the 'Millions' sweets brand (Image: Disclosure, BBC Scotland) Golden Casket, based in Greenock's Fort Matilda, was established 66 years ago and is one of the area's largest employers with a workforce of around 150.
In a statement to the Tele, the company said: ''The nicotine products being offered on these sites and in stores are neither authorised nor approved by us and constitute violations of our intellectual property rights as well as posing a potential threat to health.
"We take these matters extremely seriously and are continuously in consultation with our legal representatives and take such action as we are advised by them.
"We will continue to pursue these matters through the appropriate authorities, but copyright infringement is a long-standing and ongoing industry wide issue."
(Image: Newsquest)
In the Disclosure programme 'Nicotine Pouches: What's the Problem', the BBC discover the fake products features images of Millions were on shelves in shops in Glasgow.
Trading Standards had expressed a concern about the worrying appeal to children.
There is currently no law to restrict the age of sale for nicotine pouches.
Millions is one of Golden Casket's best-selling confectionary products.
Millions sweets in Fort Matilda (Image: George Munro) The company was started in 1959 by businessman Douglas Rae, the former chairman of Morton who stepped in to save the club after it was placed in administration.
Mr Rae died in 2018, aged 87, and Golden Casket has continued with his son Crawford Rae at the helm as managing director.
In January this year they announced that their sweets would be sold in the Scotmid convenience stores in another major partnership.
Trading Standards in Inverclyde have not been made aware of any sale of 'Millions' products locally.
An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: 'We're not aware of these items being sold in Inverclyde but if anyone does find them on sale locally then please contact our trading standards service who will investigate and take appropriate action.'