Imperial Brands snaps up vaping liquid manufacturer

UK tobacco giant Imperial Brands has bought Liverpool-based Nerudia, a supplier of nicotine to the vaping industry, the company confirmed on Wednesday.

Nerudia is a joint venture set up in 2013 by UK entrepreneurs David Newns and Chris Lord, who founded and then sold the Intellicig electronic cigarette brand to British American Tobacco the year before, and a German pharmaceutical nicotine supplier Contraf-Nicotex-Tobacco (CNT).

Ahead of its full year results next Tuesday, an Imperial spokesman said: "Nerudia is a young and dynamic business and we’re delighted to confirm an acquisition which significantly enhances our innovation capabilities in the next generation products sector."

Nerudia, owner of Europe’s biggest nicotine manufacturing site, makes e-liquid for electronic cigarettes and nicotine products as well as providing regulatory compliance and support for large and small clients in the vaping industry.