Premium cigarettes are still the best sellers in forecourts, according to Imperial Tobacco’s latest category overview.

Sales of premium brands for the 12 months ending June 2006 were down slightly, but they still accounted for 40% of cigarettes sold in forecourts. Ultra low brands gained share, accounting for 28.5% of sales, while mid-priced brand sales were down to 5.6%. Low-priced cigs stayed the same, with a 25.5% sales share.

Seventy three per cent of cigarettes sold in forecourts are in 20s packs. Tens account for 25% of sales with the remainder accounted for by 24s.

Lambert & Butler King Size remains the best-selling cigarette in the UK, with a 12.6% share of sales, worth £1.4bn.

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