On the evening of 18 September 2025, the PouchXchange event at InterTabac – InterSupply in Dortmund brought together leading figures in the oral nicotine products sector. Organized as an industry gathering focused on compliance, commerce, and connection, the evening underscored how rapidly the nicotine pouch and next-gen oral market is evolving. GINN served as a knowledge partner for the event, helping to shape its agenda.
What Happened
PouchXchange was structured around networking, regulatory discussion, and business opportunities. The setting was relaxed but purposeful: attendees gathered over drinks, a buffet, and speed-networking, followed by breakout roundtables.
Two parallel roundtables were held:
- Compliance & Regulations led by Robert Sidebottom (Arcus Compliance Ltd) together with Dr. Nveed Chaudhary (NexCentra). Topics included science and standards, product compliance frameworks, and how to meet regulatory expectations across jurisdictions.
- Business Development & Collaboration featuring Phil Hudson; Mónica Andrade de Orbe; Joel Rubenstein; Dino Sinanovic (EPD International); Fahrim Shirinzade (PouchDaddy); and Joe Sakr (GINN). This discussion explored market access and growth opportunities in regions like Europe, UK, Spain, and the Middle East & North Africa.
Attendees had the opportunity to have short one-to-one consults with experts (e.g. Dr. Chaudhary, Sidebottom, Paweł Woźnicki from Chemnovatic) for advice on regulation, science, compliance, and market strategy.
Themes & Takeaways
From what emerged, several themes stood out:
- The regulatory environment remains complex and fragmented. Companies are increasingly pushed to harmonize product standards, lab testing, packaging, and labeling if they want to scale.
- Trust and quality matter more than ever. In a crowded market, being able to demonstrate good science, good supply chains, and good compliance is a differentiator.
- The growth trajectory of oral nicotine products is strong. Observers noted a significant increase in nicotine pouch exhibitors at InterTabac 2025 compared with previous years.
- Cross-regional opportunities are opening up: brands and manufacturers are looking beyond traditional markets (e.g. Scandinavia, Germany) to Southern Europe, UK, Middle East, Africa. Regulatory and market entry strategy is a key concern.
- The importance of networking and informal knowledge exchange was reinforced. Speed networking and one-on-one meet-ups allowed sharing of experience, challenges, and opportunities, often in more detail than formal sessions allow.
GINN’s Role & Impact
As a knowledge partner, GINN played a central role in framing what practical, science-based guidance looks like in oral nicotine regulation. By helping lead the Compliance & Regulations roundtable and contributing to the Business Development conversation, GINN helped ensure the event balanced innovation with accountability.
The event reinforced GINN’s view that regulation and industry growth must go hand in hand, without compromising safety, science, or credibility.
