U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. introduces an all new line of premium moist smokeless tobacco (MST) products designed to make the company’s core brand, Copenhagen, more approachable for adult smokers. Available at retail beginning September 17, the new Cope line will feature smooth, natural tobacco tastes in three long cut varieties: Smooth Hickory, Whiskey Blend [...]
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. (USSTC) will launch new and improved Skoal Bandits moist smokeless tobacco (MST) pouches. Replacing the existing Bandits line, the new Skoal Bandits will come in mint and wintergreen flavors and debut at retail in August. Every can of new and improved Skoal Bandits will contain 20 compact [...]
Kretek International Inc., importer and marketer of Djarum clove cigars has withdrawn its lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regarding the distribution and sale of clove cigar products. In light of statements made by the FDA, Kretek in September of 2009 filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District [...]
Confusion Reigns Supreme C-store operators aren’t the only ones left scratching their heads by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) first foray into tobacco regulation.During the FDA’s teleconference, Catherine Lorraine, a lawyer for the administration, said, “I just want to draw your attention to the portion of the definition of a cigarette, which specifically refers [...]
The FDA hosted a media briefing this morning and has posted documents on the FDA Web site issuing additional information regarding the ban on flavored cigarettes, authorized by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that was signed into law in June. According to the new documents, cigarettes containing an artificial or natural flavor [...]
The SCHIP tobacco tax rates that hit on April 1 are costing cigar smokers more, but sales continue to persevere. As of April, the federal taxes on large cigars rose from 20.719% of the wholesale price with a tax cap of 4.875 cents per cigar to 52.75% of the wholesale price with a tax cap [...]
A perfect storm of societal, legislative, retail and economic factors in 2009 appears poised to push sales of smokeless products—the fastest-growing tobacco category—higher than ever. Convenience store retailers and marketers of such leading brands as Copenhagen, Skoal, Redman, Timberwolf, Kodiak, Red Seal, Rooster, Grizzly, Husky and Longhorn have already seen a flurry of activity on [...]
Not surprisingly, convenience store industry operators identified the future of tobacco as one of their top five concerns heading into 2010. And with good reason. Operators have entered a period of unprecedented challenges when it comes to selling cigarettes, which means they must find new and innovative ways to market and merchandise this essential product [...]