Economists presented both sides of the picture to retailers at the NACS State of the Industry Summit in Chicago this week. The 2010 NACS State of the Industry Summit marked the 40th anniversary of the State of the Industry survey conducted by NACS. When the survey began, industry sales were recorded at just over $1 [...]
While foodservice sales are soaring, the tobacco category is still as important as ever. I heard recently that the the profit convenience stores derive from foodservice has overtaken that of tobacco. Now I’m right there with the rest of the industry in joining the deli revolution, but that does not mean that I’m ready to [...]
Stop-N-Go, which runs more than 20 locations in North Dakota and Minnesota, has stopped selling adult magazines at its stores. The chain’s owner, Sheldon Ellig, told the Grand Forks Herald adult magazines were previously removed from six Stop-N-Go stores and other stores pulled the magazines from shelves this week. “We have had a number of [...]
As all convenience store chains look for innovative ways to drive sales as tobacco and gas margins decline, they might take note from an unlikely teacher—a small town store in Grandy, Minn., whose unique offerings are going to new lengths to meet consumer demands. Though only 1,100 square feet, “The Shack on 65” packs the [...]
The FDA has released its final rules regarding the sale of tobacco. Retailers will need to be in compliance with these rules by June 22, 2010. Today’s action by FDA restricts the sale, distribution and use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, including provisions that: • Prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to [...]
NATO, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, announced that 7-Eleven Inc. has joined NATO as a retail member. Based in Dallas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and licenses more than 6,970 stores in the U.S. and Canada. As one of the leading national retail trade associations that focuses exclusively on state and federal tobacco legislative issues, NATO’s [...]
Despite the SCHIP tobacco taxes that hit on April 1, 2009, cigar sales continue to persevere. 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 of 40.26 cents per cigar. The tax [...]
With many states passing smoking bans, more customers are turning to smokeless tobacco, and the sales figures from 2009 bear that out. According to Information Resources Inc., for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 27, 2009 total dollar sales for other tobacco products was $6.07 billion, up 14.6% from last year. Unit sales totaled 2.40 billion, [...]
RYO Pounds Sold Per Year Roll your own (RYO) cigarettes is a growing trend. Sales have climbed during the past five years, yet took a dive in 2009 as customers started using pipe tobacco to roll cigarettes as a result of increased taxes. On the other hand, customers used 10.6 million pounds of pipe tobacco [...]
The simple truth is that no one is certain what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will come up with next now that it has been given de facto control of the tobacco industry. But between bureaucratic control freaks, national, state and local taxes, and even the whispered fear of retailer liability concerns ahead, many [...]
This afternoon, the state tax department of New York will issue regulations to collect taxes on cigarettes sold by Indian retailers, The Buffalo News reported. The new plan looks to collect the tax “upstream” rather than from Indian retail shops. Tobacco manufacturers will be required to sell cigarettes only to licensed stamping agents, certifying that [...]
An Ohio coalition refutes the findings of a recent report claiming that increasing Ohio’s cigarette tax by $1 per pack would bring the state $299.7 million per year. The report released yesterday, entitled, Tobacco Taxes: A Win-Win-Win for Cash-Strapped States is based on national and state surveys of registered voters. “Any economist will tell you [...]
This week, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) sent a letter to all 213 members of the New York state legislature urging them to defer legislative action on Bill Number A.9482, which aims to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the state except for products with a tobacco, menthol, mint or [...]
A study at Virginia Commonwealth University found that electronic cigarettes, through which customers can inhale nicotine vapor instead of smoke do not deliver as promised, CNN reported. “They are as effective at nicotine delivery as puffing on an unlit cigarette,” said Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, at the school’s Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies. His [...]
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 [...]