Tobacco Retailer articles from April 2003

Tobacco Retailer archives from April 2003

The silver lining. .(Editorial)
April 1, 2003... Chris Traczek Tell me if you've heard this one before: A priest, a rabbi and a minister walk into a bar... no, no, no, just kidding. But what's the old saying, "If I didn't laugh, I would cry?" I know you're probably getting tired of...

Star Scientific sells cigarette division. (Industry News).(North Atlantic Trading Company Inc. acquires Star Tobacco Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... In February, Star Scientific, Inc., Chester, Va., announced that it had agreed to sell the cigarette business operated by its wholly owned subsidiary, Star Tobacco, Inc., to New York-based North Atlantic Trading Company, Inc., for $80 million...

Bio-Butt "ultra-light" filter tested. (Industry News).(biodegradable cigarette filter)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... In a recent independent laboratory study, the "Bio-Butt," a biodegradable cigarette filter made out of natural materials and developed by inventor Robert Walker, has proven to filter as well as current "ultra-light" cigarettes. "The...

PM moves to halt sale of counterfeit cigarettes. (Industry News).(Philip Morris Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... New York-based Philip Morris USA is filing lawsuits against retailers engaged in the illegal sale of counterfeit versions of the company's cigarettes. Fifteen suits are being filed against 325 retailers in federal courts in seven states....

Zippo trademarks windproof-lighter shape. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Zippo Manufacturing Company, Bradford, Pa., has been granted trademark protection for the "shape" of the Zippo windproof lighter. The trademark was granted in the fall of 2002. As a result of the ruling, Zippo is informing whole-salers and...

Philip Morris USA leaving New York. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Philip Morris USA, the largest United States cigarette maker, announced on March 4 that it is pulling its headquarters out of New York City after 100 years to cut costs amid a tough environment in the cigarette industry, as reported by Reuters....

Second stage of U.K. Tobacco-ad ban take effect. (Industry News).(Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship Act)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The second stage of the Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship Act is now in effect, prohibiting tobacco advertising on billboards, magazines and magazine inserts. The first stage prohibited sponsorships from tobacco companies. Stage three is...

Ruling to ban internet sales upheld. (Industry News).(New York state)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... In February, a three-judge panel ruled that New York state is within its rights to ban cigarette sales over the Internet. This was in response to a 2001 district court ruling that said banning Internet cigarette sales in New York conflicted...

Nicotine-free quest now available. (Industry News).(Vector Group Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Miami-based Vector Group Ltd. has announced that Quest, the first cigarette brand that allows consumers to gradually step down nicotine consumption to nicotine-free smoking, is now available in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,...

Indiana to take crack at taxing internet sales. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Indiana legislators want to figure out a way to tax online sales of cigarettes to make sure purchasers are of legal age and to collect the state's share of tax revenues. "There's a general feeling that we probably ought to try to address...

Montana debates increases in cigarette, alcohol taxes. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Montana Democrats want to hike taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and video gambling as part of their plan to balance the budget. The Democrats said their plan would garner some $232 million to help balance the state's budget, reported the...

Jury finds in favor of Tobacco makers. (Industry News).(Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. Laurie and Laurence Lucier)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... In February, a Sacramento, Calif., Superior Court jury found that two tobacco companies were not liable for a smoker's lung cancer. This is the first time a jury in that state has found in favor of tobacco makers since 1998, when California...

Not all states hiking cigarette taxes. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Although many states are boosting their cigarette taxes to help beat their budget woes, other states have decided not to increase their tobacco taxes. * The North Dakota Senate voted down a proposed 35-cent-per-pack increase. Gov. John...

Zippo honored. (Industry News).(Canadian Hardware Show)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The new Zippo multi-purpose lighter beat out hundreds of entries to capture both the Best of Show and Innovative New Product awards at the 99th annual Canadian Hardware Show held in Toronto. From left to right, Don Grigor, national sales...

Zippo lighter bags two awards. (Industry News).(Canadian Hardware and Building Materials Show )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The new Zippo MPL multipurpose lighter was the star of the 99th-annual Canadian Hardware and Building Materials Show held in February at the National Trade Centre in Toronto. The Zippo MPL beat out more than 400 entries to earn the...

Connecticut leads way in new England tax increases. (Industry News).(excise tax)
April 1, 2003... Effective March 15, smokers in Connecticut began paying more for their cigarettes as the state excise tax per pack increased 40 cents to $1.51, tying Massachusetts for the highest state cigarette tax in the United States. New England has...

Study shows advance cigarette to be less-harmful. (Industry News).(Virginia Commonwealth University research)
April 1, 2003... A team of researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University has found sharply reduced levels of the cancer-causing chemicals, nitrosamines, during its independent testing of the Advance cigarette, suggesting some progress by the tobacco industry...

South African wins highest cigar award. (Industry News).(Habanos S.A. awards Theo Rudman )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Eight years ago, Habanos S.A., the exclusive exporters of Cuban cigars in Havana established the Habano Man Award to recognize those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cigar industry. Each year, the award is made in four...

Santa Fe Natural names top retailers. (Industry News).(display compeition)
April 1, 2003... Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co., Santa Fe, N.M., has announced the winners of the company's fifth-annual Retailer of the Year contest. The 2002 contest awarded over $25,000 in cash and prizes and was host to some of the finest submissions in the...

Smokers help design new Tropical Tobacco cigars. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Miami-based Tropical Tobacco has launched its new Private Blending Campaign. Tropical Tobacco's Private Brand Program allows retailers to design their own private brand cigars. A "Private Brand Kit" lets retailers select more than 20 different...

Heavenly Hummer hits the highways. (Industry News).(Heavenly Cigar Co. marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... In October, 2002, Heavenly Cigar Company, Naples, Fla., took delivery of a bright yellow, 2003 H2 Hummer emblazoned it with full company graphics and immediately hit the highway in support of several tobacconists' promotions across Florida. ...

S.D., W.V. pass tax increases; others on deck. (Industry News).(West Virginia and South Dakota)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The governors signature is all that is needed to implement cigarette-tax increases in West Virginia and South Dakota. In West Virginia, the cigarette tax will increase from 17 to 55 cents per pack after the bill is signed by Coy. Bob Wise,...

Study: Nyc cigarette taxes stunting economy. (Industry News).(Small Business Survival Committee report)
April 1, 2003... One of the nation's leading small-business advocacy groups, the Small Business Survival Committee, in March released a 57-page case study on the impact of New York City's tobacco-tax increase enacted last year, which raised the cigarette tax...

Heaven at hand. (Industry News).(Heavenly Cigar Co. marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The new Heavenly Hummer transports Heaven's Angels to retailers' and other promotional events for Heavenly Cigar Company.

Smokers cross to Delaware for cigarettes. (Industry News).(taxation)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... While George Washington crossed the Delaware to defeat the British, modern-day smokers are crossing into Delaware from surrounding high-tax states to make their cigarette purchases, in the process putting millions of dollars into the cash...

R.J. Reynolds may drop out of NASCAR. (Industry News).(sponsorship)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Winston-Salem, N.C., has requested that NASCAR seek another sponsor for the Winston Cup auto races. Reynolds has been a NASCAR sponsor for more than three decades and agreed in July 2002 to continue its...

Irish eyes not smiling over smoking ban. (Industry News).(workplace, restaurants and pubs)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... By January 2004, smoking will be banned in all workplaces in Ireland, including restaurants and pubs. Ireland's health minister Michael Martin said in a statement, "The bottom line is you don't have to be a smoker to get cancer from...

Federal cigarette-tax increase abandoned. (Washington Report).
April 1, 2003... In late February, United States Health and Human Services secretary Tommy Thompson indicated that a proposed $2 federal cigarette-tax increase will not proceed. Thompson testified on Capitol Hill before the House Budget Committee and said...

Cigar flavors flavoring the mix: CTS retailers develop a taste for the flavored-cigar category.(cigarette and tobacco stores)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2003... The infamous cigar boom has had lasting effects on a still evolving and maturing CTS market. With the upsurge in the popularity of cigars, a new category of cigars was created in the midst of this era: flavored cigars. From vanilla and...

Give & take: communication is key to building a strong relationship with your distributor. (Operations).
April 1, 2003... With the exception of your customers, your wholesaler/distributor probably has more impact on your business than any one you deal with on a day-to-day basis. After all, it is the distributor who keeps your cigarette/tobacco store supplied with...

Rolling right along: as market share continues to grow, roll-your-own makes sense for both the retailer and consumer. (Product Profile).
April 1, 2003... In many ways, it sounds like a living-room conversation in a frat house. "Hey man, can I bum a smoke?" "Roll your own. Don't laugh. Those three words--roll your own--are having a dramatic impact on the cigarette industry. As...

Businesses don't DIE, they commit suicide: going above and beyond the expected can help ensure business survival. (Retailing).(tips for building customer loyalty)
April 1, 2003... The funeral was quiet and not many people attended. In fact, few noticed the passing. It was a tragic ending, but many had seen the danger signs long before the end came. Their dreams went up in smoke, and now all that is left is empty office...

Fighting back. (NATO News).(National Association of Tobacco Outlets fights cigarette excise tax increases)
April 1, 2003... By the middle of March, more than 30 state legislatures were considering bills to raise cigarette and/or tobacco excise taxes in an effort to respond to the growing budget deficits being faced by nearly every state, some of which had raised the...

Our greatest asset. (The Personnel Touch).(personnel management tips)
April 1, 2003... The phrase "Employer of Choice" is becoming increasingly popular among both companies and whole industries. Another popular phrase that has been making the rounds a little longer is: "People Are Our Greatest Asset." The two phrases should go...

www.questcigs.com. (Web Directory).(Vector Group Ltd. offers Quest brand information on Web site)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Quest, the low-nicotine cigarette marketed by Vector Group, hit the market in seven states - New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan - earlier this year. The brand's Web site offers all of the pertinent...

www.gizehofnorthamerica.com. (Web Directory).(Gizeh of North America Ltd. markets make-your-own-tobacco products on Web site)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Gizeh of North America, Ltd. is the sole North American representative for a German roll-yourown/make-your-own tobacco and accessories company, Gizeh Raucherbedarf. With machine-made cigarette prices skyrocketing, many smokers are investigating...

www.kretek.com. (Web Directory).(Kretek International offers product information, company history on Web site)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... As the distributor of many of the country's most popular import cigarettes, the Internet home of Moorpark, Calif. -based Kretek International is chock full of information on its product line, from Djarums to Dreams to Liquid Zoo, You can also...

www.regulations.gov. (Web Directory).(new Web site allows easier access to federal rule-making process for small businesses)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... This new government Web site was launched in March and is aimed at making the federal rule-making process more accessible to small businesses, enabling them to search quickly and comment on all open federal agency rules online. This one-stop...

Philip Morris introduces new cigarette. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... New York-based Philip Morris USA is slated to debut the new Marlboro Blend No. 27 cigarette in spring of 2003. The new cigarettes were expected to be in United States stores by April. They will be distributed in Kings boxes and Kings soft...

Kretek adds Mac Baren pipe Tobacco. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Kretek International and Mac Baren Tobacco have announced Kretek's appointment as the exclusive importer of Mac Baren Tobacco. Mac Baren has offered one of the best-selling lines of pipe tobacco in the world. Kretek International anticipated...

Silent Witness offers entry-level video system. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Silent Witness has released the DVMS Simplex series, an entry-level line of digital video-management systems, to complement the premium DVMS Duplex series. The DVMS Simplex line is an intelligent, integrated multiplexer and digital recorder...

Swedish Match expands Timber Wolf, debuts CatchDry. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Swedish Match North America has unveiled two new Timber Wolf styles: Timber Wolf Long Cut Natural and Timber Wolf Long Cut Mint. The new flavors can be displayed in a 20-can snuff display and various cigar uprights intended to drive...

Arango adds vanilla to ryo offering. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Arango Cigar Co. now offers Arango Sportsman vanilla-flavored premium cigarette tobacco. The targeted market for this new tobacco is the roll-your-own industry. Arango Sportsman ryo is a blend of Virginia, Burley and a touch of Turkish...

Add to your pipe profits. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... As pipe smoking continues to grow in popularity, Finck Cigar Company has added Danish Blend to its line of pipe tobaccos. Danish Blend is expertly blended and flavored, then packaged in vapor-barrier bags which keep it factory-fresh until the...

Cheyenne Int'l. debuts namesake cigarette. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Cheyenne Int'l., LLC, has released its new line of cigarettes, Cheyenne. The Cheyenne line includes full flavor, light, ultralight, menthol and menthol light in both king size and 100s, as well as a non-filter king. Cheyenne is designed to...

Republic enhances Gambler ryo line. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Republic Tobacco L.P. has added a one-pound size to its line of Gambler cigarette tobaccos, offering special introductory pricing for a limited time only. In addition to its line of Gambler Regular, Menthol and Light six-ounce bags, the new...

Expand your Boundaries. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... SFR Group Inc., distributor of Winner cigarettes, has announced the addition of Boundary cigarettes, a signatory to the Master Settlement Agreement, to its stable of brands. Boundary cigarettes are made with the finest American tobacco blends...

Quintin USA wants retailers seeing "Stars". (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Quintin USA, Inc., has announced two new cost-cutting incentives for retailers. The dealer cost for new Stars premium flavored cigarettes has been cut to $10 a carton of 200 cigarettes, to compete with fourth-tier cigarettes. Stars is the first...

Cupido replenishes Tuxedo line. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Cupido Cigars has received its second shipment of Tuxedo premium cigars, which. had sold out in December, and is filling all backorders from retailers. The Tuxedo-line is Cupido's first cigar to use tobacco exclusively grown on Cupido's farm,...

ADT introduces web-hosted access-control system. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... ADT Security Services, Inc., has announced the availability of ADT Select Entry, the industry's first Web-hosted access control service that is ideal for companies with geographically dispersed facilities. ADT Select Entry allows companies to...

Felipe Gregorio adds shape to Dominicana line. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Felipe Gregorio, Inc., has introduced its revamped Felipe Dominicana line of premium cigars. The Dominicana is blended with aged tobaccos and features an Ecuadorean wrapper with shade-grown characteristics. The line is available in seven...

Perdomo Fresco introduces "Roller Cards". (Product News).
April 1, 2003... Tabacalera Perdomo S.A., has announced that its Perdomo Fresco premium cigars will now include Fresco Roller Cards. Each 50-cigar wheel of Perdomo Fresco cigars will now contain a card--which is similar in content and appearance to a sports...

NCR debuts multiple-item scanner. (Product News).
April 1, 2003... NCR Corporation has announced the creation of NCR RealScan 7876 SA, the first and only scanner capable of reading multiple bar codes simultaneously. Multi-item scanning is enabled through a combination of technologies. The SA platform is built...