Tobacco Retailer articles from April 2005

Tobacco Retailer archives from April 2005

It's back.(EDITOR'S NOTE)
April 1, 2005... When Michael Jordan announced that he was ending his first retirement in March of 1995, he did so with a simple, two-word faxed announcement: "I'm back." Though it's doubtful that any of our blustery U.S. Congressmen have ever been that...

The taxmen cometh: states facing budget shortfalls turn to cigarette, alcohol tax hikes.(SPECIAL REPORT)
April 1, 2005... The seating of new state legislatures often leads to a frenzy of proposed tax hikes, many of which focus on the tobacco and alcohol categories. The following is a roundup of the proposed state activities in these areas as March ended, many of...

NAAG, ATF team to curb web sales.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(National Association of Attorneys General)
April 1, 2005... On March 17, the National Association of Attorneys General announced a joint public/private initiative to prevent the illegal sale of cigarettes over the Internet. Participants in the initiative include attorneys general from across the...

RJR announces brand strategies.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.)
April 1, 2005... A key objective of the new Reynolds American, Inc., following the merger of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co., was the development of a new brand-portfolio strategy for R.J. Reynolds. An analysis of each brand...

WHO treaty aims to discourage smoking.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(World Health Organization)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The World Health Organization has sponsored the world's first international public-health treaty that attempts to dissuade children from smoking and to help adults quit the habit, Reuters reported. The global treaty took effect on Feb. 27. ...

Suffolk County adopts "Tobacco 19" law.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... An amended "Tobacco 19" law scheduled to take effect around May 1 in Suffolk County, N.Y., requires cigarette retailers to display movie-poster-size warning signs, according to James Calvin, president of the New York Association of Convenience...

Philip Morris wins trademark infringement suit.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Otamedia)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... In March, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York awarded Philip Morris USA, Richmond, Va., $173 million in damages for infringement of its trademarks by Switzerland-based Internet cigarette retailer Otamedia. The...

Philip Morris makes bid for Indonesian company.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Philip Morris International Inc., Richmond, Va., has made a $5 billion offer for Indonesia's third-largest cigarette producer, a move that would fatten its share of the country's fast-growing tobacco market. The company, a unit of New...

Senate rejects minimum-wage increase.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... On March 7, the U.S. Senate voted down two amendments that would have increased the federal minimum wage as part of the bankruptcy overhaul bill (S. 256). Congress has not raised the minimum wage since 1996. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.,...

Cigarettes, alcohol trigger wholesale price leap.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Wholesale prices rose 0.3 percent in January, driven by big increases in the cost of new cars, cigarettes and alcohol, the government reported in February. The Labor Department said the increase in its Producer Price Index, designed to...

FKI Security Group acquires EXL Safe Corp.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... FKI Security Group, New Albany, Ind., has acquired the EXL Safe Corporation, Mira Loma, Calif. EXL Safe Corporation's customers will be added to the FKI customer list. This latest acquisition is the first such announcement from FKI Security...

Romeo y Julieta announces Caribbean cruise sweepstakes.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... On Feb. 1, Altadis U.S.A., makers of Romeo y Julieta cigars, launched "Love for Sail," a nationwide, in-store promotion and sweepstakes. Participants may enter the sweepstakes drawing at their local retailer or at the official sweepstakes Web...

Retailers: higher taxes cause decline in Oklahoma CIG sales.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Some Oklahoma retailers have reported that the state's new cigarette tax has contributed to declining tobacco sales, according to the Tulsa World. At the same time, tribal tobacco shop cigarette sales have increased. Tulsa World reported...

Oregon considers requiring "fire-safe" cigarettes.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The state of Oregon is considering a law to require that all retailers in the state sell "fire-safe" cigarettes, according to KATU-TV. On March 3, the Oregon Senate Commerce Committee discussed two potential bills that would require...

Liggett Vector, Circle K announce business partnership.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based Vector Group, through its Liggett Vector Brands subsidiary, and Couche-Tard, Columbus, Ohio, have announced that the companies have entered into an agreement to manufacture and sell Montego, a premium...

Bush signs bill designed to curtail "the lawsuit culture in our country".(WASHINGTON REPORT)
April 1, 2005... On Feb. 18, the Associated Press reported that President Bush had signed a bill that he says will curtail multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuits against companies and help end "the lawsuit culture in our country." The legislation aims...

A smart alternative: as factory-made cigarette prices continue to rise, more and more smokers are turning to RYO/MYO.(PRODUCT PROFILE)(Roll Your Own/Make Your Own)
April 1, 2005... Remember the reaction of Uma Thurman as she watched John Travolta roll his own cigarettes in "Pulp Fiction?" Uma isn't alone. For generations, people have been fascinated in roll-your-own/make-your-own cigarettes and market indicators prove...

Flavors of the day: increasing popularity of flavored cigarettes help retailers tap new niche.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... Cigarette manufacturers are seasoning their product lines with flavors such as lime, mint and berry--with results both sweet and sour. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The flavored products are performing well, but critics say marketing tactics...

Different strokes: a successful snack-and-beverage program must be customized for every site.(OPERATIONS)
April 1, 2005... Looking for a way to boost store revenues? One way to bolster the bottom line is to add product categories, such as snacks and beverages, that exert that special pull on regular customers, prompting them to make impulse purchases. As with...

ID for compliance.(THE PERSONNEL TOUCH)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... There's an awful lot at risk these days for both retailers and their employees if they are caught selling tobacco to a minor. Employees will be fined and depending on company policy can be fired. Retailers are subject to not only fines and...

Legislative hurdles looming.(NATO NEWS)
April 1, 2005... The 2005 state legislative battles on tobacco issues have begun. As of March 31, NATO's staff was tracking and assisting its members in response to legislation on the following tobacco issues: * Cigarette tax increase: 21 states considering...

Swisher introduces Peach Cigarillos.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Here's a sweet, tropical twist from Swisher International. The new Swisher Sweets Peach Cigarillos may be the company's juiciest combination yet. The small, cigarillo size is perfect for a quick smoke. The fresh peach aroma will have mouths...

HBI's new Kingpin brand "a blunt you can't refuse".(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... HBI Tobacco has introduced Kingpin Premium Blunt Wrappers. Marketed as the "World's Most Wanted Blunts," each Kingpin Premium Blunt Wrapper is individually packaged in a freshness sealing tube. The tubes not only preserve the flavor of each...

Swedish Match North America launches Timber Wolf Apple.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Following a successful consumer use test, Swedish Match North America, Inc has introduced Timber Wolf Long Cut Apple moist snuff. The new product will be available at retail nationally in April. The Apple flavor augments the Timber Wolf product...

Puros Indios changes wrapper on Cuba Aliados.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Puros Indios Cigars has announced a change in wrapper for the entire line of its Cuba Aliados premium cigar lineup. The new Corojo wrapper replaces the Ecuadoran-grown Sumatra wrapper, which had been used on Cuba Aliados cigars for years. The...

Trilogy line available in new round shape.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Alec Bradley Cigar Company has changed the shape of its Trilogy premium cigars. The triangular press has been replaced by a conventional round body. The two-layer, 10-wide boxes have also been replaced with space-saving four-layer, five-wide...

Heavenly Cigar Co. debuts Celestial Cognac.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Heavenly Cigar Company has officially released the 10th flavor to date in its Heaven line of premium flavored cigars. Celestial Cognac is available in Petite (5 X 30) and Corona (5.5 X 46) shapes, and is handmade of 100-percent longfiller...

Casa de Torano humidor opens humidor campaign.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Torano Cigars is launching a new promotional humidor program with a limited release of a collectible Casa de Torano humidor. The humidor features original artwork on the top of its lid by XX, a New York artist. The hardwood humidor holds 50...

American Stogies line adds Break Time brand.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Break Time, the latest in the American Stogies line of value-priced premium cigars, is now available from Indianhead. With cigar lovers being banned from indoor smoking nationwide, this 4-1/2 X 40 torpedo gives them 15 to 20 minutes of...

Swedish Match launches Longhorn brand nationally.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Following a successful regional market test, Swedish Match North America, Inc. is expanding distribution of its Longhorn Long Cut Mint moist snuff nationally. This new flavor began shipping to retail outlets across the United States in early...

USSTC introduces Skoal Long Cut Peach.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company has announced the launch of Skoal Long Cut Peach. The product will be available at retail beginning in June. Skoal Long Cut Peach combines premium tobacco with the juicy flavor of fresh peaches. Like all Skoal...

Robert Burton unveils cigarette tube displays.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Robert Burton Associates has announced the availability of a new pre-packaged shipper for its Premier cigarette tubes. The new Premier pre-packaged shipper enables retailers to merchandise a variety of Premier products in a small space....

Pure Hemp creates POS paper display.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Pure Hemp Cigarette Papers from Natural Emphasis, Ltd. has created the first countertop point-of-sale display specifically for hemp papers. The full-color display showcases the full range of Pure Hemp papers: single width, 1-1/4 inch and King...

EL Rey enhances line with tubes, Starter Kits.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Robert Burton Associates has announced that the El Rey Menthol tube is now available in a 200-count box. RBA has also added El Rey Starter Kits to the line of EL Rey cigarette tubes and tobacco accessories. The EL Rey Starter Kits provide all...

Sales of Guarani papers benefit South Americans.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Guarani rolling papers from Natural Emphasis Ltd. are all-natural papers made in South America. Guarani rolling papers are available in a special edition collection of 24 native-inspired designs. Guarani are a light rice paper and are only...

Smoking reaches new lengths and heights.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... The Smoking Paper line from Natural Emphasis Ltd. has introduced the newest members of its DeLuxe family: Smoking DeLuxe Rolls and Smoking Master 200s. Smoking DeLuxe Rolls feature the same extra fine DeLuxe rice paper as their predecessors,...

Cusano Cigars introduces 10th Anniversary Robusto.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... In response to customer requests, Cusano Cigars has decided to add a Robusto size to the Special Edition 10th Anniversary Series. The 10th Anniversary blend uses four premium wrapper leaves: Ecuadoran-grown Cuban as a wrapper Mexican Sumatra as...

Juicy Jay's adds two new flavors.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... HBI Tobacco has announced the addition of two new flavors to he Juicy Jay's rolling-paper family. Mello Mango and Tequila, like all Juicy Jay's flavors, are created with HBI's exclusive triple-dipped flavor system, a process that slowly flavors...

Altadis USA debuts Black n Blue cigars.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Black n Blue cigars from Altadis USA, Inc. come in two distinct choices, Platinum Power and Gold Power. Both cigars are made with super-aromatic pipe tobacco featuring colored tips, either Platinum or Gold. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...