Tobacco Retailer articles from December 2002

Tobacco Retailer archives from December 2002

Caught in the net. (Editor's Note).(cigarette sales over Internet vs. brick-and-mortar stores)(Editorial)
December 1, 2002... If I were a cigarette smoker, it would be an offer I would find pretty darn hard to refuse. A few months ago as I was cleaning the junk e-mails out of my home e-mail account, I stumbled across one that caught my attention. "CIGARETTES AT...

Philip Morris sues illegal retailers. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... On Oct. 30, New York-based Philip Morris U.S.A. filed lawsuits in federal courts against 55 retailers engaged in the illegal sale of counterfeit versions of the company's cigarettes. The lawsuits are aimed at stopping the defendants' sale of...

Smuggled smokes burning up legit vendors. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The number of legitimate cigarettes sold in New York City retail outlets in July and August of 2002 was 41 percent less than the same time last year. That adds up to 24.5 million packs and about $200 million in lost taxes. As cigarette...

California jury orders Philip Morris to pay record damage. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... In October, Philip Morris was ordered to pay $28 billion in punitive damages to an ex-smoker. This finding is in addition to the $850,000 the company was earlier ordered to pay to plaintiff Betty Bullock for compensatory damages. The...

Chicago restaurants take smoking off the menu. (Industry News).
December 1, 2002... In September, the Chicago City Council considered a smoking ban in restaurants, but health-department surveys revealed that upwards of 900 restaurants already have banned smoking. Current Illinois state law requires that restaurants offer...

XIKAR appoints vice president of operations. (Industry News).(Scott Almsberger, new vice president of operations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Kansas City, Mo.-based XIKAR, Inc., president Kurt Van Keppel, has announced the promotion of Scott Almsberger to the position of vice president of operations with the company. In addition to his existing responsibilities as vice president...

Retailers concerned over fire-safe law. (Industry News).
December 1, 2002... Leading tobacco retailers and wholesalers met with New York state officials in September to voice growing industry concerns that the state's impending "fire-safe" cigarette law could disrupt their product flow and cash flow when it goes into...

UST settles smokeless lawsuit. (Industry News).(UST Inc. settles lawsuit brought by tobacco chewer with mouth cancer)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... In October, Greenwich, Conn.-based UST Inc. settled a lawsuit brought by a tobacco chewer who got mouth cancer. The company said it had come to a "resolution" with the plaintiff, Michael L. McMullin. The lawsuit had been scheduled to go to...

Missouri voters defeat tax hike. (Industry News).(cigarette tax vote fails)
December 1, 2002... Missouri voters on Nov. 5 narrowly rejected a proposal that would have more than tripled the state's cigarette tax. Proposition A would have increased the state excise tax for cigarettes by 324 percent, from 17 cents to 72 cents per pack,...

Will New York bars bar smoking? (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... If New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his way, smoking will be banned in the city's bars, restaurants, pool halls, bingo parlors, bowling alleys and even outdoor cafes and private clubs. USA Today reported in October that since 1995,...

Arizona voters approve cigarette-tax increase. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... By a two-to-one margin, Arizona voters on Nov. 5 approved Proposition 303, which will more than double the per-pack state excise tax on cigarettes. The measure will increase the state tax by 60 cents per pack for cigarettes, as well as on other...

Ventura County earmarks fund for health system. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Ventura County, Calif., supervisors decided to put $5.5 million of the $9.6 million tobacco funding it will receive this year to save the county's public hospital and mental-health agency. The Los Angeles Times reported that anti-smoking...

Tabacalera Perdomo announces new hirings. (Industry News).(Ernesto J. Padilla, new art director; Steven J. Szydlowski, new regional account executive)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Tabacalera Perdomo S.A., Miami Lakes, Fla., has announced the additions of the following key personnel to their sales and marketing department: Ernesto J. Padilla joins Tabacalera Perdomo as its art director. Padilla has over 10 years of...

Genetically engineered tobacco cropping up. (Industry News).(Vector Tobacco nicotine-free cigarettes on sale in January, 2003)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Some Amish farmers are growing genetically engineered tobacco to be used in nicotine-free cigarettes. Miami-based Vector Tobacco offered the Lancaster Country, Pa., farmers $1.50 a pound to grow its tobacco, which is genetically altered to...

Who wants treaty on Tobacco use. (Industry News).(World Health Organization)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The World Health Organization and other medical groups meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in October called for governments to accede to an international treaty to reduce the use of tobacco. The groups represent 10 million doctors in 117...

American Western Cigar opens Western Division. (Industry News).(American Western Cigar Co./House of Windsor)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Effective Oct. 1, Cincinnati-based American Western Cigar Co./House of Windsor began serving the western part of the country through its new satellite office in Custer, Wash. "This move will help us serve the Western Region customers more...

Oregon eclipses $1-per-pack tax. (Industry News).(state excise tax on cigarettes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... On Nov. 1, the new state excise tax for cigarettes increased by 60 cents to $1.28 per pack in Oregon, making it the 13th state to have per-pack state taxes of $1 or more. Measure 20, the state's ballot measure to increase cigarette taxes,...

FDA approves Commit Lozenge. (Industry News).(United States Food and Drug Administration approves treatment for smokers)
December 1, 2002... The country's nearly 50 million smokers got a new treatment to help them quit in November when the United States Food and Drug Administration approved the Commit Lozenge, the first and only nicotine lozenge now available for over-the-counter...

Supreme Court refuses to hear Canadian smuggling suit. (Industry News).
December 1, 2002... On Nov. 4, the United States Supreme Court refused to hear a case brought by the Canadian government seeking to recover taxes and revenues claimed to be lost as a result of cigarette smuggling. The suit had been brought against R.J....

New Jersey's latest anti-tobacco ads target teens. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services in November launched a new television advertising campaign to discourage youth smoking and build membership in REBEL (Reaching Everyone By Exposing Lies), New Jersey's youth anti-tobacco...

RJR says jobs will be cut. (Industry News).(R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... In a Dow Jones Newswire report in late October, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C., acknowledged that it had told employees at its Winston-Salem headquarters that it will cut jobs as part of a cost-reduction plan. ...

Philip Morris name change case dismissed. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... According to an October report in Reuters, New York-based Philip Morris Cos. Inc., parent of the world's largest cigarette maker, may be close to dropping its tobacco roots from its corporate name, now that a case brought against it by another...

Tobacco advertising banned in United Kingdom. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... In October, tobacco advertising was been banned by British lawmakers. The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill was passed by the House of Commons on and is expected to be enacted by the end of 2002. Lawmakers took the action in an effort...

Help available to explain cigarette-tax impact. (Industry News).
December 1, 2002... The National Association of Convenience Stores has worked with several state associations and retailers to determine priority issues and what resources are needed to educate the public about the negative impact of cigarette-tax increases, and...

Tabacalera Perdomo, Phillips & King ink agreement. (Industry News).(Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. and Phillips & King International)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Miami Lakes, Fla.-based Tabacalera Perdomo S.A., in October announced that it had entered into an exclusive agreement with Phillips & King International, Moorpark, Calif., for the wholesale distribution of its comprehensive line of premium...

Senate confirms new FDA commissioner. (Washington Report).(Dr. Mark B. McClellan)
December 1, 2002... In October, the United States Senate confirmed Bush administration health advisor Dr. Mark B. McClellan as the next commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration, filling a top federal post that had been vacant for almost two...

A tangled web: no one knows how many cigarettes are sold on the Internet, but there's no denying the effect. (Cover Story).
December 1, 2002... Much like trying to grab a puff of smoke (cigarette or otherwise), the effect that Internet cigarette sales are having on the market, in general, and the CTS owner/operator, in particular, is difficult to grasp. This much we do know: the...

A growing concern: a SalomonSmithBarney industry survey shows that deep-discount brands continue to flourish. (Industry Survey).
December 1, 2002... From an historical perspective, these are the types of conditions that have helped foment revolutions: a series of price increases, brought on, in part, by a string of tax hikes; an image of the powers-that-be as haughty and arrogant; a belief...

The right to fight: "Retail Rights" the latest effort to confront Philip Morris' retail leaders program. (Retail Rights).
December 1, 2002... Determining that the time had come to combat what they call "the anti-competitive practices of market leader" Philip Morris, a group of six tobacco companies and a number of retailers have joined forces to seek legislative relief from Philip...

Frontline feedback. (The Personnel Touch).(customer relations and employee relations)
December 1, 2002... The two most important constituencies you have to manage as a business owner are your customers and the people who take care of your customers, your employees. What is their opinion of you and your business? What is it like for your customers...

Maximize your travel deductions. (Tax Tips).
December 1, 2002... Do you think traveling is fun? Of course, it's much more fun when the trip is deductible. But just what expenses are deductible? And how much? These questions seem to cause a great deal of confusion. Here's a rundown of what the law allows. ...

AKC unveils DeLuxe clove cigarettes. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... American Kretek Company has announced the release of its DeLuxe line of Gudang Garam clove cigarettes. The new line features three styles: Surya Deluxe, a new generation of low-tar and nicotine clove cigarettes with the flavor of a traditional...

Apex redefines slim and trim. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... The Apex is the slimmest torch lighter offered by Prometheus International, Inc. Despite its slim and light design, however, the Apex still generates a powerful flame which will light any large ringgauged cigars in no time. It has a suggested...

Windproof, jet-turbo lighter. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Prometheus International, Inc. has released the Liquid X jet-turbo lighter, a lighter that generates a totally windproof, circular flame with an MSRP of $95. The center turbo flame is surrounded by 22 jet turbo flames and these 23 flames merge...

Sanyo expands digital recorder offerings. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Sanyo Security Products has introduced two new digital video security recorders, the DSR-3000-80 and DSR-3000-160, which provide a choice of digital hard-disk capacity and additional features not available in analog recorders. The DSR3000...

Prometheus expands ashtray offering. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Prometheus International, Inc., crystal ashtrays are produced in the Tuscany region of Italy by master artisans. These ashtrays are made in pure crystal with more than 24 percent lead content. Two new designs were added in the summer of 2002:...

Silent Witness releases day/night camera. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Silent Witness has released a high performance day/night camera board for both the MagnaView and PrimaView lines of the modular CCTV camera system. This single camera board automatically switches from accurate color images in daylight to clear,...

Increase under-counter merchandise space. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... California Quality Plastics has introduced a line of under-the-counter merchandisers that are built to fit under virtually any counter. They feature from three to six row heights with double-deep pack-pusher trays that allow for twice the...

Dual-flame flint lighter. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Prometheus International, Inc., has created a line of platinum-plated, flint lighters which are equipped with dual flames. Two flames will come up and merge together to generate one broad flame. If you like a traditional flint lighter which has...

Limited edition FFOX accessories. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Prometheus International, Inc., is producing limited edition Fuente Fuente OpusX crystal ashtrays, cigar cutters and lighters in limited quantities of 500, 250 and 500, respectively. Each one is serial-numbered, and comes with a certificate of...

Humidor celebrates OpusX anniversary. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... As the Prometheus International, Inc., 2002 limited edition Humidor, the company has produced the Fuente Fuente OpusX Forbidden X Humidors. Only 100 of the seven-drawer cabinet humidors have been made: 50 red, 40 macassar and 10 yellow-eye...

Trion doubles pull-out shelf offerings. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Trion Industries, Inc., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., has expanded its offering of pull-out shelving to include both C-channel and flat-face shelf styles. Each features side- bracket designs available to fit most gondolas. The shelves are offered in...

A vision for the future. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... USA Tobacco Distributing has introduced its newest cigarette brand, called Visions. The brand is a premium luxury cigarette available in five flavors: cherry, chocolate mint, vanilla, winter mint and clove. USA Tobacco Distributing, which is a...

Heavenly's Cherubs fly into flavored cigar lineup. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Heavenly Cigar Company, Naples, Fla., has added another variation to its flavored Premium cigar product line, the Heavenly Vanilla Cherub, a 3.5 x 26 mini-cigar. The handmade, 100-percent tobacco mini-cigars use the same Dominican tobacco and...

Put your ash in a can. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Seattle-based Accoutrements has introduced a line of hand-crafted ashtrays that are made from pieces of Vietnamese beer cans. Designed to become a kitsch classic, each ashtray measures 5-1/2 inches by 1 inch and features plastic ribbing and...

Arango new importer of Perfecto Garcia cigars. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Arango Cigar Co., Northbrook, Ill., is the new importer and sole distributor of Perfecto Garcia premium cigars, born during Tampa, Fla.'s heyday as "Cigar Capitol of the World." The 100 percent handmade, all-tobacco cigars were formerly...

Lignum 2 introduces A-Mild. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Lignum 2, the exclusive importer of Sampoerna clove cigarettes, has introduced the A-Mild low-tar clove cigarette. The A-Mild features a revolutionary TwinWrap paper technology that seals in flavor and eliminates clove stains. The A-Mild is a...

Doh! New Beer Opener talks to you. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Seattle-based Pacific Direct has introduced a beer opener featuring America's favorite beer lover, Homer Simpson. When the opener touches the bottle cap, Homer Simpson is heard enthusiastically enjoying a beer. The Homer Simp-son Talking Beer...

Sanyo introduces vandal-proof domes. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Sanyo Security Products, Chatsworth, Calif., has released a new line of vandal-proof video dome cameras that provide security solutions for locations that require round-the-clock surveillance. Available in surface-mount and in-ceiling mount...