Tobacco Retailer articles from June 2003

Tobacco Retailer archives from June 2003

Freedom of choice. (Editor's Note).(smoking)(Editorial)
June 1, 2003... I don't think I'm stepping on any toes when say this: There are safer and healthier things to do than smoke cigarettes. However, with that said, anyone who lights up that first cigarette of their life without at least some inkling -- thanks...

Debate ongoing in PM lawsuit. (Industry News).(Philip Morris Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... On May 9, as reported by The Associated Press, an Illinois judge gave more rights to plaintiffs in a $10.1 billion lawsuit against New York-based Philip Morris USA to collect that judgment if the company ever files for bankruptcy protection....

Santa Fe Natural adds new marketing approach. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Eric Davis has joined the marketing and promotions team at Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Santa Fe, N.M., in the newly created position of consumer events manager. With the addition of Davis to the staff, Sante Fe plans to vigorously...

Kretek acquires Quintin USA/Quintin International. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In March, Kretek International, Moorpark, Calif., announced that it had completed the acquisition of all assets of Steamboat Springs, Cob-based Quintin USA/ Quintin International. The acquisition of Quintin further strengthens Kretek's...

Justice Dept. gives companies a $289 billion bill. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In March, the United States Justice Department called ror tobacco compaines to give up $289 billion in profits they got via "fraudulent" and unsafe market practices used since 1954. The Justice Department includes new evidence in 1,400-plus...

Music City marketing named Dunhill distributor. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Alfred Dunhill Americas LLC has announced that it has closed the wholesale distribution business for Dunhill pipes, lighters and smokers' accessories effective at the end of April. Dunhill executives stressed that the decision was not taken...

B&W announces marketing initiative for KOOL. (Industry News).(Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In a move to build on the recent growth of its KOOL menthol-cigarette brand, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, Louisville, Ky., is redirecting its sales force to focus on brand-building activities. The company said that KOOL was the...

South Carolina shoots down cigarette-tax hike. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... By a 71-37 margin, the South Carolina House of Representatives in March shot down a proposed 53-cent-per-pack increase in the state's cigarette excise tax. The state's current tax is 7 cents per pack. The House passed a major overhaul bill...

Kansas lawmaker seeks to limit internet sales. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Kansas state Rep. David Huff has proposed legislation that would allow only licensed tobacco retailers, who must pay state taxes, to purchase cigarettes over the Internet. The Kansas House Taxation Committee had a hearing in March on H.B....

Restaurant offers new form of tobacco ingestion. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The secret ingredient in the special served at Serafina Sandro restaurant in New York City in April was tobacco. The restaurant debuted its "Tobacco Special" menu to offer smokers some relief from the Big Apple's strict new smoking ban....

Cigarette smugglers shut down. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In April, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested members of two cigarette-smuggling groups suspected of moving 108 million cigarettes from Virginia to California. Thirteen people were arrested in connection with...

Arkansas tobacco-tax increase dead again. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... A proposed 15-percent tobacco-tax increase in Arkansas is history, again. In a legislative session that concluded near midnight on April 16, the Arkansas General Assembly ended its session without approving a tobacco-tax increase. The...

Lawmaker proposes cigarette-tax fund for soldiers. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In April, Wisconsin state Rep. Frank Boyle wanted to hike the state's cigarette tax to give bonuses to soldiers who served in Iraq. Boyle's proposal calls for a 15-cent increase in Wisconsin's cigarette tax. The money raised by the tax...

Indiana seeks to regulate online sales. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In April, the Indiana Senate voted in favor of a bill that targets cigarette sales on the Internet and via direct mail. The bill calls for cigarette vendors to get written information about buyers' addresses and age in order to confirm that...

More states consider hiking cigarette taxes. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Minnesota legislators are considering tripling the states cigarette tax. The bill would increase the state's 48-cent-per-pack tax by one dollar. It would also increase the tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco. It is estimated that the increase...

Just Born completes Goldenberg acquisition. (Industry News).(Goldenberg Candy Co.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Candy-maker Just Born, Inc., Bethlehem, Pa., has completed its acquisition of Goldenberg Candy Company of Philadelphia. Just Born had announced its intent to acquire Goldenberg in January. "Bringing these two Pennsylvania companies together...

New York lawmakers consider taxing tribes. (Industry News).(gasoline and tobacco sales by Native American tribes)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Faced with a budget shortfall of almost $12 billion, New York lawmakers are considering taxing gasoline and tobacco sales by Native American tribes. Proponents of the plan say that it could bring in up to $1 billion, but the state's Indian...

Candy-cigarette manufacturers catch heat. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In Kentucky, anti-smoking activists want to snuff out candy cigarettes. Candy cigarettes are bubble gum shaped like a cigarette with a dusting of sugar, which can be puffed out to resemble smoke. A University of Rochester Medical School...

Bill targets new cigarette companies. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Lawmakers in North Carolina are considering a bill that would require new cigarette companies not included in the 1998 tobacco settlement with the states to fork out more money. Legislators say that tobacco makers that were included in the...

NJ proposes hike in tobacco-buying age. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Lawmakers in New Jersey are mulling a proposal to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21. Currently, in New Jersey and 46 other states, the legal age to purchase tobacco is 18, it is 19 in Utah, Alaska and Alabama. Supporters of the...

Supermatic celebrates 50th Anniversary. (Industry News).(Clinton Tube)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In March, Clinton Tube Canada's Premier Supermatic cigarette machine celebrated its 50th anniversary. Introduced in 1953 by CTC founder Arnold Kastner, the Supermatic has gone through many changes over the years, resulting in the newest...

Georgia cigarette-tax increase defeated. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... On March 26, the Georgia House overwhelming defeated a bill that would have significantly increased the state's excise tax for cigarettes, handing Gov. Sonny Perdue a resounding defeat. However, upon the urging of the Republican governor's...

New York retailers ask for mail-order 'fairness'. (Industry News).
June 1, 2003... New York retailers have asked the United States Postal Service to comply with a New York statute that prohibits delivering packages of cigarettes directly to consumers. In a March 26 letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter, New York...

New York state fires up smoking ban. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In March, New York adopted one of the strictest smoking bans in the country. The New York legislature voted in favor of the bill and a few hours later, Gov. George Pataki signed it into law. The ban goes into effect at the end of July. ...

Congress eyes cyber cigarette sellers. (Washington Report).
June 1, 2003... According to some estimates, online cigarette vendors could ring up approximately $5 billion in sales by 2005. A federal study has indicated that New York's Seneca Nation of Indians is among the big beneficiaries of this new business, with its...

A question of taste: choosing a disposable or refillable lighter depends on the unique needs of the consumer. (Cover Story).
June 1, 2003... "GOT A LIGHT?" It's a query uttered nightly in taverns and pool halls across the country. Somewhere right now a smoker needs a light. But how will he get it? Somewhere right now a ligher owner is reaching into his pocket and pulling...

Small, but mighty: though diminutive in size, a new generation of innovative tobacco accessories can ring up big sales. (Retailing).
June 1, 2003... The CTS accessory is a segment often underrated by the unschooled CTS retailer. Savvy retailers, however, know the true profitability potential of these products. It is undeniable that these products can build overall store business as CFS...

Versatile smokes: import cigarettes continue to offer varied sales opportunities. (Product Profile).
June 1, 2003... The pressures on CTS owners continue to increase. From the continuing trend toward using tobacco as a profit center for budget-strapped states, to broad smoking bans, to a stagnant economy, the pressure just continue to mount. The same can...

NATO Expo off and running. (Show Review).(National Association of Tobacco Outlets)
June 1, 2003... When starting a new trade show, there have better circumstances under which to launch. But despite the country being at war with Iraq, subsequent heightened terror alerts and a stubbornly depressed economy, the first-ever NATO Conference and...

Were you there? (NATO News).(National Association of Tobacco Outlets)
June 1, 2003... The NATO Conference and Expo was the place to be for more than 2,300 retailers and 1,000 manufacturer exhibitors in March. The success of the NATO Expo can be measured not only in the retailer attendance levels and exhibit booth space, but in...

Price of entry vs. competitive advantage. (The Personnel Touch).(tobacco retailing)
June 1, 2003... One thing is certain, there's no shortage of options when it comes to purchasing tobacco products. Between convenience and grocery stores, smoke shops and mass merchandisers, there must be close to 500,000 retail outlets in which to choose...

www.zensmoke.com. (Web Directory).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... HBI International has created an entire line of Zen products, from papers, rolling machines, tubes, injectors, pipe cleaners, tobacco, tobacco pouches, rolling boxes and rolling mats, with more products coming seemingly every day. You can find...

www.puffersnuffer.com. (Web Directory).(cigarette marketing)(Zebra International)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... With cigarette prices skyrocketing, Zebra International's Puffer Snuffer Web site opens with a very pertinent question: "How often do you throw away a half-smoked cigarette?" If you ever have, then the company hopes you'll consider its Puffer...

www.djeep.com. (Web Directory).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... All things French have been taking a beating lately in this country, but that hasn't stopped smokers from slipping a DjEEP disposable lighter into their pockets. The company, which is headquartered in Paris, but distributes internationally, has...

www.imperialtobacco.com. (Web Directory).
June 1, 2003... ITL (USA) Ltd., an affiliate of Imperial Tobacco Canada, is an importer of Canada's leading cigarette brands, including du Maurier, Matinee and Player's. In this day when cigarette companies have to mind their P's and Q's, cross the T's and dot...

HBI goes to the mat. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... HBI International has reintroduced the bamboo rolling mat to your local tobacconist. Easy to use and even easier to carry, the Zen Rolling Mat allows anyone to roll beautifully consistent cigarettes with the flick of the wrist. Zen also has a...

Perdomo launches Cantero line. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. has announced the debut of Cantero, a new cigar brand exclusively manufactured for tobacconists participating in the 2003 Perdomo Factory Tour. The Cantero brand celebrates a series of factory tours recently conducted by...

Trion updates EWT shelf system. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... A new four-page brochure has been released by Trion Industries, Inc., detailing its updated EWT system. Expandable Wire Tray divider and pusher systems accommodate almost any style and size package and easily adjust from 5 inches to 12 inches...

Skoal Fine Cut gets new look. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. has introduced redesigned packaging for Skoal Fine Cut and the line's two main flavors: wintergreen and straight. The can is now easier to open and includes a "guaranteed fresh until" date. The FreshSnap can features...

Perdomo extends gift-box offer. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. has issued 1,000 additional gift boxes for each of their Perdomo Estate Seleccion and Cuban Parejo brands. Lauded for its exquisite construction, uncompromising flavor and its unparalleled level of presentation, Perdomo...

Saint Luis Rey is back. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Saint Luis Rey cigars are back. Handmade in Honduras, these smokes are now available again from Altadis U.S.A. Inc. Packaged in nature boxes, Saint Luis Rey cigars achieve their full flavor and aroma through a blend of Honduran- and...

Portable spittoon invented for smokeless users. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... A client of Invention Submission Corporation has designed a patented pocket-sized spittoon for smokeless-tobacco users. The Rocket Spitter makes it possible to enjoy smokeless tobacco discreetly and without making a mess. The compact,...

H&R Tobacco introduces Three new products. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... H&R Tobacco has recently introduced new products to its cigarette-rolling line: H&R Light Tobacco, a one-pound "Stand Tall" bag and a five-pound "Robust" bag. The introduction of H&R Light rounds out the product line; regular and menthol...

Felipe Gregorio adds value-priced brands. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Felipe Gregorio, Inc., has launched some new entries in the broad-scale value-priced market with four premium cigar brands, all in the $2 and $3 suggested retail price ranges. The cigars are handmade in the company's factory in the Dominican...

Arango introduces Balkan Supreme pipe tobacco. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Arango Cigar Co. has introduced a new pipe-tobacco blend, Balkan Supreme. This new mixture is made exclusively for Arango by Peter Stokkebye International. The classic flavor and aroma of Balkan blends fall within the full-bodied family of...

See "red" with Torano's new offering. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... A new blend of the finest Nicaraguan crop to date, coupled with a complete presentation makeover, revives Torano Cigar's venerable Nicaragua Selection long-filler handmade cigar line. Late in 2002, Torano made three significant changes in the...

Miami Cigar adds mandarin to flavored line. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Miami Cigar & Company has added a new mandarin flavor to its lineup of Tatiana flavored premium cigars. Like all other Tatiana flavored cigars, mandarin is handmade at its factory in the Dominican Republic. Mandarin joins the existing Tatiana...

Alec Bradley reinvents Kelner seconds line. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Alec Bradley Cigar Company has introduced Special Blends by Alec Bradley, formerly known as the popular Dominican-made Kelner Seconds, with a new presentation and name. Alec Bradley has been importing and selling these cigars in the United...

New high-performance CCD camera. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Sanyo Security Video is expanding its DSP Camera line with the introduction of the high-performance VCC-3944. This 1/4-inch color CCD DSP camera was constructed to offer more than 350 lines of horizontal resolution, high sensitivity and two...

Perdomo issues LA Tradicion gift box. (Product News).
June 1, 2003... Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. has announced that its La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve cigars have been issued in collectible gift boxes containing five of the most popular sizes in the Perdomo Reserve cigar line. Only 1,000 boxes are available to the...

P & A Tobacco Trading unveils "Mr. Hyde's Monstrous Flavors". (Product News).
June 1, 2003... P & A Tobacco Trading, Ltd., has unleashed its newest cigar creation: a naturally flavored long-filler cigar line known as Mr. Hyde's Monstrous Flavors. The cigar uses a formula developed from natural ingredients that load the palate with...