Anne Baye Ericksen

In many ways, Massachusetts is a microcosm of tobacco regulations popping up in communities across the country. Prior to the statewide enactment of 21 as the legal minimum purchasing age for tobacco products earlier this year, various cities adopted the age while others remained at 18. Way before Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker called for a…

Next month marks one year since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement detailing possible changes to tobacco regulations, including the intent to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products. Four months later, it released another ANPRM to lower maximum nicotine levels in cigarettes to…

Cigars still sit in regulation purgatory, awaiting federal decisions on a number of other tobacco product (OTP) concerns including the future of flavors, while cities and states are moving forward with local ordinances on tobacco products.  Last month, Cumberland Farms announced a lawsuit against boards of health in six Massachusetts cities. The company, which operates more…

Throughout the first half of 2019, the tobacco category has been inundated with proposed legislative restrictions. One Hawaii lawmaker attempted to graduate the minimum purchase age to 100 (it soon fizzled out in committee). Last month, the Beverly Hills City Council scheduled a vote to ban the sale of all tobacco products from any retailer…

While gum sales have been flat, flavor and packaging innovations as well as better-for-you (BFY) and functional options are opening up opportunities for growth in the gum segment.  Earlier this year, Gerrit J. Verburg Co., announced the reintroduction of three classic chewing gum brands: Black Jack, Clove and Beemans. Black Jack lays claim to being…

Historically, the smokeless tobacco category in convenience stores hasn’t benefited from a frequent influx of new products, packaging redesigns or special-edition flavors, unlike candy and snack categories that regularly welcome innovations. Over the past several months, however, this other tobacco product (OTP) segment has expanded, which could inject new energy into an otherwise quiet category.…

Recognizing and rewarding personalized shopping styles is the new focus of loyalty programs. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor From an industry research perspective, consumer preferences traditionally indicated brand selection. Then the term started to describe where and how consumers spent their dollars, such as at brick-and-mortar stores versus online retailers. Today, customer preferences include…

Pod vaping systems and e-cigarettes face a new round of federal intervention. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor News of JUUL ruled 2018. First, sales of the pod vaping system delivered unheard of growth. In fact, it ended 2018 with a 304% year-over-year increase in dollar sales for the four weeks ending Dec. 29, according…

The c-store industry reacts to the  latest proposed cigarette ban. Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor Just before Thanksgiving, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dished on proposed mandates regarding menthol cigarettes that will be hard for many retailers in the convenience store industry to digest. In a public statement issued on Nov. 15, FDA…

Any way you slice it, pizza remains a fast favorite for consumers and c-stores. Trendy toppings, saucier sauces and low-carbohydrate crusts challenge pepperoni’s dominance. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor Late last year, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added Neapolitan pizza to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage items for its traditional…