The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) gathered in Washington, D.C. at the end of September to celebrate its 25th Anniversary and held its first ever legislative conference.
Over 150 NATO retail, wholesale and manufacturer members along with fellow association partners gathered to celebrate NATO’s history, growth and 25 years of regulatory engagement. Conference participants also heard from regulatory and political leaders on the latest regulations and a deep dive was also provided into the tobacco and nicotine categories at retail.
Legislative Conference Overview
The keynote speaker, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Dr. Bret Koplow provided key insights and developments from CTP, including faster Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) reviews, regulation that reflects tobacco harm reduction, regulatory clarity and the FDA resources available for retailers. Overall, his remarks indicated a collaborative approach with the industry.
“The FDA works to its mission to regulate the industry that recognizes tobacco harm reduction and provides clarity and resources for retailers,” said Koplow.
MSA Inc. leaders Paul Grubbs and Ajay Yadigiri provided category insights for all segments of tobacco and nicotine. The data that they presented included cigarettes declining at around 6%, while nicotine pouches are projecting double digit growth in 2026.
Former U.S. Senator Richard Burr, R-N.C. talked about the Coalition for Smarter Regulation of Nicotine’s work to advocate for regulation based on tobacco harm reduction. Overall, he expressed encouragement with the new leadership at FDA CTP as evidenced by recent actions to authorize more products and plans to revamp the PMTA application process.
Conference attendees also heard from political experts David Avella and Meghan Hays, who previewed the midterm elections for Congress and key state elections, which are less than a month away. Avella provided the Republican perspective, and Hays represented the Democrat point-of-view.
NATO Recognizes 25 Years of History
NATO opened the conference by celebrating its 25th Anniversary and recognizing some of the individuals who have made the association successful. Established in 2001, NATO was created to give tobacco retailers a unified voice at a time when the industry was facing increasing scrutiny and rapid change. From the outset, the organization focused on representing the interests of tobacco and nicotine retailers, emphasizing responsible retailing, adult consumer access, and the preservation of traditional tobacco products. Over the past 25 years, that mission has remained constant, even as the challenges confronting the industry have grown more complex. Throughout this evolution, NATO has remained focused on its core mission: responsible retailing. Legal adult consumer access. And a strong voice for tobacco and nicotine retailers.
Awards were presented to those that were critical to building NATO and its 25 years of success. Recipients included:
- Mary Szarmach, Smoker Friendly. Mary has served on the Board since NATO’s inception in 2001 where she has held every executive committee position and currently chairs NATO’s Government Affairs Committee.
- Tom Briant, former NATO executive director. Through Tom’s leadership, NATO was built and he served as executive director for 23 years.
- Frank Armstrong, Blue Ridge Tobacco (retail stores in North Carolina and Virginia). Frank was the longest serving president in association history.
- Bob Roberts, Smoke ‘Em (retail stores in Arizona). Bob has been on the board for 20 years and has served in every executive committee position.
- Dave Riser, Reynolds (Retired). Dave served as a manufacturing board member and was instrumental in building collaboration amongst the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers for NATO.
“The 25th anniversary is more than a celebration of longevity; it is a recognition of the collective efforts of the retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and leaders who have shaped the association since its inception,” said Tom Kessler NATO board president of Tom’s Super Shop.
As the association enters its next chapter, the NATO remains focused on its founding purposes: supporting its members, protecting their interests, and ensuring that responsible tobacco and nicotine retailing continues to have a strong and appreciated voice with regulators of tobacco and nicotine products and that these retailers retain their well-earned position in the marketplace.
