Tantus Tobacco has added two-pack filtered cigar pouches to its Red Buck and Richwood product lines. The new packaging is currently in production at Tantus’ facility in Russell Springs, Ky. The Red Buck foil fresh pouches are available in five flavors: Regular, Special Blend, Mild, Menthol and Cherry. The Richwood foil fresh pouches are available…
Serving Today’s Smokers
Led by the Gallagher family, Smoker Friendly continues the fight to sell tobacco legally and responsibly. By John Lofstock, Editor. While the federal government seems intent on eliminating tobacco products altogether, tobacco remains a legal product in the U.S. enjoyed by legal-aged adults exercising their right to smoke, dip or chew. The right to enjoy…
FDA Sends Warning Letter To Adult-Only Tobacco Stores
As FDA cracks down on adult-only tobacco stores, NATO seeks clarification from FDA on whether a “bouncer” is needed at the door to check IDs. Some adult-only tobacco stores have been receiving warning letters regarding a failure to ensure that no minors enter the store, and for failure to have a staff member checking IDs…
Tobacco Sales Rolling Along
As consumers embrace roll your own (RYO) tobacco, retailers are seeing a boost in sales of accessories such as rolling papers, cigarette tubes and rolling machines. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Smokers seeking a safe harbor from cigarette tax increases have made port in the roll your own (RYO) segment. Many have been pleasantly surprised…
Maintaining Cigarette Sales
Despite taxation and regulation, convenience store retailers remain optimistic about this lucrative category, though a potential ban on menthol products is looming. By John Lofstock, Editor. In an era in which the sports page sounds like the business page, talk of selling cigarettes inevitably sounds like political rhetoric. When c-store operators talk cigarettes these days…
Untipped Cigarillos
John Middleton’s Black & Mild is launching two premium untipped cigarillo products nationally: Classic and Sweets. Classic is for adult cigar smokers interested in a classic Black & Mild pipe tobacco taste, while Sweets is a more traditional cigarillo taste made from primarily air-cured tobaccos. Both products are available in five-packs and singles. During initial…
Applauding Industry Leaders
By: John Lofstock, Editor. “We’re from the government and we’re here to help.” Those words are about as chilling to convenience store retailers as Navy SEAL Team 6 is to terrorists. But this is the new reality for all marketers of tobacco. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants convenience store retailers to think otherwise.…
FDA’s CTP Website Features New Content
FDA seeks to educate retailers with new quizzes and updated information on tobacco regulations, including in Spanish. The FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products’ (CTP) has added new features to the retailer section of its Website. FDA hopes these new updates and quizzes will help educate retailers about relevant tobacco regulations and increase voluntary compliance with…
FDA Cracks Down On The Illegal Marketing of Tobacco Products
“It is illegal for tobacco companies or retailers, including Internet sellers, to make unsubstantiated claims or statements that imply tobacco products reduce health risks,” says the director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued 11 warning letters last week to online retailers for illegally marketing tobacco products with…
Commonwealth Brands, Altadis USA Announce Integration
Commonwealth Brands and Altadis USA have announced the integration of their sales and marketing units into a unified team. The unified team is expected to provide greater sales coverage and more comprehensive service to its customer. “This will put us in a stronger position to drive growth across our USA mass market portfolio that comprises…