Tobacco use and risk perceptions will be reviewed during this collaboration—the first since the passing of the 2009 Tobacco Control Act. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have announced a joint, large-scale, national study of tobacco users to monitor and assess the behavioral and health impacts of…
Eliminate Cigarette Odor
Scentria Corp., innovator of GoneSmoke, the first dry aerosol odor eliminator, sports a new look: bold graphics with an image of a woman spraying GoneSmoke over her hair. The company now offers a smaller footprint with a two-tier rack. When GoneSmoke is placed on the front counter near lighter racks, stores are seeing great sell-through,…
New Lagunas Premium Cigarettes
Kretek International Inc. has launched Lagunas brand premium imported cigarettes by Djarum in the U.S. The Lagunas blend was developed by an international team from Djarum and Kretek over a two-year period of blending and testing. Lagunas’ taste is characterized by a unique combination of tobaccos from the U. S., Brazil Indonesia, Turkey and Greece,…
Seizing Control of Smokeless Sales
Convenience store retailers are still concerned over the FDA’s involvement in smokeless tobacco, but many expressed optimism that the category can continue to thrive. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. While taxes and regulations haven’t impacted sales of smokeless tobacco products as much as some had predicted, it remains up to retailers to continue aggressively marketing…
TPE 2012: Two Full Days of Buying & Networking
It’s all about business at the Tobacco Plus Expo International in Las Vegas. The most comprehensive tobacco show in the U.S. will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, Feb. 1-2, 2012. The not-to-be-missed event promises to be the year’s best opportunity for retailers, manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers to see new products,…
Updating the State of the Industry
NACS Chairman Jeff Miller discusses card fees, fuel and the future of convenience stores. By John Lofstock, Editor. Jeff Miller, president of Miller Oil Co. in Virginia, wears many hats. He is an oilman, an industry advocate and a leader. For the past year, he has also been the chairman of NACS, which could…
Tobacco Companies Fight Warning Labels
Hearing underway in U.S. Federal District Court on cigarette health warnings. Yesterday, Sept. 21, a hearing took place before U.S. Federal District Court Judge Richard Leon on a lawsuit filed by five tobacco manufacturers seeking a preliminary injunction against the implementation of the FDA’s new text and graphic picture warning labels for cigarette packages and…
Schoon’s Pump ‘N Pak Celebrates Local Vendors
This Friday, vendors can set up booths showcasing their products at the Clark branded store. Clark Brands LLC has announced that Schoon’s Pump ‘N Pak, a Clark branded store, in Brookings, S.D., is conducting a vendor appreciation day on Friday, Sept. 23. The store is located at 202 Main Ave. S. Schoon’s is expecting more…
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…
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Convenience store operators must take the time to observe how their competitors are marketing tobacco. In most of the presentations I have given over the past few years, I challenge my participants to take the time to understand how their business is doing, but to also make sure to check on the competition. After all,…