105 vendors being sued over counterfeit cigarettes. Philip Morris USA has filed suit against 105 New Jersey and New York retailers on charges of selling counterfeit versions of Marlboro brand cigarettes. The cigarette maker accuses retailers of all varieties–delis, grocers and convenience stores–of selling cigarettes resembling popular Philip Morris USA products. The company has filed…
house votes in favor of chipra
Federal excise tax on tobacco comes one step closer to becoming a reality. Yesterday evening, the House passed a bill in favor of a $35 billion reauthorization for Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA). The act will be fully funded by a .61-cents-per-pack federal excise tax increase on cigarettes. The house voted 265-159 on…
newport goes up in price
Lorillard announces 5-cent-per-pack increase. In a recent newsletter, Citi Group Tobacco Analyst Bonnie Herzog unveiled Lorillard’s plans to increase the price of its best-selling brand, Newport, by 5 cents per pack. The news was collected from industry sources and distributed late yesterday. The decision to raise the prices follows the actions of Lorillard’s competitors, Philip…
tennessee chokes outofstate cigarette sales
New law prohibits consumers to buy their over the border. Smokers in Tennessee have a new law to both fear and jeer, as the state announced that it is enforcing a two-carton limit on cigarettes purchased across state lines. The law, though it has been on the books for a while, is being revitalized. The…
cigars accelerating category profits by increasing strategic focus
Cigar dollar sales experienced strong growth again increasing 14% in 2006, according to ACNielsen. And, Richard Fasanelli, vice president of John Middleton Inc. adds, "We continue to uncover additional growth opportunities with retail customers by applying strategies less common to cigars, but very common in other major tobacco categories." Don’t miss this opportunity to hear…
phillip morris sues internetbased vendors
New lawsuit attacks the sale of untaxed, imported cigarettes. Philip Morris USA has filed two lawsuits in federal court against Internet site operators engaged in the sale of illegally imported cigarettes bearing Philip Morris USA’s trademarks, including the Marlboro mark. “Philip Morris USA will protect our brands and the law-abiding businesses that sell them from…
the new cornerstone on the back bar
Cigarette sales are still one of the biggest draws for convenience stores, but many retailers are gradually shiftingtheir attention to the new king of the back bar: the othertobacco product (OTP) category. It’s no secret that OTP products—moist smokeless tobacco (MST) in particular—have been red hot over the past two years, showingvolume growth as high…
cstore ceos rally in washington
Lobbyists hope to turn senate against potential FDA regulation of tobacco. CEOs from five convenience chains recently joined together to meet with Republican Sen. John Cornyn, asking him to reconsider a proposed bill that could allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco, a move retailers feel could lead to the federal…
philip morris raises prices lowers discounts
RJ Reynolds says “no changes in our promotional discounts.” Philip Morris USA said yesterday it is raising prices as falling U.S. shipments dampen profit growth. Philip Morris will reduce a promotional discount by 5 cents a pack to 35 cents on its Marlboro, Parliament, Basic and L&M brands, spokesman Bill Phelps said. It also will…
altria spins off phillip morris int
Company trying to avoid effects of U.S. reducing consumption. Altria Group is planning to spin off Philip Morris International seeking faster overseas growth and less risk from U.S. smokers’ lawsuits. “Tobacco is growing overseas, while in the U.S. it’s in decline, making a reasonable argument for separating the two entities,” Matthew Kaufler, a fund manager…