New York City has filed a lawsuit against four distributors of flavored disposable e-cigarettes. The defendants are Magellan Technology Inc., Demand Vape, Mahant Krupa 56 LLC d/b/a Empire Vape Distributors and Star Vape. Magellan owns the trademark for the brand Hyde. These companies have violated “nearly every federal, New York State and New York City…
What C-Stores Should Know as Corrective-Statement Signs Arrive
The posting period for Department of Justice (DOJ) mandated corrective-statement signage began July 1, 2023, for retail stores that have manufacturer cigarette promotion programs in place with Altria Group Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and ITG Brands LLC. Signage is currently being distributed by an appointed third-party called Footprint Solutions. Your…
Uncertainty Continues for Cigars
The cigar category continues to wait for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decisions on the fate of characterizing flavors in cigars, causing uncertainty for c-store retailers regarding what the future of the category might look like. It’s been over a year since the FDA announced the proposed rule to prohibit all characterizing flavors (other than…
FDA Issues Over 180 Warning Letters for E-Cigarette Brands
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued 189 warning letters to retailers selling unauthorized tobacco products, namely Elf Bar and Esco Bars e-cigarettes. The administration noted that the brands are responsible for marketing flavors that appeal to youth, such as bubblegum and cotton candy. “The FDA is prepared to use all of its…
Should I Stock Nicotine-Free Options?
Select convenience store customers are choosing to opt out of nicotine — which is all the reason retailers need to begin stocking nicotine-free options. As the Food and Drug Administration looks to evaluate maximum nicotine levels in cigarettes, nicotine-free smokes offer an appealing alternative that flies under the regulatory radar, and it might be appealing…
NYACS’ Sopris Talks Tobacco Regulation and Engaging Legislators
As c-stores battle tobacco regulations, state associations like the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) are on the frontlines with retailers working to educate legislators about how proposed laws would impact the convenience store business. Fighting tobacco legislation starts at the local level. The groups in favor of tobacco legislation are vocal opponents, and…
Vape Generates $7 Billion for C-Stores
The vape category continues to cope with regulatory shifts, including ongoing premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) uncertainty. While some retailers are bullish on the category, recent data from Circana highlights challenges for the segment. Between April 23, 2022, and April 23, 2023, electronic smoking devices — including e-cigarettes, vape kits and mods, for example —…
FDA Provides Update on Proposed Tobacco Regulations
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as part of a Spring 2023 Regulatory Agenda issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, released updates on pending tobacco regulations, according to a National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) newsletter. NATO outlined the following FDA updates:…
Spitless Tobacco Unit Sales Boosted 30.4%
Smokeless tobacco sales at c-stores continue to rise, lifted by sales of tobacco-free nicotine pouches as sales of moist smokeless tobacco dip. As they look ahead, retailers are watching flavor regulations as well as inflationary pressures that are pushing customers to trade down both within the smokeless segment and the tobacco category as a whole.…
Cigarettes Notch Over $54 Billion in Sales at C-Stores
There are many ways to assess the state of the cigarette category within the convenience store industry. On one hand, there’s no denying the customer base continues to tighten. In late April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its latest findings of smoking rates and concluded that only 11% of adults currently…