Today’s cigar smokers are looking for quality, value, variety and taste. Watch this video from Kretek to learn how adding DJARUM Natural Leave Wood Tipped Cigars in four premium flavor blends: classic clove, cherry, vanilla and rum, combined with Kretek’s strong introductory program, display allowances, promotions and merchandising will increase your cigar sales.
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,…
Forecast Strong for Cigars
Amid all the chaos of legislation, regulation and taxation, it’s good to have tobacco category managers like Gate Petroleum’s Matt Hieb. Hieb’s approach to his chain’s market-leading cigar performance is calm and measured, driven by data, common sense and manufacturer promotions. In 225 locations throughout six southeastern states, Gate’s cigar offering exceeds the southeast market…
A Taxing Time for Tobacco
Last year was truly a difficult time for tobacco. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) increased tobacco taxes from a “modest” 158% increase on cigarettes up to a hideous 2,000 plus percentage increase on roll your own tobacco and small cigars. (RYO went from $1.10 per pound to $24.68 and small cigars went from…
Marketing Cigars in Tough Times
Despite the SCHIP tobacco taxes that hit on April 1, 2009, cigar sales continue to persevere. The federal taxes on large cigars rose from 20.719% of the wholesale price with a tax cap of 4.875 cents per cigar to 52.75% of the wholesale price with a tax cap of 40.26 cents per cigar. The tax…
Kretek Drops Cigar Lawsuit Against FDA
Kretek International Inc., importer and marketer of Djarum clove cigars has withdrawn its lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regarding the distribution and sale of clove cigar products. In light of statements made by the FDA, Kretek in September of 2009 filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District…
Opportunities Exist for Cigars
TOP PERFORMERS Altria Sales & Distribution (John Middleton) Swisher Swedish Match HONORABLE MENTIONS Altadis USA Republic Tobacco The SCHIP tobacco tax rates that hit in April 2009 are costing cigar smokers more, but sales continue to persevere. As of April, the federal taxes on large cigars rose from 20.719% of the wholesale price with a…
FDA Clarifies Tobacco Ban
Flavored products including cigarettes, RYO and loose tobaccos and rolling papers are no longer legal in U.S. stores; administration said it would look at “little cigars” and similar products on a “case-by-case basis.” The smoking lamp on the majority of flavored tobacco products sold in convenience stores has been extinguished, but the ruling has ignited…
Turning to the RYO Category
Since the onset of the April SCHIP tax increase, tobacco retailers have been turning to puffed or extended tobacco to help customers deal with the skyrocketing costs of cigarettes, especially as more customers are turning to the roll your own (RYO) category in an attempt to save dollars. Republic Tobacco’s Gambler is the market leader…
What’s in Store in the Humidor
As if the turbulent economy, rising state taxes and local anti-smoking regulations hadn’t rendered the retail cigar landscape dangerous enough, enter the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which wants to significantly reshape that landscape, but so far hasn’t told anyone—most notably the retailers that will be selling the products—how. Some background: The law granting…