Under fire now for more than a decade, cigarettes remain among the most important in-store categories in convenience stores. Cigarettes, along with other tobacco products (OTP), combined to account for 40.7% of in-store sales, according to the 2013 NACS State of the Industry Report. However, according to Information Resources Inc. (IRI), cigarette sales in the…
Healthcare Reform, Tobacco and the Future of Fuels Among the Burning Issues to be addressed at the 2013 NAG Conference
The 2013 National Advisory Group (NAG) conference, to be held September 12-15, 2013 at the Loews Vanderbilt Nashville, will attract convenience retail professionals from across the country thanks to its full schedule of dynamic programming. The topics and content were mapped out by your peers, our the NAG Retailer Advisory Board. This conference addresses the…
Canada Cracks Down on Illegal Tobacco Sales
The Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) is applauding Canadian police for their recent seizure of cash, an automobile and 220 cartons of illegal cigarettes at a local convenience store in the Windsor, Ontario area. “The OCSA maintains that it is never acceptable to purchase or sell illegal tobacco products, nor do we condone this activity…
NATO Talks Tobacco Taxes
As of June 28, 2013, three states have enacted either cigarette and/or tobacco tax rate increases or decreases, reports the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO). The new tax law changes and the respective effective dates are as follows: * Kentucky:House Bill 361 was passed and signed into law which lowers the state tax on…
Cipolla Joins FIN Branding Group
Former Kraft and Campbell Soup executive to oversee the supply chain for the e-cigarette manufacturer. FIN Branding Group, a leading supplier of electronic cigarettes, has appointed Joe Cipolla as vice president of supply chain. Cipolla is a 20-year veteran with broad based experience from Campbell Soup and Kraft Foods. At FIN, he will oversee the…
Dealing with the Transforming Tobacco Industry
R.J. Reynolds launches TransformTobacco.com to help retailers get more active in tobacco legislation. Convenience store retailers and tobacco wholesalers have long known about the impact of higher cigarette excise taxes. But as the industry changes, so do the risks of individual rights. In addition to fighting higher cigarette taxes, retailers and wholesalers have a litany…
Convenience Store Sales Topped $700 Billion in 2012
The convenience store industry had record sales of $700.3 billion in 2012, with in-store sales increasing 2.2% to reach a record $199.3 billion and motor fuels sales increasing 2.9% to a record $501.0 billion, according to figures released yesterday by NACS. The industry’s 2012 numbers were announced at the NACS State of the Industry Summit,…
Commonwealth-Altadis Bulks Up Staff
Commonwealth-Altadis Inc. has appointed Al Dejewski senior vice president for consumer marketing, and Eric Workman, senior vice president for strategic operations. Both report directly to Kevin Freudenthal, president & CEO of the tobacco company. “We are quite pleased to have Al join the team,” Freudenthal said. “He brings not only the strategically creative vision of…
Seizing Control of Smokeless Tobacco
With new flavors, brand extensions and increased promotional activity, MST sales continue to post strong gains at convenience stores. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. The smokeless tobacco category remains strong, and not just because legislators have chased consumers away from cigarettes. New products and flavors combined with competitive pricing, increased promotional activity and effective merchandising…
CIGALECTRIC Adds New Senior Director of Sales
“His blend of tobacco industry, distribution and electronic cigarette experience uniquely qualifies him for this high profile CIGALECTRIC position,” says DNA Distributors president. DNA Distributors, maker of CIGALECTRIC electronic cigarettes, has announced that Thomas Hartman has joined their Sales Team as its new senior director of sales. Hartman’s primary role will be to develop…