Although the electronic cigarette category in the U.S. is barely five years old, a dizzying number of brands are vying for the attention of retailers—and more are entering the fray just about every day. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor In a report released in May, UBS Investment Research likened the chaotic e-cigarette category to the e-commerce…
Designing a Winning OTP Strategy
Convenience stores have evolved from being a destination for cigarettes to a destination for tobacco products as a whole. By Joe Bush, Contributing Editor. It was inevitable that the conversation on convenience store cigar sales would shift eventually from rapid growth to supplier relations, category management and marketing. As cigarette regulations and prices and taxes…
Imperial Tobacco Introduces Commonwealth – Altadis Inc.
Commonwealth – Altadis, Inc. strengthens competitive position with total tobacco focus and larger sales force. Altadis U.S.A. Inc. and Commonwealth Brands Inc., both owned by Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, have come together to create a new sales and distribution company called Commonwealth – Altadis Inc. (CAI), offering consumers and customers a high quality range of…
FDA Issues Final Rules On Tobacco
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its final rules regarding the sale of tobacco. Retailers will need to be in compliance with these rules, which restrict the sale, distribution and use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, by June 22. The new rules include provisions that: •Prohibit sales of cigarette packages with fewer than…
FDA Issues Final Rule On Tobacco
The FDA has released its final rules regarding the sale of tobacco. Retailers will need to be in compliance with these rules by June 22, 2010. Today’s action by FDA restricts the sale, distribution and use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, including provisions that: • Prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to…
Brands, Promotions Benefit CSDs
Concern For CSDs 16 million fewer Americans are drinking sugary soft drinks today compared to six years ago (68% of adults versus 76%). 7.8 million switched to diet soft drinks. 24 million have moved to bottled water. 17 million are opting for energy drinks. 11 million have tried sports drinks. 16 percent of Americans are…
Smokeless Sales Stay Strong
TOP PERFORMERS Copenhagen (Altria Sales & Distribution/US Smokeless) Grizzley (Conwood/Reynolds America) Skoal (Altria Sales & Distribution/ US Smokel) HONORABLE MENTIONS Longhorn, Red Man and Timber Wolf (Swedish Match) Kodiak (Conwood/Reynolds America) The effect of tobacco taxation and smoking restrictions has made it much more difficult to rely on cigarette sales as the primary category for…
Harm Reduction: The Voice of Reason
Despite all the naysayers, safer tobacco products are a reality convenience store owners should embrace. Great strides have been made within the last year to introduce new tobacco products that would, from my perspective, reduce harm when compared with traditional cigarettes. I must say, though, that I would have never thought the quest for harm…