The prospects for OTP throughout 2012 are good, as growth remains strong. But a swelling number of revenue-strapped state legislatures continue to hungrily eye the category. “I think the category will continue to expand,” predicted Matt Hieb, category manager for Gate Petroleum, which operates 225 convenience stores in six Southeastern states.“The growth of the brands…
Lighting Your Way to Profitability
When sold responsibly, lighters are a dependable source of revenue, even as the number of smokers declines. Lighters are a much-needed tool for the home grill and candles. Another trend helping push lighter sales in c-stores is flavored cigars, which continues to grow at an impressive rate. “Tobacco accessories are alive and well, evolving with…
FDA Appeals Federal Court Tobacco Ruling
Administration continues to push for graphic warning labels on cigarette packages. Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration appealed the February 29, 2012 decision issued by Federal District Court Judge Richard Leon which held that the FDA’s new graphic images and text warnings for cigarette packaging and cigarette advertisements violate free speech protections under the First…
blu Cigs Arrive in Canada’s Couche-Tard Stores
“We are interested in products that are on the cutting edge,” says Jean-Marie Bourque, Couche-Tard category manager. On the heels of an impressive 2011 retail expansion, blu Cigs has started 2012 by boosting the number of U.S. retail locations carrying blu to nearly 20,000. Now, the e-cigarette company is celebrating another milestone—expansion into the Canadian…
R.J. Reynolds Launches Get Engaged
R.J. Reynolds delivers on its pledge to its retail partners with a powerful new online tool: Get Engaged. R.J. Reynolds has launched Get Engaged, a new feature on EngageRJRT.com, the online resource for R.J. Reynolds’ retail partners. Get Engaged was created as a research and learning platform intended to provide retailers with shopper insights and…
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…
White Owl Silver Cigarillos
Ever been asked, “What’s the hottest new flavor?” Now you have the answer: The hottest new flavor is actually unflavored. Introducing White Owl Silver Cigarillos. Unflavored HTL Cigarillos is the fastest growing segment in the cigar category, almost doubling in the last year, according to CMPP 2010 v 2011, Oct. YTD. White Owl Silver offers…
A Simple Tobacco Fable
Alternative products are helping to shape the future of convenience store tobacco sets. By Lou Maiellano. Imagine, if you will, that European explorers land in Africa, North America or South America in the 14th, 15th or 16th centuries. Upon landing, these explorers find the inhabitants of these exotic new lands drinking a strange, energizing brew…
Smoking Alternative
Times are tough for smokers when they are in areas where they cannot light up. New SmokinGel is a cigarette alternative in the form of a hand gel. It gives customers the real cigarette experience when they easily rub a little gel on their hands. SmokinGel rubs in clear, has a pleasant scent, truly mimics…
Explosive Flavor, Smooth Smoke
Three new Zig-Zag cigarillos from National Tobacco Co. are now available in re-sealable, two-cigar foil packets. Sweets, White Grape and Strawberry complete the family of seven styles, including Grape, Mango, Peach and Straight Up. Zig-Zag cigarillos are priced to sell with an everyday low price. For More Information From National Tobacco Co. (800) 331-5962 [email protected]