Generally speaking, toothpicks are one of those classic utility items that people don’t expect will ever change. But there have been changes. Introduced to the U.S. market around 2013, nicotine toothpicks serve a different function than simply dislodging food bits stuck between teeth. Oftentimes touted as a smoking cessation option, “nic picks” certainly can substitute…
Cigarettes Burn Brighter
For most convenience store categories, flat year-over-year sales figures would not be considered good news. For cigarettes, however, it signals a reprieve from several years of declining sales. Although IRI market research suggests the top tobacco segment lost a bit of footing in unit sales for the calendar year ending Dec. 27, 2020 — down…
Spitless Shines in 2020
For many convenience stores, the overall tobacco category delivered a welcomed lift for in-store sales, albeit surprising during a historic public health crisis. Many of the subcategories performed well, but none posted as impressive figures as the smokeless tobacco sector, specifically spitless tobacco products, such as modern oral nicotine pouches. According to IRI data, chewing…
FDA Looking Into Social Media Marketing of E-Cig Brands
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued letters to four companies requesting information about their use of social media marketing and influencer marketing related to their electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) brands: Aspire, Joyetech, Vaporesso and Voopoo. FDA said it used a systematic process in selecting Aspire, Joyetech, Vaporesso and Voopoo from among more than…
Swisher, EAS Expand Strategic Partnership
Swisher announced it has expanded its partnership with E-Alternative Solutions (EAS) to support the marketing, sales and distribution of EAS’s Leap and Leap Go vapor brands. Both companies will remain separate entities with EAS benefitting from the additional support and strength of Swisher’s world-class sales and marketing organization. Jeffrey Brown, formerly vice president of sales…
Headwinds and Hurdles Can’t Slow Cigars
With a pandemic causing supply disruption across the manufacturing spectrum and the ever-present hurdle of increased regulation, the cigar category continues to march forward thanks to stable pricing, form and flavor innovation, and nimble market adjustments by manufacturers. Dollar sales of cigars in the total U.S. convenience channel rose 10.1% for the 2020 calendar year…
NATO Celebrates 20 Years
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. The organization was founded in 2001 to fill a need for a national association that served tobacco outlet stores but has expanded to include every category of retail store that sells tobacco products. Over the past 20 years, NATO has succeeded…
What is the Modern Oral Nicotine Category?
For years, the tobacco category has been firing up in-store sales for convenience stores, accounting for more than one-fourth of all merchandise sales in 2019, per the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual State of the Industry report. Of course, cigarettes always landed No. 1, but in recent years, other tobacco products (OTPs) have…
Jet Flame Lighter
Scripto Hybrid Jet Flame, the newest refillable crossover jet flame lighter, is the perfect combination of a multi-purpose lighter and pocket lighter. It features a refillable tank, extended nozzle for safer lighting, adult-friendly push button ignition and adjustable flame. Available in five unique colors: teal, purple, orange, dark blue and berry red. The Scripto Hybrid […]
FDA Clarifies to NATO Wholesaler Catalogs Are Not Ads
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) on Feb. 19 requested clarification from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) that a wholesaler’s cigarette web-based or printed order guide/order catalog for retailers to order cigarettes to stock their stores is not an “advertisement” within the meaning of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. For…