How versed are you on current labor laws regarding union organizing? Do you know about the rules changes in regulations occurring within the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Department of Labor? Do you have a strategy plan for maintaining positive employee relations and effective union organizing strategies and tactics? If not, plan on…
Mississippi Retailer Challenges Tobacco Warning Labels
A Mississippi tobacco retailer is questioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s plan that will require tobacco makers to include graphic health warnings and graphic images on cigarette packaging and advertisements, “It’s another form of Big Daddy trying to tell people what to do,” said Frank Williams of Gulfport, who owns three Smokey’s Discount Tobacco…
New Lagunas Premium Cigarettes
Kretek International Inc. has launched Lagunas brand premium imported cigarettes by Djarum in the U.S. The Lagunas blend was developed by an international team from Djarum and Kretek over a two-year period of blending and testing. Lagunas’ taste is characterized by a unique combination of tobaccos from the U. S., Brazil Indonesia, Turkey and Greece,…
July Brings New Tobacco Prices
This summer, many states see increases in tobacco taxes, while a few enact small decreases. Starting July 1, several state cigarette and tobacco tax rates changed due to action by state legislatures, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) reported. Following are updates from NATO on cigarette and tobacco taxes as of July 1. …
Assessment On Impact of Menthol Cigarettes Expected in July
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires the FDA’s TPSAC to submit a report and recommendation on the impact of menthol cigarettes on public health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to submit its draft independent review of the science related to the impact of menthol in cigarettes on public health…
Knudsen Joins DNA Distributors
“His vast tobacco industry knowledge combined with his consulting experience uniquely qualifies him for this important and demanding role,” says DNA Distributors president. DNA Distributors, the makers of Cigalectric Electronic Cigarettes has hired Kraig Knudsen as vice president of business development. In this role, Knudsen will be responsible for all aspects of market penetration and…
Smokeless Sales Show Promise
While managing new products and planograms is vital, retailers will need to keep an eye out for federal tax increases and FDA intervention over the next 12 months. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Smokeless tobacco has outperformed expectations for three straight years—which, while good, leaves many in the industry fearing it’s only a matter of…
FDA Reveals Final Cigarette Warning Labels
The new graphic health warnings must appear on all cigarette packs, cartons and ads by September 2012. This morning FDA announced the nine cigarette health warnings required to appear on every pack of cigarettes sold in the U.S. and in every cigarette advertisement. This bold measure is aimed at making sure that every American understands…
Strong Demand for Cigars
Flavored and single-serve cigars represent a real opportunity for convenience stores to boost tobacco sales. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. With flavored cigarettes no longer available in the U.S., flavored cigars are in line for sharp sales gains. But with FDA having declared last year that it’s got the cigar industry in its sights, retailers…
Tobacco Forges an Electronic Transformation
E-cigarettes are a relatively new product, but for convenience stores they are beginning to make a big impact on sales. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. While electronic cigarettes show promise as a growing tobacco subcategory, two issues are threatening its widespread growth. One is the looming threat of government regulation, which most agree is inevitable,…