Altria confirms commitment to smokeless tobacco market tests..

January 31, 2008 - As we know Altria Group Inc. formally announced the spinoff of Philip Morris International Inc. At the same time, Altria officials reaffirmed their satisfaction with domestic testing of both its smokeless, Marlboro-branded "snus" and moist-smokeless tobacco (MST) products. During an investors' call yesterday, Louis Camilleri, chairman and CEO for Altria, New York, (Camilleri will serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of PMI following his resignation from posts at Altria) said retailers can expect changes in the look and feel of the tobacco rack, as well as potential changes in pricing. "We're looking at various parts of the mix and testing ways of marketing product to the consumer," Camilleri said in response to a question about Richmond, Va.-based Philip Morris USA (PM USA) and its pilot testing of other tobacco products (OTP) in Atlanta and Dallas. "That's why it's a test market." He described consumer response to be "terrific" and that share momentum has been both "satisfactory and encouraging." ( International Spinoff Altria confirms PMI's separation, commitment to OTP tests in U.S. by Angel Abcede, CSP Newsletter, 1/31/2008) We all know that Altria is trying to paint a rosie picture regarding their smokeless tobacco entries. Other related news briefs: With Shrinking America Cigarette Sales Philip Morris USA More Dependent on the Smokeless Tobacco Market, UST, Inc. NOT Worried About New Moist Snuff Entry - Marlboro MST.. and Philip Morris USA (PM) continues to stumble in the smokeless tobacco arena.. There has been speculation that PM might acquire a smokeless company to gain a foothold in the category.