Altria's John Middleton Black & Mild Cigars and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco (RJR): Winston and Camel SNUS...

June 24, 2008 - c-store update - Altria's John Middleton Black & Mild Cigars and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco (RJR): Winston and Camel SNUS... There's a promotion going on where when you buy a 5-pack of B&M cigars you also get in the same package a free pack of wine-flavored B&M cigars. The different flavors include Mild, Apple, Mild FT Filter Tip, Mild Cherry-Vanilla, Cream, Vanilla and Wine. B&M cigars are very popular amongst young African Americans.
(TobaccoWatch.org)

Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), the parent of RJR, had a very disappointing first quarter for 2008. One main reason was above-average decline in sales of their non-growth cigarette brands like Winston. (RAI's growth cigarette brands (investment brands): Camel, Kool and Pall Mall.) RAI has reduced their full year forecast and is reassessing their outlook for the year. One new promotion they have come up with, starting next week, is to provide a coupon for a free can of Camel SNUS with each pack of Winston's sold. Before they were giving away coupons with packs of Camels and even stationing a person in the c-store to ask the customers when buying a pack of cigarettes if they'd like to try Camel SNUS. This promotion will be a total flop - Camel SNUS has never caught on. (TobaccoWatch.org)