Taboca USA to change name to Nordic American Smokeless..

February 1, 2008 - Taboca USA to change name to Nordic American Smokeless.. Taboca USA Inc., a smokeless tobacco company whose quality products are based on the Swedish smokeless manufacturing process (snus), announced today that it has changed its corporate name to Nordic American Smokeless Inc. Darren Quinn, President and CEO said, "The name change more closely reflects our Company's core strength in manufacturing smokeless tobacco products based on Swedish snus technology combined with our expertise in marketing smokeless tobacco products to adult American consumers." Quinn also indicated that Nordic American Smokeless Inc. is on track to launch its flagship products early this year. Nordic American Smokeless Inc. is headquartered in Danbury, CT. The Company is an affiliate of the Norwegian snus company Taboca A/S, headquartered in Oslo, Norway. From http://snus.biz: On 13 July 2006, Taboca AS a Norwegian snus manufacturer and marketer, announced that it signed a co-operation agreement with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co that includes an exchange of services with one another and an intent for Taboca to launch a snus product in the US within the next twelve months. No other details of the agreement were provided. ("RJ Reynolds co-operates with snus maker," Tobacco Journal International (TJI) Newsletter July 26, 2006). The name Taboca is very similar to Philip Morris USA's initial Snus product that will be discontinued Taboka. One of their premium brands of snus is called Taboca. It is interesting to note the tobacco used by Taboca AS is obtained from Cuba. (TaboccoWatch.org) Click on image to enlarge.. Read more...

Altria will be focused on U.S. tobacco markets..

February 1, 2008 - With the spin off of Philip Morris International the parent company of Philip Morris, Altria, will become a company focused on various tobacco markets in the United States and move its headquarters to Richmond from New York. With cigarette smoking steadily declining among Americans, Altria has turned its focus to cigars and various types of chewing tobacco. The challenge for the company, which will now be entirely based and operating in Virginia, will be to move into other tobacco businesses that are still growing. Philip Morris is spending up to $100 million to refurbish and expand the York plant (abandoned in 2004 and will be the focal point of future growth for the remaining assets of Altria) adding 180 high-paying jobs. Following closures announced in North Carolina last year, the only other Philip Morris facilities left in the country are in the Richmond area and York County. The Marlboro Snus test has gone well and will expand in March to Indianapolis, the same market where Taboka did not perform well and was pulled. The traditional Marlboro chew also garnered "encouraging initial consumer and trade response," the company said, and will expand into counties around Atlanta. "Marlboro's exceedingly-well-positioned to capture growth in this category," said Louis C. Camilleri, Altria chief executive. The company's projections for how it will perform in 2008 reveal some optimism about its faith in the chewing tobacco and cigar strategy. Altria's domestic cigarette sales dropped 4.6 percent in 2007, but the company expects earnings to grow from 9 percent to 11 percent in 2008. ( York plant at forefront of Altria's future The company is test-marketing smokeless tobacco made at the facility by CHRIS FLORES, dailypress.com, 1/31/2008) We can expect new tobacco products coming from Philip Morris USA's new 450,000 square foot Center for Research and Technology. (TobaccoWatch.org) - Incomplete..
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C-store Highlighting Tobacco Blunt Wraps Available in Lots of Different Flavors..

January 31, 2007 - Blunt wraps are similar to cigarette-rolling papers, but are made of tobacco. There are two brands: Royal Blunts and True Blunts both have displays at the check-out counter. Buyers get an assortment of flavors to chose from including: strawberry Kiwi, Apple Martini, Grape-A-Licious, Peach Passion, Pina Colada, French Vanilla, Wild Honey, Gin-N-Juice, Champagne, BlueBerry Burst, Chocolate, XO Cognac, Purple, Wet Cherry and to new flavors Kush (slang for HIndu Kush - a type of marijuana) & Mojito - Click om image to enlarge.. Other news: Doral is going down in price by 5 cents around the middle of February 2008. R.J. Reynolds (RJR) has a deal with this store in which no pack of cigarettes can sell below the price of Doral - selling now for $3.04 per pack. Camel SNUS is not selling - in fact the owner has stated if we get one sale a week we're lucky. The Snus inventory is reduced when RJR plants a person in the store to pass out coupons for a free can when a person buys a pack of cigarettes. Just the other day, in the mail we received a coupon for a free can of Camel SNUS - this must be part of the on-going RJR public awareness program. For this store, RJR removed the big Camel Snus sign next to the front door and replaced it with Camel No. 9 sign. Studies show that 75 percent of teens shop at convenience stores at least once a week, and they are more likely than adults to be influenced by convenience store promotions. Some related news briefs: Link Between C-stores and Tobacco Use, Ireland to ban tobacco displays and Nova Scotia - ban on point of sale tobacco advertising. Also Tobacco Products When You Can't Smoke.
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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.

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Altria Announces Spin-off of Philip Morris International Inc.

January 30, 2008 - Altria Announces Spin-off of Philip Morris International Inc.. Altria Group, Inc. today issued its 2007 full-year and fourth-quarter results and announced the spin-off of Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI). Louis C. Camilleri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Altria. “The PMI spin-off and related actions position our international and domestic tobacco businesses for future success as stand-alone companies with unique and formidable strengths, including leading brands, strong cash flow, experienced leadership and solid growth prospects.” The Board of Directors of Altria voted today to authorize the spin-off of 100% of the shares of Philip Morris International (PMI) to Altria’s shareholders - the distribution will be made on March 28, 2008. Altria’s Board of Directors and management determined that PMI’s separation from Altria will enhance growth and shareholder value by providing the following benefits: An improved focus on the different market dynamics, competitive frameworks, challenges and opportunities that Altria and PMI face; A more optimal and efficient capital allocation to enhance shareholder value, coupled with greater financial flexibility, including an increase in the combined debt capacity of Altria and PMI; Greater transparency leading to the elimination of the sum-of-the-parts discount under which Altria’s common stock has typically traded; A significant reduction in corporate overheads, including the closure of Altria’s corporate headquarters in New York; The creation of a potential acquisition currency in the form of more focused equity that neither of Altria’s tobacco subsidiaries has had available prior to the spin-off; and A tighter alignment of compensation and rewards with the performance of each entity. Louis C. Camilleri will serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of PMI following his resignation from posts at Altria. Michael E. Szymanczyk, will serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Altria. Tomorrow Altria Board Expected to Announce Decision to Split Philip Morris International (PMI) From Philip Morris USA..
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With Shrinking America Cigarette Sales Philip Morris USA More Dependent on the Smokeless Tobacco Market..

January 29, 2008 - Altria Group Inc., the biggest U.S. tobacco company, is becoming more dependent on shrinking American cigarette sales for profit as the spinoff of its international division approaches. U.S. cigarette sales are falling, pushing the maker of the top-selling Marlboro brand to invest in the $3.7 billion smokeless tobacco market, which is growing 6 percent a year (total price/value segment continues to drive overall category growth in moist snuff not premium - TW). Chief Executive Officer Louis Camilleri may announce tomorrow plans to split off the international unit in March 2008, turning up pressure on its Philip Morris USA to expand beyond cigarettes. U.S. producers shipped 6.8 percent fewer cigarettes in December than a year earlier, twice the rate of decline for all of 2007. Higher prices and smoking bans may be accelerating the drop, said Judy Hong, a Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analyst. (Altria U.S. Sales Languish as Overseas Spinoff Nears (Update2)) by Chris Burritt, Bloomberg.com, 1/29/2008) Some related news briefs: Marlboro MST/Marlboro SNUS - PM USA Trying to Paint a Rosie Picture.., UST, Inc. NOT Worried About New Moist Snuff Entry - Marlboro MST.. and Philip Morris USA (PM) continues to stumble in the smokeless tobacco arena..

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Tomorrow Altria Board Expected to Announce Decision to Split Philip Morris International (PMI) From Philip Morris USA..

January 29, 2008 - Tomorrow Altria Board Expected to Announce Decision to Split Philip Morris International (PMI) From Philip Morris USA.. The Altria board is expected to approve a long-awaited decision to split PMI from Philip Morris USA. “This is something that has been in the works for years,” said Bonnie Herzog, an analyst at Citigroup. “To me, it’s a done deal.” The move would free the tobacco giant's international operations of legal and public-relations headaches in the U.S. that have hindered its growth. “It allows PMI to become much more free to pursue growth opportunities,” Ms. Herzog said. The Altria Group would probably remain as a holding company for Philip Morris USA and the company’s 29 percent stake in SABMiller, the beer company, she said. Some of the new cigarette products include: Marlboro Intense - shrunken down by about a half inch, and offers smokers seven potent puffs apiece, versus the average of eight or so milder draws. The idea behind Intense is to appeal to customers who, due to indoor smoking bans, want to dash outside for a quick nicotine hit but don't always finish a full-size cigarette. With the Heatbar smokers insert specially-designed cigarettes into the device that releases 90% less smoke into the atmosphere than a traditional cigarette. PMI's launch of TBS ("Tobacco Block System") in Germany, where roll-your-own tobacco is taxed at significantly lower rates. Recent Marlboro launches include Marlboro Mix 9, a high-nicotine, high-tar cigarette introduced in Indonesia last July. PMI is poised to export the clove-infused Mix 9 (Kretek) to other Southeast Asian markets as soon as this year. Marlboro Filter Plus is being sold in South Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. It touts a special filter comprised of carbon, cellulose acetate and tobacco that claims to lower the tar level while giving smokers a smoother taste. Marlboro Wides an extra-thick cigarette whose package flips open from one side. International cigarette sales are relatively flat. Still, PMI feels it has much more room for growth because it has only about 15 percent of the international market. PMI generated $48.26 billion in net revenue in 2006 compared with $18.47 billion at PM Morris USA. ( "Altria Board to Consider a Spinoff Overseas" by Andrew Martin, The New York Times, 8/25/2007) Some related news briefs: January 24, 2008, December 10, 2007 and September 28, 2007. Also Philip Morris (PM) to close N.C. cigarette plant...

PMI new products slideshow.
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Marlboro MST / Marlboro SNUS - Philip Morris USA (PM) Trying to Paint a Rosie Picture..

January 28, 2008 - While tobacco analyst Nik Modi of UBS Investment Research shows the test of Marlboro moist smokeless tobacco in Atlanta is slowly slipping down hill, Philip Morris USA says it is preparing to expand the test market to additional counties in the greater Atlanta area (product will arrive over the next couple of weeks). David Sutton, a spokesperson for PM said, “We’ve been really pleased with the initial reaction to the product by adult moist-smokeless-tobacco consumers in the Atlanta test market." Initially with the MST launch Modi was postive but after 2-months things have changed, his comment: “Marlboro MST’s share position has virtually been cut in half since its launch period.” Further, Modi said MST products from United States Smokeless Tobacco Co. (UST) were seeing a resurgence following an initial drop in share. Marlboro SNUS, currently in test market in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, builds on the brand equity of Marlboro cigarettes and comes in four varieties: Rich, Mild, Mint and Spice. "We are pleased with the initial reaction by adult consumers, wholesalers and retailers to Marlboro Snus in the Dallas/Fort Worth test market and look to build upon the learnings from that market, as well as our experience with Taboka, in Indianapolis," said Roy Anise, vice president of brand management smokeless for PM. (" Marlboro MST Test Grows PM USA “pleased” with results; analyst says share has dropped" by Steve Holtz, CSP Newsletter, 1/28/2008) Related news briefs: UST, Inc. NOT Worried About New Moist Snuff Entry - Marlboro MST; Philip Morris USA (PM) continues to stumble in the smokeless tobacco arena..; Philip Morris USA (PM)To Also Test Marlboro Snus In Indianapolis... Read more...

Imperial Tobacco successfully concludes acquisition of Altadis..

January 28, 2008 - Gareth Davis, CEO of Imperial Tobacco, said: "I am delighted to announce the successful conclusion of our acquisition of Altadis. This is a significant milestone for Imperial Tobacco, consolidating our position and enhancing our platform for continued and sustainable growth."

Imperial Tobacco also intends to launch a tender offer for the shares of logistics company Logista, which are not already owned by Altadis, for a price of E52.50 per Logista share. This values the outstanding Logista shares at a total of approximately E910 million (excluding treasury shares).

Altadis is the result of a 1999 merger between Tabacalera, the former Spanish tobacco company snd SEITA, the former French tobacco monopoly.

Reference: Imperial Tobacco successfully concludes acquisition of Altadis, Datamonitor, 1/28/2008.
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