Republic Technologies to acquire Swedish Match UK..

November 5, 2008 - Republic Technologies International, headquartered in Perpignan, France, has announced the pending acquisition of Swedish Match UK. In the transaction included are the businesses of smoking papers and filters, the Swan brand, and the distribution of lighters, matches and fire products. Swan has been a market leader in the hand rolling cigarette market manufacturing a range of high quality filter tips, cigarette papers, and lighters. Republic Technologies International is a member of the Republic group and manufacturer and distributor of smoking accessories worldwide.

The transaction is subject to U.K. Office of Fair Trading approval. “This is a great move in what we believe is the right direction,” says Philippe Parcevaux, president of Republic Technologies International.

The Republic Group also includes TOP Tobacco L.P., the U.S.’s largest RYO tobacco manufacturer located in North Carolina (TOP¨ and Drum¨ brands); and Republic Tobacco L.P., the U.S. headquarters, distribution and marketing arm based in Glenview, IL. (Republic Group’s Acquisitiontobonline.com News & Trends March/April 2004.)

Reference: Republic Technologies acquires Swedish Match UK, Source from:tobaccojournal.com, 11/04/2008
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Smokers' Homes More Likely to House Hungry Kids..

November 4, 2008 - Children and adult members who live with adult smokers are more likely to be underfed and undernourished, a new study finds. "We know that there are long-term consequences of food insecurity for children. They are more likely to do poorly in school, to have iron deficiency and anemia, and to have behavioral and social problems," said study author Dr. Michael Weitzman, chairman of pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine.

Study: Increased Rates and Severity of Child and Adult Food Insecurity in Households With Adult Smokers; Cynthia Cutler-Triggs, MD George E. Fryer, PhD; Thomas J. Miyoshi, MSW; Michael Weitzman, MD; Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(11):1056-1062; ABSTRACT..

Looking at data on 8,817 households gathered in national surveys by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that 15 percent of adults and 11 percent of children reported food insecurity within the past year, with 6 percent of adults and 1 percent of children experiencing severe food insecurity. This meant they went to bed hungry, because there wasn't enough food in the house. [Food insecurity - "it is a standardized scale measuring how many times a household cannot give children the food they want, how many meals they skip, how often they go to bed hungry," Weitzman said.]

The study found that 23 percent of households with children had at least one smoker, with the incidence higher -- 32 percent -- in low-income households. In those households with a smoker, 17 percent of children were food insecure, compared to 8.7 percent of those children in nonsmoking households. Severe food insecurity was reported for 3.2 percent of children in smoking households, compared to 0.9 percent of those living in households with no smokers. Because families with at least one smoker spend an estimated 2 percent to 20 percent of their income on tobacco, it's quite likely that smokers' habits drain the money needed to provide adequate food, according to background information with the study.

Reference: Smokers'Homes More Likely to House Hungry Kids by Ed Edelson, HealthDay Reporter, 11/4/2008.
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C-store update: Marlboro, Pall Mall, Camel SNUS..

November 3, 2008 - As reported Philip Morris is now giving $1 off a carton of Marlboro or 10 cents a pack. This was only suppose to be for one month prior to the December gift packs of Marlboro - buy one and get another as a gift. The $1 off per carton has now been extended to the end of the year.

Click on image to enlarge..In the picture you may have noticed that a pack of Pall Mall is $2.59. We have reported that this c-store has an agreement with R.J. Reynolds (RJR) never to sell a cigarette for less than the price of Doral - now at $2.99 a pack. However Pall Mall, is also an RJR product and along with the Camel family are the only remaining investment brands.

RJR is now providing some more simplified directions for placement of snus pouches in the mouth. We know its not easy to place a pouch in your mouth for 20-30 minutes without any movement.. Other side of card with directions.

These days it almost seems like RJR is dumping Camel SNUS cans on the retail scene. As we reported at least one c-store owner gets approximately 25 free cans of Camel SNUS to pass out to customers that they may express an interest in trying it. The owner tells us it's hard to find anyone wanting to try the stuff. On the rare occasion that a patron asks for a can of Camel SNUS - the owner asks if they want all the cans at no charge.

Images below - promotion buy any RJR product and get a free can of Camel SNUS - note this is the 1st time the wording "WORK FRIENDLY" is used in the labeling. Click on image to enlarge.













Image of display shelf with cans of Camel SNUS next to cigarettes with a sign advertising the same promotion...

Also in October 2008 there has been a new mailing with a coupon for a free can of Camel SNUS. coupon side; opposite side.

Why would RJR want to go national with a product that has generated very little interest in test markets?? Many more cans have been given away then have been sold.

Previous C-Store Update..

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50 lashes for smoker on Saudia Arabian Airlines..

November 3, 2008 - The Summary Court in the Eastern Province has sentenced a man to 50 lashes for smoking on board non-smoking Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) flight from Dammam to Riyadh. The man kept puffing his cigarette ignoring repeated warnings from flight attendants to stop. His smoking also set off the smoke alarm, causing panic among passengers. When the flight landed at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, flight security staff handed the man over to the authorities.

In 1999, SAA banned smoking on its flights between the Kingdom and the GCC states (Gulf Cooperation Council includes: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the Sultanate of Oman) and other Middle Eastern and African countries. The ban on smoking on SAA’s domestic flights took effect in 1987. – Okaz

Reference: 50 lashes for smoker on Saudia by Abdulhadi Al-Ismai, Saudi Gazette, 11/3/2008.

Related news briefs "Saudi": Saudi court set to hear tobacco compensation case.. and Saudis to sue tobacco firms for more than $2.7 billion Ryadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Surabaya, Indonesia - anti-smoking bylaw 10/2009 - FOR REAL??

November 2, 2008 - A new anti-smoking bylaw for Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, will impose sanctions on people caught smoking in public areas taking effect in October 2009. Under the regulation, public spaces are defined as any public area, but authorities will most probably focus on ports, bus terminals, railway stations, public transportation vehicles, government buildings, hospitals, hotels and campuses - which may designate limited areas for smoking. Violators will face maximum fines of IDR 50 million (EUR 3,944) and/or three months' imprisonment for anyone caught smoking in public spaces. (Council approves sanctions for smokersTobacco Journal International, 10/25/2008)

Amin Subarkah, chairman of the East Java Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association (APTI), said that tobacco growers and cigarette makers and workers have had no objections to bylaws on smoking restrictions in public spaces to prevent children from smoking. Referring to a recently passed bylaw restricting smoking in public spaces in Surabaya and a similar municipal circular passed in Malang, Amin said tobacco farmers would also campaign for the bylaw but city administrations should also pay more attention to the fate of millions of tobacco farmers. (Tobacco farmers appreciate bylaws restricting smokingTobacco Journal International, 10/29/2008)

Just back on September 1, 2008 the East Java branch of the APTI urged the provincial chapter of the MUI (Indonesia Ulemas Council (quasi-government council of Muslim scholar - give guidance on many issues including smoking for Moslems) to reject a proposed edict that would forbid smoking. "It would be more human if the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) switched to a regulation supporting smoking," Abdum Hafidz Azis said at a meeting with the council's executives in Surabaya. Abdul is secretary of the Association of Indonesian Tobacco Farmers (APTI) East Java branch. (Tobacco farmers urge MUI to reject anti-smoking edict, The Jakarta Post Surabaya, 09/01/2008)

Indonesia leaders continue to worry that any tobacco control initiatives that would be enforced may lead to the demise of the tobacco industry. Government officials are concerned that public smoking bans and a further rise in the excise would hurt the cigarette industry and risk the jobs of its millions of workers. The government receives about six percent of its revenue from cigarette production and sales. About one-third of the nation's 230 million people smoke some start as young as five government figures show. In 2005 Philip Morris International paid five billion dollars to acquire a 97 percent stake in H.M. Sampoerna, the third largest cigarette maker in Indonesia. Back in July 2007 Sampoerna began selling a clove-flavored cigarette called Marlboro Mix 9 containing 30mg tar and 1.8mg nicotine. Clove cigarettes are very popular in Indonesia that only one smoker out of 10 prefer standard cigarettes. Indonesia, the world's fifth largest tobacco market is the only nation in Asia which has NOT signed or ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) - the global anti-tobacco treaty.

Related news briefs: Indonesians smoking more than ever before..; Indonesia further rise in the excise tax would hurt the cigarette industry..; Alicia Keys - Jakarta Concert (July 31st) tobacco companies forced to withdraw sponsorship.. and Most Indonesians support moves to ban tobacco advertisements...
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