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White Owl Launches Hottest New Flavor-UNFLAVORED!  

White Owl announced today the launch of the hottest new flavor to hit the cigarillo market, White Owl FoilFresh® Silver Cigarillos. The newest addition to the White Owl Cigarillo product line is in stores now.

"This is an example of how White Owl is on the cutting edge of consumer trends," according to Katherine Macomber, White Owl Brand Manager. "Small Unflavored HTL is the fastest growing segment in the industry, almost doubling in size in 2011. White Owl is the first major brand to invest in this segment, catering to the consumer who wants a smooth, uncomplicated and great tasting smoke."

White Owl is also using its innovative FoilFresh® technology for the latest addition to the portfolio, guaranteeing each Silver Cigarillo is as fresh as the day it was made.

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Brand New Winners Announced in the Red Man Moist Snuff "Always Fresh" Sweepstakes 

Casey Jordan of Pueblo, CO and Nicolas Otzel of Naugatuck, CT are the latest winners in the Red Man Moist Snuff "Always Fresh" sweepstakes. Jordan has won a trip for two to Las Vegas, NV and Otzel has won a 16' ELPT FourStroke 20 boat. . . .

"The 'Always Fresh' Sweepstakes is one of the key elements of the freshness platform for Red Man Moist Snuff," according to Tracy Vernon, associate brand manager for Red Man Moist Snuff. "Our strategy centers, of course, on the Red Man Moist Snuff Flavor Fresh Lid, introduced earlier this year. Our brand continues to drive innovation with our new lid which creates a tight seal and improves moisture retention keeping the product fresh."

Adult consumers over 21 years of age have a chance to win by entering on-line each day at www.redman.com . The contest ends September 29, 2011.

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Red Man Moist Snuff Announces Newest 'Always Fresh' Sweepstakes Winners  

Steven Young of Tully, NY is the latest winner in the Red Man Moist Snuff "Always Fresh" sweepstakes. Young has won the May prize package that includes a Polaris Sportsman 550 Indy red ATV with helmet and accessories. Age verified participants vote in the monthly "Always Fresh" sweepstakes for the prize of their choice. The prize that garners the most votes is awarded. Themes vary from "Lake Living" to "The Great Outdoors" to "On the Hunt," with a prize list that includes an Alaskan salmon fishing trip for two, a white water rafting trip, a Coleman Destiny Series Camp Trailer and an $8,000 shopping spree for camping gear.

"Keeping the contest always fresh, always exciting, is our goal," according to Tracy Vernon, associate brand manager for Red Man Moist Snuff. "The 'Always Fresh' sweepstakes is one of the key components of our strategy to drive awareness of the freshness platform for Red Man Moist Snuff. A key element, of course, is the Red Man Moist Snuff FlavorFresh™ Lid which we introduced earlier this year. Our brand continues to drive innovation with our new lid which creates a tight seal and improves moisture retention keeping the product always fresh."

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• Swedish Snus Maker Sets Sights on U.S. Market ($$) 

Smokeless-tobacco giant Swedish Match AB, the dominant maker of snus in Scandinavia, plans to begin a major push into the category in the U.S. in the coming months.

The company, which to date has only dipped its toes into the small-but-growing segment of the U.S. smokeless-tobacco industry, is unveiling two new versions of its General brand for American consumers and sharply expanding retail distribution starting this month. Initial markets will be Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia, executives said in an interview Thursday.

The effort underscores tobacco makers' rising interest in expanding a product style that is popular in Sweden and Norway ...

Swedish Match said it intends to emphasize to consumers that General is an authentic Swedish snus that has been made in Sweden for more than 150 years. The new Nordic Mint and Classic Blend varieties will sell at a slight premium to Camel Snus, the market leader in the U.S.

"We think snus in the U.S. is going to be a big category," said Clark Darrah, vice president for next-generation products for Swedish Match's U.S. division. "Globally, this is the biggest opportunity that we have."

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Red Man Moist Snuff Announces Monthly 'Always Fresh' Sweepstakes Winners  

Casemiro Ovalle of San Antonio Texas and Robert Badzioch of Buffalo Grove, IL are the first two winners in the Red Man Moist Snuff "Always Fresh" sweepstakes. Ovalle, the March winner in the contest receives a Power tool set which includes a Honda 5000watt Generator, a Karcher 2600psi gas powered washer, a plunge and fixed router base kit and Bosch jobsite stereo with CD player.

The winner of the February prize, Robert Badzioch has a package that includes a 60" Sony Bravia television with an entertainment system, a home theater chair and a Sony blue-Ray disc player.

Age verified participants vote in the monthly "Always Fresh" sweepstakes for the prize of their choice. The prize that garners the most votes is awarded. Themes vary from "Backyard Gear" to "Off Road Adventure" to "Bar Games," with a prize list that includes a Hot Springs Jetsetter Hot Tub, a Polaris Sportsman 550 Indy red ATV and an Olhausen billiard table.

"Changing the prizes is one way to keep the sweepstakes always fresh, always exciting," according to Tracy Vernon, associate brand manager for Red Man Moist Snuff. "The contest is one of the key programs that support our strategy to drive awareness of our freshness platform for Red Man Moist Snuff."

The sweepstakes is a component of the overall campaign for the recently introduced Red Man Moist Snuff FlavorFresh™ Lid. Vernon adds, "Our brand continues to drive innovation with our new lid which creates a tight seal, improves moisture retention and keep the product always fresh."

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Swedish Match: Interim Report January – March 2011  

Comparable sales1) for the first quarter increased by 1 percent to 2,646 MSEK (2,608). In local currencies, comparable sales1) for the first quarter increased by 6 percent. Sales for the first quarter of 2010 including businesses transferred to STG amounted to 3,282 MSEK

Comparable operating profit2) for the first quarter increased by 11 percent to 729 MSEK (655). In local currencies, comparable operating profit2) for the first quarter increased by 17 percent

Operating profit including businesses transferred to STG, share of net profit from STG and larger one time items3) for the first quarter amounted to 793 MSEK (755)

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Swedish Match: Full Year Report January – December 2010  

· Comparable sales1) for the full year increased by 5 percent to 11,222 MSEK (10,678) and for the fourth quarter by 7 percent to 2,801 MSEK (2,620). Sales for the full year, including businesses transferred to STG2), were 13,606 MSEK (14,204)

· In local currencies, comparable sales1) for the full year increased by 7 percent and for the fourth quarter by 9 percent

· Comparable operating profit3) for the full year increased by 9 percent to 3,158 MSEK (2,900) and for the fourth quarter by 13 percent to 836 MSEK (740)

· In local currencies, comparable operating profit3) for the full year increased by 12 percent and for the fourth quarter by 15 percent

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UPDATE 2-U.S. cigar sales spike boosts Swedish Match Q4  

Snuff and cigar maker Swedish Match (SWMA.ST) posted higher fourth-quarter profits helped by a spike in sales of cheap cigars in the United States, and saw rising profits for that business this year, sending shares up.

Analysts said results were overall strong, and the firm's shares rose 6.9 percent to 199.70 crowns at 1012 GMT, outperforming the blue-chip Stockholm index .OMXS30.

UBS analyst David Hallden said core profit, sales, positive one-offs as well as dividend were slightly bigger than expected.

"I would have liked to see a stronger snuff margin but such a broad strength overall outweighs that. Shares have come down a bit ahead of the report but this is better than feared, so it's a bit of a relief (rally)," he said.

Swedish Match, whose main markets are Sweden, Norway and the United States, forecast increased sales and profits this year for its U.S. mass market cigar business, which has grown rapidly in recent quarters. A

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RAI reaches agreement to sell Lane, Limited to STG (PDF) 

Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI) announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell Lane, Limited, to Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S (STG), a global company based in Denmark.

Under terms of the transaction, STG has agreed to pay $205 million in cash for Lane. The Lane operations contribute approximately $0.04 per share to RAI’s annual earnings.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2011, pending anti-trust review and approval. . . .

“Reynolds American’s operating companies are strategically focused on key brands in the cigarette, moist-snuff and modern smoke-free categories of the tobacco business, so this is an opportunity to maximize the potential of the Lane business and brands under an owner who is focused on the ‘other tobacco products’ (OTP) category,” said Susan M. Ivey, president and chief executive officer of Reynolds American.

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• Reynolds American to sell Lane Ltd. division 

Reynolds American Inc. drew a clearer line in the sand Friday regarding the making and selling of tobacco products that are lit.

Reynolds has agreed to sell its Lane Ltd. division to a Danish company, Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S, for $205 million. The deal, which requires regulatory approval, is expected to close in the first half of 2011.

Lane, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reynolds, is based in Tucker, Ga., with 110 employees in two operations. Among its products are Kite and Bugler roll-your-own tobacco and Captain Black pipe tobacco.

The deal represents another example of a strategic turn for Reynolds away from lit tobacco products at a time when societal changes and smoking bans are making them harder to consume. . . .

But in recent years, even though Reynolds is the No. 2 U.S. cigarette manufacturer, it has de-emphasized marketing all but two of its cigarette brands -- Camel and Pall Mall -- and put more emphasis on Camel Snus and dissolvable smokeless products.

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• Swedish Match firm buys US tobacco maker  

A Danish company recently partially acquired by Swedish tobacco products maker Swedish Match has purchased a unit of American tobacco giant Reynolds American for $205 million ($1.38 million).

Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG), which is 49 percent owned by Swedish Match, will buy Lane, which makes a variety of tobacco products, including Kite and Bugler roll-your-own tobacco and Captain Black pipe tobacco.

"This is an opportunity to maximize the potential of the Lane business and brands under an owner who is focused on the 'other tobacco products' category," Susan M. Ivey, president and CEO of Reynolds American, said in a statement on Friday.

STG is the world's largest pipe tobacco manufacturer, shares the top position in sales of cigars internationally and is a leader in self-rolled tobacco products in Scandinavia.

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Winner to Explore America's Freshest Frontier  

RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A Rochester NY resident is the winner of the Red Man Moist Snuff Fresh American Experience Sweepstakes. Michael Van Mennen and a guest have won a trip to one of America's freshest frontiers---the Alaskan wilds. The sweepstakes was part of the national launch of the new Red Man Moist Snuff FlavorFresh™ Lid. "The brand that pioneered the foil fresh pouch more than 40 years ago continues to drive innovative packaging with a new lid that creates a tight seal, improving moisture retention and locking in freshness," according to Tracy Vernon, Associate Brand Manager.

Mennen and his guest have won a five day adventure exploring the untouched backdrop of the country's 50th state. He will create his own package from a variety of excursions including: an Alaskan Wilderness Cruise, a train trip to Spencer Glacier, and a flight to tour Mt. McKinley, America's tallest mountain.

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Going Green With White Owl Sweets! 

White Owl announced today a new way to Go Green with the introduction of new White Owl FoilFresh™ Green Sweets Cigarillos. Sweets cigarillos represent over 1 billion of the cigars sold in the mass market cigar category and are 54% of all small HTL cigars sales. White Owl Green Sweets leverages the fast growing trends in the category.

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New Market Research Report: Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S in Tobacco  

This report on Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S, one of the largest manufacturers of other tobacco products besides cigarettes in the world, analyses the company's performance in 2008-2009. It discusses the company's key brands and markets, its strategies in the competitive tobacco market and the potential of its intended joint venture with Swedish Match, as it tries to solidify its position in the cigars and pipe tobacco categories.

Euromonitor International's Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S in Tobacco - World Company Profile offers detailed strategic analysis of the company's business, examining its performance in the Tobacco industry. The report examines company shares by region and sector, product developments, market and distribution strategies, challenges from the competition and future prospects. Use it to understand opportunities and threats facing the business and the factors driving success.

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Swedish Match marketing on YouTube ($$) 

In a press release dated April 6, 2009, Swedish Match North America announced the launch of a new website promoting its General Snus brand.1 Included with this release was a link to a professionally made video hosted on the YouTube website. Entitled ‘General Snus Is The Less Harmful Alternative. Do You SNUS,’ the video described General Snus flavours, features of the new website and directed viewers to the website with an offer of free samples.2 …

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