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  • Pyxus Maintains FY2027 Outlook Despite Lower Q1 Sales

    Pyxus Maintains FY2027 Outlook Despite Lower Q1 Sales

    Pyxus International reported mixed results for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 as lower global leaf tobacco prices and shipment timing weighed on revenue, while improved sourcing and cost management supported margins and cash generation. Sales fell 14% year over year to $437.8 million, driven by lower average prices in South America and Africa and reduced shipment volumes, while operating income declined to $15.7 million from $21.0 million. Despite the weaker top line, the company cut its net loss to $7.3 million from $15.8 million a year earlier, aided by a tax benefit, while adjusted EBITDA slipped modestly to $27.7 million from $29.5 million.

    CEO Pieter Sikkel said the company benefited from an ample-supply, lower-price market by selectively purchasing higher-quality tobacco at lower costs, improving cash generation and strengthening its balance sheet ahead of higher shipment volumes expected later in the year. Pyxus ended the quarter with net debt down $130.9 million year over year to $1.11 billion, no borrowings outstanding under its $150 million asset-backed lending facility, and lower tobacco inventories reflecting reduced green tobacco prices and a slower purchasing pace.

    Looking ahead, Pyxus reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 guidance, maintaining expectations for net sales of $2.3 billion to $2.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $210 million to $240 million, signaling confidence that stronger shipment volumes later in the fiscal year will offset the softer first-quarter performance.

  • EU Tobacco Use Falls to 16.5% in 2025

    EU Tobacco Use Falls to 16.5% in 2025

    Daily use of tobacco and related nicotine products in the European Union declined to 16.5% of people aged 16 and older in 2025, down from 17.5% in 2022, according to new Eurostat data. Men continued to use tobacco and nicotine products at higher rates than women (20.8% versus 12.6%), while adults aged 35-49 recorded the highest daily use at 21.3%. More than three-quarters (77.5%) of EU residents reported not using tobacco or related products—including e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products—during the previous 12 months.

    Among member states, Bulgaria (26.3%), Sweden (23.9%) and Croatia (23.6%) recorded the highest rates of daily use, while the Netherlands (9.9%), Ireland (11.7%), Belgium (13.6%) and Luxembourg (13.8%) had the lowest. Daily use declined in 17 EU countries between 2022 and 2025, with the largest reductions in Spain and Luxembourg, while Croatia and Lithuania posted the biggest increases.

  • Universal Ingredients Executive O’Keefe to Retire

    Universal Ingredients Executive O’Keefe to Retire

    Universal Corporation announced that Patrick O’Keefe, vice president of ingredients and senior vice president of Universal Ingredients, plans to retire. The company has begun a search for his successor, with O’Keefe remaining in his role until a replacement is appointed and assisting with the transition.

    Universal president and CEO Preston D. Wigner credited O’Keefe with helping expand Universal Ingredients through acquisitions, strategic investments, and new commercial initiatives during his six-year tenure. O’Keefe said he was confident the business had built a strong foundation for future growth and would support a smooth leadership transition. Universal Ingredients will continue operating under its current leadership team during the search process.

  • VTA Poll Finds Support for Science-Based Vape Regulation Reform

    VTA Poll Finds Support for Science-Based Vape Regulation Reform

    A nationwide survey in the United States commissioned by the Vapor Technology Association (VTA) found broad bipartisan support for reforming the FDA’s regulatory framework for vaping products, with particularly strong backing among President Donald Trump’s voters. Conducted by pollster Kellyanne Conway among 1,204 registered voters, including an oversample of 200 Trump voters, the survey found 71% support replacing the current FDA PMTA framework with science-based standards and 77% favor allowing vapor products with pending FDA applications that do not target youth to remain on the market while a revised system is implemented.

    The poll also found 65% of respondents support FDA reforms that would allow flavored vaping products for adults while maintaining youth protections, and 67% said regulations should reflect adult consumer demand for flavored products. At the same time, respondents strongly supported youth access restrictions, with 86% supporting robust age verification for all vape purchases, 84% favoring tougher penalties for retailers who sell to minors, and 80% supporting bans on youth-oriented marketing and product designs.

    VTA said the findings demonstrate public support for a streamlined, science-based regulatory pathway that differentiates adult access from youth prevention and promotes U.S.-based manufacturing. The association argued the current FDA regulatory system should be replaced with clearer scientific benchmarks that allow adult smokers access to authorized alternatives while enabling smaller manufacturers to compete alongside larger tobacco companies.

  • RJR Seeks to Overturn $34.5M Verdict

    RJR Seeks to Overturn $34.5M Verdict

    R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. asked Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal to overturn a $34.5 million wrongful death verdict awarded to the widow of a smoker who died at age 38, arguing the plaintiff failed to prove the smoker relied on any fraudulent statements by the company regarding the health risks of cigarettes. Reynolds contends Florida Supreme Court precedent requires Engle-progeny plaintiffs pursuing fraud-based claims to demonstrate reliance on specific misleading statements, and that the evidence presented at trial did not meet that standard.

    The appeal is the latest in a series of post-Engle tobacco cases in Florida, where cigarette manufacturers continue to challenge large jury awards on issues including fraud, jury instructions, and comparative fault. Recent appellate decisions have shown Florida courts closely scrutinizing whether trial courts properly instructed juries and whether plaintiffs satisfied the evidentiary requirements for fraudulent concealment claims, making the outcome of the appeal potentially significant for future Engle litigation.

  • BAT Bangladesh Appoints New Managing Director

    BAT Bangladesh Appoints New Managing Director

    British American Tobacco Bangladesh appointed Kakhaber Benidze as managing director, effective May 1, 2026, succeeding Monisha Abraham. A BAT veteran since 2001, Benidze brings more than 25 years of FMCG experience, including senior leadership roles across marketing, supply chain and general management in markets spanning Europe, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. Most recently, he served as general manager of BAT Switzerland and the BAT Austria Cluster.

    BAT Bangladesh said Benidze’s experience in business transformation, portfolio development, and commercial growth positions him to lead the company’s next phase of expansion. Benidze said he aims to build on BAT Bangladesh’s 116-year presence in the country, strengthen business performance, and continue contributing to the national economy.

  • South African Health Officials Call for Harm Reduction

    South African Health Officials Call for Harm Reduction

    Former South African Parliamentary Health Portfolio Committee Chair Sibongiseni Dhlomo urged policymakers to incorporate tobacco harm reduction into the country’s Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, arguing that the government should apply the same public health principles used in HIV prevention and other risk-reduction programs. Speaking at a health policy event in Johannesburg, Dhlomo said regulation should distinguish between combustible cigarettes and smoke-free nicotine products, noting that public consultations and scientific evidence had changed his views on the continuum of risk associated with different nicotine products.

    The comments come as Parliament prepares to begin clause-by-clause deliberations on the tobacco bill following approval of its desirability in June. Other speakers, including Gauteng Health MEC Faith Mazibuko and former Health MEC Dr. Bandile Masuku, also endorsed harm reduction as a broader public health strategy, while Philip Morris International said science should guide tobacco regulation and that adult smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit should be encouraged to switch completely to less harmful non-combustible alternatives.

  • FDA Authorizes Four New on! Nicotine Pouches

    FDA Authorizes Four New on! Nicotine Pouches

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the authorization of four additional on! nicotine pouch products through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway: Rich Berry 2 mg, Cappuccino 2 mg, Cappuccino 4 mg, and Autumn Spice 2 mg. Manufactured by Helix Innovations LLC, the products were reviewed under the FDA’s nicotine pouch pilot program, which is designed to streamline PMTA reviews and improve review efficiency. The agency said lessons from the pilot are now being applied to other PMTA reviews.

    The FDA concluded that the newly authorized products contain lower levels of most harmful and potentially harmful constituents than traditional oral and smokeless tobacco products. The agency said adults 21 and older who completely switch from cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to FDA-authorized nicotine pouches may reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, while noting that dual use does not provide the same level of risk reduction. With the latest authorizations, the FDA has now authorized 30 nicotine pouch products through the PMTA pathway.

  • Turning Point’s Modern Oral Boosts Q2 Growth

    Turning Point’s Modern Oral Boosts Q2 Growth

    Turning Point Brands reported second-quarter net sales increased 22.6% to $142.9 million, driven by continued momentum in its modern oral nicotine business. Modern oral gross revenue surged 149% to $87 million, while net sales rose 128% to $68.4 million, accounting for 48% of total company net sales compared with 26% a year earlier. The company said growth in its FRE and ALP nicotine pouch brands supported stronger retail distribution and market penetration, prompting it to raise its full-year modern oral sales guidance.

    Despite the strong top-line performance, net income fell 75.2% to $3.6 million and adjusted EBITDA declined 50% to $15.2 million as the company increased sales and marketing investments to support its expanding nicotine pouch business. Turning Point now expects 2026 modern oral gross sales of $330 million to $350 million, up from its previous forecast of $280 million to $300 million, and modern oral net sales of $260 million to $270 million, reflecting confidence in continued category growth.

  • AOI Launches Climate-Resilient Tobacco Seeds in Tanzania

    AOI Launches Climate-Resilient Tobacco Seeds in Tanzania

    Alliance One International introduced a portfolio of proprietary tobacco seed varieties in Tanzania aimed at improving crop yields, leaf quality, and resilience to drought and disease. Developed at the company’s research center in Brazil, the government-approved Alliance One Varieties (AOV) were introduced following a three-year evaluation process and include AOV 212, AOV 405, and AOV 815. Field trials showed yields of up to 3,270 kg per hectare — about 30% higher than traditional seed varieties — while demonstrating improved resistance to environmental stress.

    The company said the new varieties are designed to support more sustainable tobacco production and improve farmer income through higher productivity and better crop quality. Alliance One is supporting the rollout through agronomic training and technical assistance for contracted growers and said it plans to expand access to its climate-resilient tobacco seed portfolio to additional tobacco-producing countries as part of its long-term agricultural development strategy.