Author: Taco Tuinstra

Sahani to Lead Blinc Group

Pete Sahani (left) and Arnaud Dumas de Rauly | Photo: The Blinc Group
The Blinc Group has appointed Pete Sahani as its new CEO effective Dec. 1, replacing co-founder Arnaud Dumas de Rauly.
Sahani brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having been instrumental in a number of key initiatives since joining Blinc as chief operating officer in April 2022.
“Pete has been a pivotal figure in our leadership team, playing a significant role in not only steering us to positive EBITDA and net income but also in the introduction of innovative services like Scale Now Pay Later and Vendor Managed Inventory,” said Dumas de Rauly in a statement. “With his exceptional skill in operational management and strategic planning, I am confident that Pete is the ideal leader to propel Blinc into a future marked by sustained profitability and expanded service offerings.”
“It’s an honor to step into the CEO role at the Blinc Group,” said Sahani. “I am excited to build upon the strong foundation laid by Arnaud and our team by leading the company toward new heights of innovation and market leadership.”
Dumas de Rauly will transition to the position of chief experience and science officer and will retain his position on the Blinc Group board. In his new position, Dumas de Rauly will focus on integrating analytical science and consumer safety with superior customer experiences.
Dumas de Rauly has been at the helm of the Blinc Group since 2018, establishing the company as a key player in the cannabis vaping business.
“Arnaud has been a visionary leader under whose guidance Blinc has established itself as a major player in the cannabis vaping space and has always done so while keeping a strong focus on consumer safety,” said co-founder and Chief Innovations Officer Sasha Aksenov. “His strategic foresight has been invaluable, and we are certain that he will continue to play a pivotal role in Blinc’s future.”
November 29, 2023
Herbal Heated Sticks Market ‘On Fire’

Photo: cirquedesprit
Herbal heated sticks are rapidly spreading worldwide not only as a replacement for conventional smoking, but also as an alternative to heated tobacco products, according to new research from TobaccoIntelligence.
These products provide an experience similar to using heated tobacco, but unlike heated tobacco products they do not contain any tobacco. Instead, they use a different substance—often tea—to hold flavorings and, sometimes, nicotine.
Now, the new TobaccoIntelligence Herbal Heated Sticks Tracker casts light on this fast-growing but poorly understood market.
It reveals that fruit flavors are the most popular in most countries covered, but nicotine strengths vary greatly. In some countries, such as Japan, only zero-nicotine products are sold.
“Heated herbal sticks are typically cheaper than comparable tobacco products, and are also compatible with some heated tobacco devices. So from the consumer’s point of view, they offer a low-cost alternative—while for manufacturers, they can provide a legal way of providing flavors in countries where heated tobacco flavors are banned,” explains Eva Antal, director of market analysis at TobaccoIntelligence’s publisher Tamarind Intelligence.
“We expect more product launches in more countries–but at the same time, we don’t expect regulators to ignore them forever,” says Antal.
Currently, Japan and Poland have the most products available, although there are far more different brands in Japan.
And Japan is also among the countries where these products are cheapest. By contrast, Germany is the most expensive.
The Herbal Heated Sticks Tracker covers nine major markets: the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Russia and the U.K.
November 29, 2023
Firestone to Lead 22nd Century Group

Photo: Gajus
22nd Century Group has appointed Lawrence Firestone as its chairman and CEO.
Firestone brings over 40 years of enterprise, operations and financial management experience in both public and private companies, including tenures as CEO, chief financial officer and chief operating officer across multiple industry sectors. He most recently served as chief financial officer of Oakland Manager, a privately held purveyor of cannabis with both retail and wholesale market penetration, and as chairman of FirePower Technology, a privately held manufacturer of ATX power supplies for the IT and instrumentation markets.
“Larry is a seasoned executive known for his ‘hands-on’ leadership style emphasizing teamwork, business alignment, continuous improvement, cost control and process optimization. His track record of success with fast growing public companies will serve 22nd Century well as it continues to execute the strategic business plan and work to drive shareholder value,” said Nora Sullivan, former chair of the board, in a statement.
“I am excited to lead 22nd Century Group as we refocus our current strategic plans built around innovative plant technologies for tobacco harm reduction and new consumer focused health and wellness products,” said Firestone.
“The team at 22nd Century has created one of the industry’s most innovative integrated tobacco platforms, from plant genetics to fully commercialized disruptive consumer products. I am confident we can build upon the success the company has had to date while developing strategies that can enhance value for shareholders.”
November 29, 2023
Health Advocates Slam Endgame Reversals

Photo: aletia2011
Health advocates condemned moves in New Zealand and Malaysia to scrap legislation that would have banned tobacco sales to future generations.
Passed by the previous government, the New Zealand measure would have outlawed tobacco sales to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009. It also would have limited the amount of nicotine allowed in smoked tobacco products and cut the number of tobacco retailers by 90 percent.
After New Zealand’s elections earlier this year, the country’s new center-right coalition announced it would repeal the generational tobacco ban.
“This is major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry – whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives,” Boyd Swinburn, co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) in New Zealand, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
HCA pointed to academic research that found the laws could have saved some $1.3 billion in health system costs over 20 years, and reduced mortality rates.
In Malaysia meanwhile, lawmakers decided to remove a generational tobacco ban from proposed legislation after that country’s attorney general questioned the constitutionality of the endgame clause because it would create two sets of laws for two groups of citizens based on age.
Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, however, blamed the tobacco lobby for Malaysia’s U-turn.
“Don’t even think for a minute that GEG [generational endgame] was dropped because of some lame excuse of a legal argument proffered by the AG,” he was quoted as saying by The Star. “No, GEG was dropped because of the strong lobby from Big Tobacco.”
Despite the setback, Jamaluddin said the fight against tobacco would continue. “This is not over,” he said. “One day, public health will win.”
Even as New Zealand and Malaysia reversed their endgame clauses, England reiterated its commitment to its version of the plan. Asked whether Rishi Sunak would consider following New Zealand and Malaysia’s examples, a spokeswoman for the British prime minister said: “No, our position remains unchanged. This is an important long-term decision and step to deliver a smoke-free generation which remains critically important.”
November 28, 2023
Accorto and Inter Scientific Team Up

From left to right: Vince Angelico: chief scientific officer (Accorto), Jason Krull: chief operating officer (Accorto), Tom Beaudet: CEO (Accorto), Mark Dignum: director (Inter Scientific), Russ Rogers: president (Accorto), David Lawson: director (Inter Scientific)
Photo: Inter Scientific
Accorto Regulatory Solutions and Inter Scientific have entered into a strategic alliance agreement to provide single-point regulatory and testing solutions for customers in the nicotine industry and other sectors.
Based in the U.S., Accorto specializes in helping small- to mid-sized companies navigate the regulatory landscape to bring products that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to market. Inter Scientific is an ISO 17025/GMP-compliant testing laboratory and compliance firm based in the U.K.
The strategic alliance will offer customers in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Asia improved access to a Accorto’s regulatory strategy development expertise, FDA regulatory application development and submission services, and project management solutions combined with Inter Scientific’s testing and regulatory compliance expertise in the U.K., Europe and the Middle East.
The two companies aspire to use this alliance to streamline their clients’ regulatory application development processes, providing a turn-key solution for both regulatory support and associated analytical data development.
“We are thrilled to unveil our strategic alliance with Accorto,” said Inter Scientific co-founder David Lawson in a statement. “This collaboration represents a significant milestone, offering both new and existing clients a competitive advantage. By aligning with another industry-leading regulatory company that shares the same commitments to quality, urgency, and value, we are confident this will further elevate our standards and capacity.”
“We could not be more pleased to be entering into our first strategic alliance with a company like Inter Scientific that has such a fantastic team,” said Tom Beaudet, CEO of Accorto. “This not only provides our clients with the ability to collect data needed to prove the safety and efficacy of their products, but also allows us to shorten their regulatory application timelines, giving them a competitive advantage.”
November 28, 2023
Vape Leaders Honored

Photo; Feelm
Leaders in product compliance, innovation, sustainability and the prevention of youth access to vaping were among those honored at this year’s UKVIA Industry Recognition Awards.
The annual event was hosted at the QEII Centre in London and saw parliamentarians, public health professionals, enforcement officials, vape manufacturers and others celebrated for their contributions to the progress of the industry and to the ambition for a future without smoking.
There were 16 award categories this year, including Most Responsible Vaping Business, Outstanding Vaper Education Program for Smokers and the Vaping Regulations Enforcement Award.
Colin Mendelsohn, founding chairman of the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association and retired general practitioner of 30 years, received the Most Supportive Public Health Professional/Researcher Award.
Also winning awards were Adam Afriyie, Member of Parliament and vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping, and Martin Cullip, international fellow of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s Consumer Center, who won Most Supportive Parliamentarian and Outstanding Industry Service Award, respectively.
John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA, said, “Our annual industry recognition awards celebrate the individuals and organizations—both within and outside the industry—who have made outstanding contributions to the vaping sector.
“I hope this year’s winners continue to set a leading example and that the rest of the industry will be inspired to go even further to take our sector to new heights and show the policymakers and regulators that we are committed to the highest standards in helping the government achieve its smoke-free generation.”
Ahead of the Industry Recognition Awards, Chris Kelly, chief executive of headline sponsor Phoenix 2 Retail, said: “More than ever, our industry needs to make a strong statement to the government and regulators by showcasing what it is doing to raise standards across the board.
“It’s good to see the awards this year recognizing innovative solutions that address the big issues of youth vaping and the environmental impact of single-use vapes. Equally, it’s good that those who have been at the forefront of compliance have been held up for what they are doing in this crucial area.”
The full list of winners is available at the UKVIA’s website.
November 28, 2023
KT&G Recognized for Governance

Photo: KT&G
KT&G has been recognized as The Best in Corporate Governance at the 2023 KCGS Excellent Companies Awards Ceremony hosted by the Korea Institute of Corporate Governance and Sustainability (KCGS).
As a leading domestic ESG evaluation agency, the KCGS annually selects and announces outstanding companies that have strived to improve their environmental, social responsibility and corporate governance. KT&G was awarded the highest prize among generally listed companies, The Best Award, in the corporate governance category, acknowledging its high-level sustainable management system.
KT&G was praised for leading board-centric management based on the sound operations of its board. The company has enhanced its checks and oversight functions by appointing only external directors to its key committees and has maintained a 75 percent external director ratio over the past three years, thereby securing board independence. Additionally, KT&G has elevated its board’s continuous monitoring function by operating its internal audit organization directly under the board’s audit committee.
KT&G has also been awarded an A+ in this year’s ESG integrated rating announced by the KCGS, maintaining an A grade (excellent) or higher for 13 consecutive years. KT&G has proactively adopted the Board Skills Matrix (BSM) to strengthen its “responsible, professional management system” centered on the board. The company has continued to enhance its governance structure by establishing board diversity and independence policies and formulating a group ethical charter.
“Since its privatization, KT&G has established a transparent and independent advanced governance structure centered on external directors,” the company wrote in a statement. “We plan to strengthen further our board’s independence, expertise and diversity to establish a global top-tier level of governance.”
The recent recognition confirms KT&G’s commitment to ESG. Since February 2021, the company has consecutively received the highest grade in its industry in the MSCI ESG evaluation. In addition, KT&G was awarded the prime minister’s commendation in the comprehensive ESG category at the 2022 Sustainable Management Merit Government Award.
November 28, 2023
22nd Century Sells Cannabis Operations
22nd Century Group will sell most of its GVB Biopharma hemp/cannabis operations to Specialty Acquisition Corp., an entity affiliated with GVB employees.
Terms of the transaction include a cash payment to the company of $1 million at closing of the sale and a 12 percent secured promissory note for $1.25 million issued by the buyer. The company plans to use the proceeds from the sale to further deleverage its balance sheet.
22nd Century is also entitled to retain any insurance proceeds received in connection with the fire at the company’s Grass Valley manufacturing facility, a portion of which will be used to offset the buyer’s portion of the shared liabilities.
The sale is expected to close in early December 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by 22nd Century’s board of directors.
“The sale of our hemp/cannabis franchise will immediately and materially further reduce the cash and operating demands within our business,” said John Miller, interim CEO of 22nd Century, in a statement.
“We expect this transaction will substantially lower 22nd Century’s operating expenses beyond the previously announced $15 million in cost savings initiatives on an annual basis. Additionally, we will retain rights to the insurance proceeds, subject to certain offsets, effectively recouping cash that was invested into the continuity of the hemp/cannabis business.
November 28, 2023
Economist Conference Explores Illicit Trade

Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive
Economist Impact will host the eighth Global Anti-Illicit Trade Summit, supported by Japan Tobacco International, on Nov. 30 the Westin Ottawa.
When it comes to cross-border movement of illegal goods, North America’s expansiveness exacerbates the problem. The United States shares the world’s longest (8,890 km) land border with Canada and the busiest land-border crossing with Mexico. This makes preventing smuggling and illegal migration especially challenging for border security and customs agencies. With just over 12,000 km in land borders and approximately 230,000 km of coastline, North America offers plenty of opportunities for criminal networks to traffic people and illegal goods and improve their position in the illicit market.
The International Chamber of Commerce estimates the financial cost of illicit trade to be $4.2 trillion annually.
Speakers at the Economist Impact forum include General John Kelly, former commander, United States Southern Command; David Luna, executive director, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies; Christopher Taylor, Canada country attaché, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; Laura Dawson, executive director, Future Borders Coalition; Anne Kothawala, chief executive, Convenience Industry Council of Canada; Marissa Molé Bostick, deputy director, Counterfeit Crimes Unit, Amazon; Sergio Miranda, sergent spécialiste en économie souterraine, Sûreté du Québec; Gaston Schulmeister, director of the Department against Transnational Organized Crime (DTOC), Organization of American States; José Antonio Abugaber Andonie, President, Concamin; and Abram Benedict, Grand Chief, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
For further details about the summit, please visit anti-illicit-trade.economist.com.
November 28, 2023
CoEHAR Scientists Among the Most Cited

Image: COEHAR
The 2023 update of the ranking compiled by Plos Biology and Elsevier, conducted by researchers from Stanford University, honors 20 scientists of the Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) at the University of Catania among the most cited scientists globally.
The latest update of the database “Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators” was released in October 2023.
The annually updated database recognizes excellence in the field of scientific research, selected from a sample of 100,000 researchers and divided into 22 different scientific areas and 176 additional sub-fields.
CoEHAR founder Riccardo Polosa remains one of the most cited scientists in his field, recognized for the quality of contributions in the field of research applied to smoking harm reduction.
However, this year, in addition to Polosa, 19 additional CoEHAR researchers are honored for their work and included in the database, the organization announced on its website.
They are: Sebastiano Battiato, Antonino Belfiore, Aldo Calogero, Filippo Caraci, Rosita A. Condorelli, Filippo Drago, Margherita Ferrante, Antonio Gagliano, Fabio Galvano, Giuseppe Grasso, Antonino Gulino, Gaetano Isola, Rosalia Maria Leonardi, Sandro La Vignera, Giovanni Li Volti, Venerando Rapisarda, Martino Ruggieri.
Among the recognized CoEHAR scientists, there are also Council members from different universities: Emmanuele Jannini from the University of Rome Tor Vergata and Maria Luisa Brandi from the University of Florence
The Plos Biology database uses six citation parameters, including the total number of publications and the number of times an article related to a scientific study in which the scientist in question is a single or first author is cited.
November 28, 2023