Drew Estate has announced the passing of its CEO, Glenn Wolfson, who led the company since 2016. During his tenure, Wolfson oversaw a significant transformation of the premium cigar manufacturer, strengthening its operations, expanding its market position, and reinforcing its commitment to retailers and consumers while preserving the company’s distinctive culture. Founder and President Jonathan Drew and the executive team praised Wolfson’s leadership, describing him as a transformational executive whose influence extended across the premium cigar industry. Drew Estate said its executive team will lead the company until a new CEO is appointed.
Blog
-
BAT’s Fit2Win Program Cutting Expenses, Jobs
British American Tobacco said its Fit2Win transformation program remains on track to deliver approximately £600 million in annual cost savings by the end of 2028 as it simplifies operations, expands technology partnerships, and streamlines its global manufacturing footprint. Launched in 2025, BAT has already transitioned selected roles to partners, including Accenture, Systems Limited, and ITC Infotech, while launching a new Future Capabilities Centre in India and continuing to optimize its manufacturing network, including the previously announced closure of its Heidelberg factory in South Africa.
Reuters reports that as part of the initiative, BAT plans to eliminate about 5,500 roles and transfer approximately 3,500 positions to strategic partners, affecting around 9,000 employees globally, excluding the United States. The company said the changes are intended to create a more agile, technology-enabled organization capable of responding more quickly to changing market conditions and accelerating its transition toward reduced-risk products.
CEO Tadeu Marroco said Fit2Win is creating a “simpler, faster BAT,” adding that the company is supporting affected employees throughout the transition. The restructuring comes as BAT continues to adapt to declining cigarette volumes and invest in next-generation products such as Vuse e-cigarettes and Velo nicotine pouches.
-
PMI Launches Campaign to Promote Positive Change
Philip Morris International launched “Believe. Further,” a multi-year platform with Italian singer Andrea Bocelli aimed at fostering discussion around innovation, progress, and positive change. Unveiled in Venice, the initiative is designed to engage cultural, institutional, and business audiences across Europe while highlighting PMI’s ongoing business transformation toward smoke-free products.
PMI said the platform reflects its evolution from a cigarette manufacturer to a smoke-free products company, noting that smoke-free products accounted for 43% of its net revenues and were available in more than 105 markets as of the first quarter of 2026. Massimo Andolina, President of PMI’s Europe Region, said the partnership is intended to raise awareness of how technology and innovation can drive positive change, while Bocelli said the initiative reflects a shared belief in pursuing progress and improving lives.
-
DR Announces $1.3B in Tobacco Exports for 2025
The Dominican Republic’s tobacco industry generated more than $1.3 billion in export revenue in 2025, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s leading export sectors. According to Iván Hernández Guzmán, director of the Dominican Tobacco Institute, the industry supports more than 122,000 direct jobs and includes 130 tobacco-related companies operating in free trade zones. Tobacco exports have increased 41% since 2019, while employment has grown 26%, driven by government support programs such as technical assistance, seed distribution, pest control, and international promotion. Tobacco remains the Dominican Republic’s third-largest export, behind gold and medical devices.
-
Imperial Warning Landlords to Police Tenants Selling Illicit Products
Imperial Brands warned commercial landlords across the UK that they could face criminal prosecution if they continue to collect rent from retail tenants selling counterfeit or illicit tobacco products. The company said it has written to landlords of multiple premises where investigations identified illegal tobacco sales despite repeated enforcement action, formally notifying them of the potential legal consequences if the activity continues.
Imperial said landlords who knowingly benefit from illegal trade could face prosecution under the UK’s Proceeds of Crime Act, in addition to penalties associated with the sale of counterfeit goods, which can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years and unlimited fines. The company cited recent case law that it says confirms landlords may be held liable if they continue accepting rent from premises involved in illicit trade.
Imperial is urging landlords to enforce lease provisions prohibiting illegal activity, cooperate with enforcement authorities, and evict non-compliant tenants where necessary. Deirdre Healy, Head of Corporate and Legal Affairs at Imperial Brands UK, said landlords “cannot turn a blind eye” to illicit tobacco sales, adding that the company is prepared to pursue legal remedies, including injunctions and support for criminal investigations, against landlords who fail to act.
-
Survey Finds 95% Happy Moving from Cigarettes to Pouches
A growing number of UK consumers are turning to nicotine pouches as an alternative to cigarettes and e-cigarettes, according to Haypp’s fourth annual Nicotine Pouch Report. Based on a survey of more than 2,000 nicotine pouch users, the report found that 68% began using pouches to quit smoking, vaping, or both. Forty-three percent said they switched to quit smoking, 40% to quit vaping, and 15% were seeking to stop using both products.
The survey found that users were primarily drawn to nicotine pouches because they perceived them as healthier (64%), more discreet (64%), and less likely to affect others (52%). Among respondents who switched from cigarettes, 95% reported feeling better after making the change, while 76% reported encouraging others to switch. The products are most commonly used at home (85%) and at work (79%), reflecting their discreet nature.
Haypp said the findings suggest the UK nicotine market is shifting following the disposable vape ban and the implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, and that the changing regulatory landscape is prompting more adult nicotine users to explore alternatives that do not involve inhalation.
-
Pakistani Growers Reject Move to Scrap Price Mechanism
Tobacco growers in Pakistan have urged the federal Ministry of National Food Security to consult farmers before abolishing the weighted average price (WAP) mechanism used to determine the minimum indicative price (MIP) for tobacco. Speaking at a press conference in Swabi, growers and industry representatives argued that the government had presented misleading figures to the federal cabinet, overstating farmers’ profits to justify proposed amendments to the Tobacco Marketing Rules, 2016, and Martial Law Order 487.
Former Pakistan Tobacco Board director Muhammad Ayaz Khan said rising production costs, lower yields caused by adverse weather, and reduced purchases by tobacco companies meant growers earned only marginal profits during the 2024-25 season. Farmer representatives also said many growers remain burdened with debt after companies declined to purchase lower-grade tobacco and called on the government to conduct an independent survey before making changes to the pricing system.
-
Maldives to Launch Program to Move People Away from Tobacco
The Maldives is advancing a series of tobacco policy changes, with a parliamentary committee approving a bill to reduce cigarette import duties while President Mohamed Muizzu announced plans for a nationwide tobacco cessation program. The cigarette duty bill passed the Committee of the Whole House without amendments and now moves to the next stage of the legislative process after lawmakers unanimously declined to propose any changes, despite debate over the government’s rationale for lowering the tax following the country’s ban on vaping products.
Separately, Muizzu said the government will launch a national cessation initiative through civil society organizations, with funding and incentives linked to their success in helping people quit tobacco. He also said import duties on smoking cessation products will be eliminated once the program begins to make them more affordable, adding that the proposed reduction in cigarette duties is part of a broader tobacco control strategy aligned with recommendations from the World Health Organization.
-
FDA Proposal Would Allow Oversight of Foreign Manufacturers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a rule requiring foreign tobacco product manufacturers to register their manufacturing facilities and list the tobacco products they sell in the U.S., closing a regulatory gap that currently exempts overseas manufacturers from requirements already imposed on domestic companies. The agency said the proposal would strengthen its ability to identify and take action against illegal tobacco products—particularly unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes—and create a more level playing field for U.S. manufacturers.
If finalized, the rule would require both foreign and domestic manufacturers to register their establishments, submit detailed product information, and update registrations annually and product listings twice a year. Foreign facilities would also become subject to FDA inspections, giving the agency greater oversight of products before they enter the U.S. market. Manufacturers would also be required to maintain records of labeling, advertising, and consumer information for at least four years.
According to the FDA, the proposal would improve enforcement by providing more comprehensive information on tobacco products manufactured for the U.S. market and expanding oversight of foreign producers. Acting Center for Tobacco Products Director Bret Koplow said the rule would help ensure all companies selling tobacco products in the U.S. operate under the same standards while strengthening the agency’s ability to keep illegal products out of the marketplace. Public comments will be accepted through Sept. 14.
-
PMI Named Among ‘Best Companies for the Future’
Philip Morris International Inc. was named to the inaugural WSJ Leadership Institute “Best Companies for the Future” ranking, placing No. 97 overall among S&P 500 companies and third in the Food, Beverage & Tobacco sector behind Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Compiled by Bendable Labs, the ranking evaluates companies across six areas: AI readiness, innovation, talent readiness, financial fitness, resilience, and agility.
PMI said the recognition reflects its transformation into a consumer goods company focused on smoke-free products, supported by investments in science, innovation, and organizational capabilities. Group CEO Jacek Olczak said the ranking highlights the company’s progress in adapting to changing consumer preferences and advancing its long-term smoke-free strategy. PMI also noted that its flagship heated tobacco brand, IQOS, was recently named to Kantar’s BrandZ 2026 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking.