TobaccoReporter logo

Category: Around the Industry

  • Black Buffalo Adds Pro Slapper as Brand Ambassador

    Black Buffalo Adds Pro Slapper as Brand Ambassador

    Black Buffalo announced the addition of Power Slap standout Branden “The Butcher” Bordeaux to its growing roster of brand ambassadors. The alternative tobacco company’s roster of ambassadors includes UFC legends, pro athletes, and military heroes “who believe in hard work and resilience.”

    “A butcher, family man, and rising force in the world of Power Slap, Bordeaux embodies the resilience, grit, and work ethic at the core of the Black Buffalo brand,” the company said in its press release. “From running a mobile slaughter business in West Michigan to delivering heavy-handed performances in one of the fastest-growing combat sports, Branden brings a blue-collar mentality and unwavering purpose to everything he does.”

    As part of the partnership, Bordeaux will collaborate with the brand on exclusive content, community engagement, and bringing more visibility to Black Buffalo’s tobacco-alternative offerings.

    “I was introduced to Black Buffalo because I am a longtime dipper,” Bordeaux said. “Amazing company, with amazing products, run by even better people, and that’s what means the most to me. I am very honored to be part of the Black Buffalo family and to have such a great team of individuals behind me.”

  • STG Adds Three Flavors to Nicotine Pouch Line

    STG Adds Three Flavors to Nicotine Pouch Line

    Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has added three fruit-flavored varieties to its XQS nicotine pouch range: Raspberry Blackcurrant, Strawberry Kiwi, and Berrynana Twist. Each product has a nicotine strength of 8 mg, and a suggested retail price of £5.50.

    The launch comes as nicotine pouches have seen 79% annual volume growth to be worth just under £136m, not including online sales. With the disposable vape ban coming into force in June, STG expects nicotine pouch sales will receive a further boost as many vape users look for different next-gen nicotine options.

    STG UK’s head of marketing Prianka Jhingan said the supplier’s sales force would visit stores around the UK to encourage stocking the lines and offer a new countertop merchandising unit to display them.

  • Washington: State Lawmakers Want to Increase Taxes and Ban Products

    Washington: State Lawmakers Want to Increase Taxes and Ban Products

    Democratic lawmakers in the state of Washington have revamped their approach to banning flavored tobacco products and combined it with an increase in cigarette taxes. The new legislation, House Bill 2068, revives the ambitious and controversial prohibition that made little progress in the state so far this year.

    The initial proposal banned flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine products beginning 90 days after the legislative session ends. The new ban, however, would begin July 1, 2027, allowing the state to continue collecting tax revenue for a budget that is predicted to have a $16 billion deficit over the next four years.

    Critics of such bans argue they lead to increased cigarette use as consumers look for alternatives, and that people who’ve turned to electronic cigarettes to quit smoking traditional cigarettes would no longer have flavored options. 

    Also in the new bill, according to Jake Goldstein-Street writing for the Washington Standard, the age to purchase nicotine pouches would be raised to 21 and “a $2-per-pack tax on cigarettes would be added that would rise with inflation. The first $5 million from the new tax would go toward preventing youth tobacco and vape use, while the rest would go into the state’s general fund.” Washington smokers already face one of the nation’s highest state cigarette taxes, totaling $3.77 between excise and sales taxes, he said. The tax new provisions would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

  • Vape Batteries Causing Rise in Waste Fires

    Vape Batteries Causing Rise in Waste Fires

    Last year was “a year of growth” for Fire Rover, but as a company that specializes in fire detection and suppression, that’s not entirely good news. The company, which releases annual reports on waste and recycling facility fires in the U.S. and Canada, said it saw a 60% increase in fire identifications in 2024. Confirmed fires have increased from 1,409 in 2022, to 1,809 in 2023, to 2,910 last year. Publicly reported fire incidents at waste and recycling facilities also hit 398, a new high since Fire Rover began compiling its report eight years ago.

    Fires at waste facilities are nothing new and can be sparked from numerous causes. However, Ryan Fogelman, CEO of Fire Rover, says lithium-ion batteries pose a growing problem, specifically those from e-cigarettes, vapes, and other battery-powered nicotine devices. He said, based on his experience and some assumptions, that about half of the fires he’s tracking originate with batteries. Roughly $2.5 billion of loss to facilities and infrastructure came from fires last year, divided between traditional hazards and batteries.

    “Not only are their batteries being improperly discarded in waste and recycling bins, but the vape industry has done the bare minimum to invest in the technology needed to address the 1.2 billion vapes entering our waste and recycling streams annually,” Fogelman said.

    “Vapes are perhaps the most effective single thing the e-waste and recycling industries could target,” Kevin Purdy, wrote for ARS Technica. “If everybody knew how to dispose of vapes properly, at sites that can safely handle them, there could be a reduction in risk.

    “But that safe, evenly distributed vape disposal network does not exist.”

  • Escobar Cigars to France

    Escobar Cigars to France

    Escobar Cigars continues its international expansion, announcing that it has signed a distribution agreement with Eurotab to distribute its products in France.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Eurotab France to bring our handcrafted cigars to discerning smokers in France,” said David Gomes, founder of Escobar, in a press release. Eurotab expects to have Escobar’s cigars in 30 shops by the end of April.

  • Fratello Cigars Signs New Deal in U.K.

    Fratello Cigars Signs New Deal in U.K.

    Fratello announced that it has signed a new agreement with Tabac World Ltd., to distribute its cigars in the U.K. Tabac World is run by Keith Allen and his daughter Lyndsay France.

    “I am ecstatic to join Keith and Lyndsay in this journey,” said Omar de Frias, founder of Fratello, in a press release. “When we met a few years back at the Premium Cigar Association, their passion for cigars and dedication to their customers aligned perfectly with our core values.”

    With the addition of the U.K., Fratello says its cigars are sold in approximately 30 countries.

    “We’re thrilled to bring Fratello Cigars to the UK market,” said France. “Fratello’s distinctive style offers something truly exciting for our specialist retailers. We’re proud to partner with a brand that shares our passion for quality, relationships, and innovation in the premium cigar space.”

  • Plasencia to Feature New 5-Packs at PCA

    Plasencia to Feature New 5-Packs at PCA

    With PCA 2025 around the corner, many cigar companies are announcing their upcoming releases this week. Plasencia Cigars said it plans to introduce a new series of five-packs, featuring the popular award-winning Alma Fuerte and Alma Del Campo blends. Six variations of the five-packs will now be available on the market. After strong sales performance on the global Duty-Free channel, and successful tests in a limited number of duty-paid markets, Plasencia is introducing these formats across all channels.

    “The new 5-pack presentation features our finest cigars, meticulously crafted with the same dedication and expertise that Plasencia Cigars is renowned for,” the company said in a release. “This compact size is ideal for busy individuals who appreciate the luxury of a premium cigar but also require a more practical option for their active lifestyles.”

    There are six variations of the five packs, ranging in price from $85.50 per pack to $116.75.

    “This offering not only meets the needs of our on-the-go premium cigar consumer but also provides retailers with an excellent opportunity to enhance their merchandising and sales strategies,” said Victor Lilue, CMO of Plasencia Cigars.

  • Fire Ravages AJ Fernandez’s Main Factory in Nicaragua

    Fire Ravages AJ Fernandez’s Main Factory in Nicaragua

    A fire has ravaged Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua, the main factory for the AJ Fernandez operation. According to local news reports, everyone including the company’s school, was evacuated safely with no serious injuries reported.

    According to Halfwheel, the factory is one of the largest in the world, producing cigars for a long list of companies, including some of the world’s largest, like Altadis U.S.A. and General Cigar Co., and smaller brands like Foundation Cigar Co. and Artesano del Tobacco. AJ Fernandez operates another factory, the San Lotano Factory, in Ocotal, about 40 miles north of Estelí.

    Videos showed firefighters battling a large blaze in one of the buildings. Multiple sources said the fire appears to be in the packaging department, and it’s unclear how much of the rest of the building has been damaged.

    “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed for us, and stood by our side during this incredibly difficult time,” the company said in a statement. “Your love and support mean more than words can express. We are beyond grateful for the strength of our community, our team, and all those who have shown up for us. Above all, we are thankful that everyone is safe. In moments like these, we’re reminded of the power of unity and we feel it now more than ever. We will move forward, united, resilient, and more committed than ever to what we stand for.”

  • El Septimo Displaying New Line with $25M Humidors

    El Septimo Displaying New Line with $25M Humidors

    With the annual PCA Trade Show less than two weeks away, many companies are looking to make a splash at one of the cigar industry’s biggest events. El Septimo is doing just that, as it announced it will be displaying three custom-built, El Septimo Fabergé Egg Cigar Humidors, each valued at $25 million. Each humidor contains more than 475 carats of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, but they are not for sale.

    The spectacle is to promote El Septimo’s release of its Doble Gran Reserva. The Doble Gran Reserva is a 6 x 52 toro that uses an Ecuadorian wrapper over a Dominican binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The company says that all of the tobacco used is aged between seven and 10 years.

    Each cigar will have an MSRP of $125, and production is limited to 1,000 boxes of 14 cigars. 

  • PMI Earns Real Estate Award for Colorado Zyn Project

    PMI Earns Real Estate Award for Colorado Zyn Project

    Philip Morris International’s (PMI) purchase and planned development of 150 acres of land in Aurora, Colorado, in July 2024 earned a 2025 CoStar Impact Award, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market. According to the seller, Opus Development Co., the site acquisition by PMI’s United States-based affiliate, Kairus, Inc., was one of the largest direct land sales to a user and set a record price per square foot based on land area. PMI plans to invest $600 million into building a manufacturing hub for Zyn nicotine pouches.

    “PMI and its U.S. affiliates are accelerating their mission to move adults who smoke away from cigarettes by investing in new manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing demand for nicotine options that are scientifically substantiated as better alternatives,” PMI Americas President and U.S. CEO Stacey Kennedy said in a statement unveiling the company’s development plans. “We believe Colorado is like-minded in its commitment to innovation, economic opportunity and public health, and we’re eager to work with the state and its talented workforce as we expand our U.S. manufacturing presence.”

    The project is expected to generate more than $1 billion in economic contributions for the Denver-area suburb by the time it is fully operational in 2026, and will host at least 500 full-time employees, and generate upward of $550 million annually in economic benefits statewide.