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Category: Around the Industry

  • Behike Filled Humidor Sells for Record $4.8

    Behike Filled Humidor Sells for Record $4.8

    The final night of the Habanos Festival in Cuba traditionally ends with a lavish gala, culminating with a humidor auction with the proceeds helping the Cuban healthcare system. The final humidor of the night sold for a record $4.8 million, driving the evening total to over $17 million.

    Crafted by Ernesto Aguilera of Humidores Habana, the humidor stood more than two-and-a-half feet tall and more than four-and-a-half feet wide with a curved design, mother-of-pearl inlays, and Swarovski crystals. The true prize, however, was what was inside it: a motherlode of all four of the Cohiba Behike BHK sizes from the dinner that night. Cohiba Behike BHK cigars are arguably the most in-demand cigars in the world, seldom seen in stores anywhere, and the record-setting humidor contained 100 of each size: the 52, 54, 56, and the new 58. 

    Cigar Aficionado covered the event in wonderful detail.

  • Judge Seals Docs in Juul Case

    Judge Seals Docs in Juul Case

    On Tuesday (Feb. 25), a federal judge in North Carolina granted requests by R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Philip Morris’ parent company, Altria, to seal documents in their ongoing royalty dispute, keeping details of their licensing agreements with the vape brand JUUL confidential.

    “The court ruled that the agreements contained sensitive business information — including financial terms, licensing strategies and negotiation details — that could harm competitive standing, and all six motions to seal were granted,” Andrea Keckley wrote for Law360.

    The court found that an amendment to a licensing agreement between Altria and JUUL and a copy of a licensing agreement between the two were confidential and that disclosing them would “harm the party’s competitive standing or otherwise harm its business interests.” The filings stem RJR’s bid for relief against a $95 million judgement after a jury sided with Altria in a 2022 patent infringement case. The defense has argued that it should receive relief because a deal with Juul sublicensed the asserted patents.

    “Ultimately, however, this court need not decide whether the documents or hearing are protected by the First Amendment’s right of access, because even assuming the First Amendment standard applies, movants have put forth compelling interests in sealing the order and the proposed sealing is narrowly tailored such that the First Amendment right of access has been overcome,” U.S. District Judge William Lindsay Osteen Jr wrote. “Although this court has considered less drastic alternatives to sealing, the parties have already redacted their filings so as to allow public access to as much information as possible without compromising sensitive business information,” he wrote. “It is this court’s view that the parties’ proposed redactions reflect the least drastic alternative at this time.”

  • Montana Judge Denies Attempt to Block Tobacco Lobbyists

    Montana Judge Denies Attempt to Block Tobacco Lobbyists

    A federal judge in Missoula, Montana, denied a state representative’s attempts to block lobbyists from major cigarette manufacturers from engaging lawmakers on his bill, Wednesday (Feb. 26).

    Rep. Ron Marshall, who also owns a vape shop, sued Altria and R.J. Reynolds in federal court earlier this month alleging the companies violated anti-lobbying provisions set out in a 1998 settlement. One of the bills lobbied against was H.B. 149 that would have required vaping products be removed from all-ages retailers like gas stations and sold only in age-restricted locations like liquor stores or vape shops. Marshall sponsored the bill.

    U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen found that the settlement agreement forbids the states from assigning any enforcement of those anti-lobbying provisions to a third party. Therefore, Marshall did not have any legal footing to bring the lawsuit against Altria and R.J. Reynolds. The enforcement duties would typically belong to Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, but Marshall said Knudsen “would have too great a conflict of interest to take up the case as both Altria and R.J. Reynolds were ‘platinum’ sponsors” of his inauguration party in January.

    After the ruling, Marshall filed and was granted a dismissal of the case.

  • Riot Labs Launches “Supercharged” Line of Flavors

    Riot Labs Launches “Supercharged” Line of Flavors

    Riot Labs launched its “supercharged” Riot X flavor collection for 2025, featuring 12 maximum-intensity flavors that the company says will deliver the “purest, punchiest hit of flavor on the market.” The company says it has a “massive opportunity” to support vapers as June’s impending ban on disposable products in the U.K. nears.

    “Amid increased government regulation on the sector, we must not forget the hundreds of thousands of adult smokers who use vaping, proven to be the most effective quitting tool, as part of their quitting journey,” said Ben Johnson, CEO and Founder of Riot Labs. “In a pivotal year, choice of flavor plays a crucial role in smokers turning to vaping to help them kick the habit and it’s the perfect moment to launch Riot X to help consumers who will inevitably need to move to pods or refillables to maintain their quitting efforts.”

    According to Riot Labs, its team spent years perfecting the blends of each e-liquid to produce “maximum intensity with maximum clarity,” allowing every layer of the flavor to shine through.

    The flavors include: Blackcurrant & Passionfruit, Cherry Ice, Strawberry & Melon Chew, Sour Pineapple Razz, Blueberry & Peach Fizz, Orange & Raspberry Ice, Blueberry Sour Strawberry, Morello Cherry & Banana, Grape & Strawberry, Cola Ice, Sweet Mint and Dark Fruits. Nicotine strengths of 5mg, 10mg and 20mg will be available starting from an RRP of £3.99.  

  • Jordan’s Tobacco Use “Alarming” 

    Jordan’s Tobacco Use “Alarming” 

    Jordan’s Minister of Health, Firas Al-Hawari, announced the results of a national survey about the nation’s tobacco use, which he called “alarming.” Speaking with Jordanian adults 15 and older, the results were:

    • 71.2% of males and 28.8% of females smoked
    • 38.6% of people started smoking before the age of 18
    • 33.8% of smokers light up within the first five minutes of waking up
    • 53% supported a tobacco tax increase, including 33% of smokers
    • 43% smoke tobacco daily (65% of men, 17% of women)
    • Smokers average 22 cigarettes per day
    • 14.3% smoke shisha
    • 4.1% used heated tobacco products (of them, 82.6% were men)
    • 7.2% use e-cigarettes (of them, 79% are men) 
    • 59% of smokers said they want to quit
  • JTI Expands Nordic Spirit Line

    JTI Expands Nordic Spirit Line

    JTI UK has expanded its Nordic Spirit nicotine pouch range with the introduction of two variants designed to elevate the consumer experience: Frosty Berry and Frosty Mint flavors. Available now for independent retailers and symbol groups, both products feature higher menthol and moisture content combined with an improved flavor recipe, delivering an instant and intensified flavor burst, according to the company.

    “Increased flavor intensity and mentholated products are the top priorities for consumers in this category,” said Bruce Terry, Portfolio Brand Manager at JTI UK. “That’s why we focused on these elements when developing our new Frosty range.

    “The improved taste and intensified experience of our Frosty variants position us to drive growth in the category, offering retailers an exciting opportunity to boost sales and profits.”

    As the UK nicotine pouch market continues to grow, this launch addresses consumer preferences for stronger strengths and refreshing flavors. Strong and extra-strong variants now account for 60.1% of the nicotine pouch market, while mint flavors dominate with an 83.6% share. Meanwhile, fruit flavors hold a notable 15.5% share, making these new variants perfectly aligned with market trends.

    As the UK’s No.1 nicotine pouch in the independent channel, Nordic Spirit generates £4.5 million in monthly sales.

  • North Dakota Votes to Up Taxes on All Nicotine Products

    North Dakota Votes to Up Taxes on All Nicotine Products

    The North Dakota Senate voted 26-21 Monday to raise taxes on tobacco and alternative products. Senate Bill 2281 would raise North Dakota’s cigarette tax from 44 cents per pack to 69 cents, and also impose a 31% tax on the wholesale purchase of cigars and a 28% tax on the wholesale purchase of alternative products.

    North Dakota has not raised taxes on cigarettes in over 30 years and this increase would move the state from the third-lowest to the 10th-lowest state cigarette taxes in the nation. The increases would be used to establish a Tobacco Tax Distribution Fund, which would be slated to provide an estimated $12.9 million in grants to local public health units and $12 million to organizations providing 988 crisis hotline services.

    The bill previously received a 5-1 recommendation to pass from the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee, and now must pass the House and receive the governor’s signature to become law.

  • Chinese E-Cig Maker Wants Case Against Moved to Federal Court

    Chinese E-Cig Maker Wants Case Against Moved to Federal Court

    A Chinese e-cigarette maker has removed to federal court a suit alleging that the battery in one of its products exploded just days before the trial was set to start in Texas state court, according to Mike Curley, writing for Law360. The removal was filed on Feb. 21 with the trial slated to begin Feb. 24.

    Shenzhen IVPS Technology Co. Ltd. filed a notice of removal for the case filed by Michael Herrera, telling the court that it believed Herrera was not intending to present evidence against the Texas-based retail co-defendants named in the suit and therefore there was diversity jurisdiction warranting removal.

    “When a defendant removes the case after a jury has been sworn in, that kind of tells you everything you need to know,” said William R. Ogden of Farrar & Ball LLP, who represents Herrera. “They were scrambling.”

    In the case, initially filed in October 2023, Herrera said he was using an electronic cigarette made by Shenzhen and distributed by TheSY LLC, and included with the purchase a Sony lithium-ion battery bought from PDK Smoke ‘N Vape LLC and imported by Toro Imports. While Herrera was using the device, he said, it exploded and caused severe burns to his eye and face. TheSY has since been dismissed from the suit.

    In its notice of removal, Curley wrote, “Shenzhen said based on Herrera’s trial witness list and other factors, ‘it is abundantly clear that [the] Plaintiff does not intend to put up any evidence against PDK Smoke or Toro Imports at trial scheduled to start next week.’”

    Ogden said he expects the federal court to remand the case to the Harris County District Court.

    Read the full article (requires a subscription).

  • Philippines to Align Cigarette and Vape Taxes 

    Philippines to Align Cigarette and Vape Taxes 

    The Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it plans to balance taxes on vape products and traditional cigarettes this year to boost collection. It currently charges P63 ($1.07) in taxes per pack of 20 cigarettes and for every 10 ml of classic nicotine liquids, but other vape devices are charged higher at P109.20 ($1.86) for 2 ml salt nicotine pods. From January to November 2024, the government collected P128.98 billion ($2.2 billion) in taxes from tobacco and P1.35 billion ($23 million) from vape products.

    BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said that aligning tax rates for both products is a priority for the BIR to maximize collections from the tobacco and vape industries. “I think it will happen this year,” he said. “There will be an improvement, and the drag down of excise taxes on tobacco and vape will not be that big.”

    Lumagui also said the BIR will be destroying confiscated cigarettes nationwide, with vape products to be destroyed once they are inventoried.

  • CAPHRA Wants WHO to Embrace Consumer Voices

    CAPHRA Wants WHO to Embrace Consumer Voices

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) demanded the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) end its exclusion of consumer organizations and adopt evidence-based tobacco harm reduction (THR) as a vital public health strategy ahead of its COP11 meeting.

    CAPHRA called on COP11 delegates to grant formal observer status to consumer groups, adopt risk-proportionate regulations distinguishing safer products from cigarettes, and subject WHO FCTC policies to United Nations human rights oversight.

    “The WHO must evolve. Consumer advocates are not the enemy—they’re the bridge to pragmatic solutions and essential partners in reducing smoking-related harm,” said Nancy Loucas, CAPHRA Executive Coordinator. “COP11 must prioritize transparency and science over ideology. Lives hang in the balance.”

    CAPHRA pointed to New Zealand’s progressive vaping policies that have helped the adult smoking rate drop below 6% in 2024 and Japan’s adoption of heated tobacco products have also driven smoking rates to record lows. Conversely, Australia’s prohibitionist approach has fueled a thriving black market for unregulated vaping products, exposing consumers to greater risks.

    “The WHO’s refusal to engage with consumer groups—those most directly affected by its policies—undermines global public health,” said Loucas. “By silencing consumer voices and dismissing safer alternatives, they prioritize ideology over science, costing lives.”