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Category: Around the Industry

  • VOOPOO Launches Marketing Campaign Around New Vape Technology

    VOOPOO Launches Marketing Campaign Around New Vape Technology

    VOOPOO launched its Test The Limits campaign around its iCOSM CODE 2.0 technology. This technology is featured in its ARGUS Top Fill Cartridge V2, which the company says “seamlessly integrates Liquid-Seal Shield, Mega-Core, and Golden Cotton, offering a redefined vaping experience.”

    VOOPOO claims these elements introduce three pioneering innovations to the industry that translate to 30 days of cleanliness, consistent flow and steady smoothness, and 100 mL endurance without compromising flavor or performance.

    The campaign runs until September 30, and encourages participants to share experiences with the device on social media, where people can win daily prizes, monthly challenges, and ultimately grand prizes that include a Unitree Go2, iPhone 17 PRO, and a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card.

  • Taiwan: 25% of Cigarettes Become Litter

    Taiwan: 25% of Cigarettes Become Litter

    About 25% of the cigarettes sold in Taiwan are improperly discarded, according to Environmental Management Administration Director-General Yen Hsu-ming, resulting in about 9 billion butts on the streets that could fall into gutters and flow into the ocean.

    The government is looking to combat the environmental issue in numerous ways, including education, fining litterers, monitoring popular smoking points such as convenience stores, distributing 1,800 cigarette snuffers across the city, and launching a clean-up event named “Team Planet,” where 50,000 volunteers picked up litter from the streets.  

    Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming attended the event in Taipei’s Ximending shopping area, saying that maintaining clean streets, keeping cigarette butts of the ground, and preventing dengue fever are the three goals for this year to echo Earth Day.

  • Federal Judge Allows Zyn Lawsuit to Progress

    Federal Judge Allows Zyn Lawsuit to Progress

    A federal judge in Florida allowed key claims to move forward in two consumer class action lawsuits against Philip Morris and its subsidiary, Swedish Match, over allegations that their Zyn nicotine pouches cause ongoing health issues and are deceptively marketed, especially to young people.

    In March, U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas partially granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss, tossing a single claim of fraudulent concealment for lacking sufficient detail and a clear connection between the alleged misrepresentation and the plaintiffs’ injuries. However, the claims were reportedly dismissed without prejudice, giving the plaintiffs an opportunity to amend their complaints. The court upheld the bulk of the plaintiffs’ claims, including those for design defects, failure to warn, and negligence. The judge also rejected Philip Morris’ efforts to dismiss the lawsuits for lack of jurisdiction, finding that the companies’ business activities in Florida, including marketing and selling Zyn, provided sufficient basis for the federal court to hear the case.

    Plaintiffs in the Zyn lawsuits allege Philip Morris and Swedish Match falsely maintain Zyn is a smokeless nicotine replacement therapy from cigarettes or e-cigarettes, despite the nicotine concentration levels in Zyn exceeding the levels found in nicotine replacement therapies. Philip Morris said it is reviewing the ruling and intends to “vigorously defend” itself against the remaining claims.

  • German Study Finds Smokers Unmotivated to Quit

    German Study Finds Smokers Unmotivated to Quit

    A German Study on Tobacco Use (DEBRA) reported that around 30% of the population smoked cigarettes in 2024. The study focused on the habits and thoughts of nearly 1,200 adults who smoked daily and found that 51.2% of people who smoked were not motivated to stop smoking, 29.1% reported an intention to quit in the following year, and the remainder had some desire to quit but had not decided when to try.

    Lack of motivation was highest among people who 65 and older (64.4%) and lowest among those aged 19 to 34 years (38.9%). People with lower socioeconomic status who smoked had less motivation to quit than those with a higher socioeconomic status. In the sample of people who smoke, the barriers to quitting smoking included enjoyment of smoking (50.1%), difficulty in changing habits (41.4%), and lack of discipline (31.2%), with key differences among age groups. Only 27.3% of people who smoke perceived E-cigs/HTPs to have lower health risks relative to cigarettes, versus 84.7% of smoke-free product (SFP) users.

    “The best way to reduce the health risks of smoking is to quit smoking altogether. However, focusing solely on cessation does not acknowledge the real challenges that people who smoke (barriers to quitting) face when trying to quit,” the study concluded. “The survey results, specifically on the lack of motivation to quit, suggest that current tobacco control measures are not effectively motivating the majority of people who smoke in Germany to quit. This study demonstrated that half of the people who smoke surveyed are not motivated to quit, and only 5% plan to quit in the next month. Older segments of the study population (aged 50+) and those in lower-income brackets are even less motivated to quit, with smoking enjoyment being the biggest barrier to quitting, affecting more than 60% of people who smoke and do not want to quit.

    “Lack of motivation to quit smoking and barriers to quitting manifest in different ways, implying that differentiated approaches are required to help people who smoke successfully move away from smoking cigarettes. They should have access to accurate information on the role of combustion-generated toxicants as the primary cause of smoking-related diseases and the relative risks of SFPs compared with continuing to smoke. Sustainably reducing smoking prevalence in Germany will require an integrated strategy that complements the existing tobacco control and prevention measures with tools based on the principles of tobacco harm reduction.”

  • PCA Announces Next Four Shows

    PCA Announces Next Four Shows

    After the 2025 PCA Convention & Trade Show ended last weekend, the Premium Cigar Association announced the show dates and locations for the next four years:

    • PCA 2026 — New Orleans Morial Convention Center (April 17-20)
    • PCA 2027 — Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall (March 5-8)
    • PCA 2028 — Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall (March 3-6)
    • PCA 2029 — New Orleans Morial Convention Center (TBA)

    The PCA says nearly 6,000 people registered to attend this year’s event, making it the largest cigar-focused event in the world. The annual PCA Convention & Trade Show is an industry event where companies that sell cigars, cigar accessories, and other adjacent products exhibit.

  • UAE Points to Sweden in Approving Nicotine Pouches

    UAE Points to Sweden in Approving Nicotine Pouches

    The UAE approved the sale of synthetic nicotine pouches—subject to sellers meeting safety standards set out by the government—with the hope that the smoke-free nicotine alternatives entering the market would be helpful in helping people quit smoking. Smoking rates remain relatively high in the UAE and Middle East in general, with 12% and 20% of the people smoking, respectively.

    The UAE vaping market is expected to be worth $78 million this year, according to market analysts Statista.

    UAE officials pointed to the potential nicotine pouches showed elsewhere, particularly in Europe. With the help of alternative nicotine products, Sweden slashed smoking rates and transitioned toward harm-reduction public health policies on tobacco, reducing rates of lung, lip and oral cancer, as well as oesophageal, and stomach cancers considerably since 1980.

    “We have replaced cigarette smoking with alternative nicotine products, pouches, and that has really had a dramatic impact on the public health here in Sweden,” said Patrik Hildingsson, director of oral category communication at Philip Morris, producers of the globally popular Zyn nicotine pouch. “Cigarette smoking is harmful to health, there is no doubt about that. To reduce the harm, you need to quit, but many people just don’t, they stay with their cigarettes. For these people, we need to give them alternatives to get out of the combustions, the smoke process, and the chemicals that come with burning a crop.”

  • Apostate Cigars Joins Oveja Negra Family

    Apostate Cigars Joins Oveja Negra Family

    Oveja Negra Brands announced that it will bring Apostate Cigars into its stable beginning in June, joining its three current brands, Black Label Trading Co., Black Works Studio, and Emilio Cigars. Oveja Negra Brands offers a unified sales and marketing team and centralized distribution through L.J. Zucca, a tobacco distributor since 1947.

    “We’re thrilled and honored to be joining the Oveja Negra Brands, which we have long admired,” said Kendrick Woolstenhulme, co-founder and president of Apostate Cigars. “We are excited for the things to come and look forward to adding our blends to this amazing table.”

    Brandon Oveson, co-founder and vice president at Apostate Cigars, called this a “melding of values,” adding that both companies have carved their own respective paths to this point.

    “Apostate is a great example of a uniquely different brand that fits what we’re looking for,” said James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Company and a partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra. “Their predominantly Dominican portfolio and blend style will be a great addition to Oveja Negra Brands.”

  • Illegal Tobacco Stressing Australian Emergency Responders

    Illegal Tobacco Stressing Australian Emergency Responders

    As illegal tobacco sales continue to increase across Australia, so too are violent crimes as organized syndicates get more brazen in their push for market share. There have been more than 100 fire bombings in Victoria in the last two years, with similar tactics being used in New South Wales and now spreading to Queensland.

    The Australian Medical Association Queensland warns that in addition to the obvious dangers of the fire bombings, the increase in violent attacks on tobacconists is also putting further pressure on overworked emergency departments, including police, fire, paramedics, and hospitals.

    “We are also concerned that a growing black market could see increased violence leading to avoidable emergency department presentations and pressure on our doctors and nurses,” said Nick Yim, president of the medical association.

    Queensland is attempting to battle the illicit market with more regulation, increasing fines tenfold. Individuals selling illegal products can now be fined A$32,260 ($20,646) while corporations can be fined A$161,300 ($103,232). Authorities now also have the option to close offending businesses for up to six months.

    The federal government announced in March it would pump A$157 million ($100 million) into federal health, crime, and tax agencies across two years to strengthen enforcement and target crime gangs.

    “This is a national issue that requires a national response, which is why the Albanese Labor government’s $156.7 million investment to tackle the tobacco black market is so critical,” said Mark Bailey, a spokesman for Shadow Health.

  • J.C. Newman Reintroduces Line First Rolled Out 125 Years Ago

    J.C. Newman Reintroduces Line First Rolled Out 125 Years Ago

    Established in 1895, J.C. Newman touts itself as “America’s oldest family-owned premium cigar maker.” This past weekend, during the PCA trade show in New Orleans, the company revived one of its most historic brands, reintroducing its Sarzedas line.

    The U.S. Patent Office records show that J.C. Newman first rolled Sarzedas cigars in 1900. A century ago, Sarzedas was widely known as “The Aromatic Cigar.” The new Sarzedas cigars are handmade at J.C. Newman’s PENSA cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

    “I have loved the Sarzedas name and the brand’s history as ‘The Aromatic Cigar’ for years,” said fourth-generation owner Drew Newman. “I have been wanting to bring this historic brand back, but had to wait until we could create a blend that lives up to the brand’s legacy. Sarzedas is the most flavorful cigar we have ever made.”

    Sarzedas cigars are rolled in four sizes, a 6” x 50 toro, a 4.75” x 52 robusto, a 7” x 48 Churchill, and a 5.5” x 43 corona. They were blended by Rich Dolak, J.C. Newman’s longtime Vice President of Operations who has blending the cigars with the Newmans for 29 years. Sarzedas features an Ecuadorian Shade wrapper, and binder and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic Nicaragua. J.C. Newman will set the suggested retail price when Sarzedas is ready to ship this summer but expects it to be between $8 and $10 per cigar.

  • Cigar Brand Wrap-Up

    Cigar Brand Wrap-Up

    Put on by The Premium Cigar Association, the PCA 2025 Trade Show is one of the biggest events of the year in the cigar industry, with more than 250 manufacturers of premium cigars, tobacco, and accessories showing their goods for thousands of attendees. The show opens today (April 11) in New Orleans and promises to be four days of action as manufacturers offer deals to retailers for the coming year, with many companies announcing new lines. Below is a (partial) list of the cigar brand updates that have been announced this week.

    AJ Fernandez to Release New World Decenio at PCA25 | PCA

    Byron 175th Anniversary to Debut at PCA 2025 | halfwheel

    Caldwell Releasing New The King is Dead Escape Plan at PCA 2025 | halfwheel

    Caldwell Bringing Long Live the King Mad Mofo Habano to PCA 2025 | halfwheel

    Camacho Limited Edition 2025 Slated for June | halfwheel

    New Cigars For PCA From E.P. Carrillo | Cigar Aficionado

    Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Collaborates With La Gloria Cubana | Cigar Aficionado

    Ceniza Fina Announces Connecticut Line | halfwheel

    Crowned Heads Launching Broadway Line | Cigar Aficionado

    Deadwood Dominicana Shipping Next Week | halfwheel

    Diesel Launching Limited Edition Backyard Barbecue Series Pullk | halfwheel

    Diesel Whiskey Row Founder’s Collection Raceking Shipping in May | halfwheel

    Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Unveils 2025 Releases Ahead of 10-Year Milestone | PCA

    El Rey del Mundo Introduces Appointment Line | Cigar Aficionado

    Emilio Cigars Limited Edition Static Releasing at PCA25 | PCA

    Espinosa Re-Upping 601 La Bomba Warhead 1 and Warhead 6 Releases | halfwheel

    Espinosa Cigars Expands Knuckle Sandwich Line with All-Nicaraguan Puro | PCA

    Fratello Cigars Launches Puro Collection | Cigar Aficionado

    Foundation Cigar Company Expands The Wise Man with New Lanceros | PCA

    J.C. Newman Dives Into History Books for New Sarzedas Line | halfwheel

    La Flor Dominicana Making Changes To Original Blend | Cigar Aficionado

    Luciano Cigars Crafts Limited Edition Maria Lucia for PCA 2025 | halfwheel

    Gold & Bullet Cigars And Accessories From The OpusX Society | Cigar Aficionado

    Perdomo Cigars Announces Upcoming Perdomo Legacy Release | PCA

    A Romeo y Julieta Made Just For The Kentucky Derby | Cigar Aficionado

    Room101 Celebrates a Decade of Johnny Tobacconaut with Limited Edition Release | halfwheel