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Category: Around the Industry

  • Spain Gets First-Ever Juan Lopez Cigar

    Spain Gets First-Ever Juan Lopez Cigar

    For the first time in Cuba’s Regional Edition program, a Juan Lopez cigar is being exclusively made for Spain. The Juan Lopez Cincuenta y Cuatro, which translates to the number 54 in Spanish, refers to the cigar’s relatively thick ring gauge, measuring 4 3/4 inches by 54 ring gauge.

    The cigars have a suggested retail price of €22 each or €220 per box of 10, and only 50,000 boxes are being produced. According to Spain’s official Habanos distributor, Tabacalera S.L.U., these are medium-to-full-bodied cigars.

    “Once a much larger brand, the now small Cuban Juan Lopez line consists of only a few regular-production sizes, and only sees new releases through limited editions, anniversary humidors or Regional Editions such as this,” Gregory Mottola wrote for Cigar Aficionado. “One of the cigar’s defining details is its band. The Cincuenta y Cuatro does not have the traditional Juan Lopez band found on the core line, but is adorned with a customized variation made just for this release. The central motif is different, emphasizing the name of the cigar. And two gold medals have been added to each side, one depicting the original Juan Lopez design and the other, an embossment of the Palace of the Captains General, a Colonial Baroque building located in Old Havana.”

  • Arizona Retailers Claim They Were Duped by Altria Rep

    Arizona Retailers Claim They Were Duped by Altria Rep

    Several Arizona e-cigarette retailers claim they were duped into signing a petition to ban flavored vapes in the state by a representative of Altria. Casey Chanda, the manager of a liquor store, told The Arizona Republic that a representative for the tobacco giant showed up at his shop offering a list of flavored vapes that would be banned under a bill being proposed in the state Legislature. Chanda said he was told he had to sign something to receive the list.

    The next day, Chanda said he saw his store was officially registered on the Legislature’s website as being in support of a bill that would allow only the 34 vape devices currently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be sold. Those 34 products are all made by either Altria, R.J. Reynolds, or Japan Tobacco International, The Arizona Republic reported.

    Chanda said he “flipped out” and called his Marlboro rep.

    “I said, ‘Why the f— would I want to stop selling the vapes?’” he said. “‘Do you know how much money I make?’”

    The store is one of nearly 40 liquor and convenience stores that signed “for” Senate Bill 1603 on the Legislature’s “Request to Speak” system, which allows people to add their names and affiliations to support or oppose a bill. The system helps lawmakers decide how to vote on bills.

    Including Chanda, four of five store owners or managers of liquor and convenience stores contacted by The Arizona Republic said they did not intentionally sign up to support the bill.

    Mike Takrouri, owner of Party Stop Market said his Altria rep said the bill would stop the sale of menthol cigarettes. “Then I found it was not about the menthol cigarettes, it was about the vapes,” he said. “I feel like they were not honest from the beginning.” He said he asked the rep to take his name off the Legislature’s site because he’s not in support of the bill, but as of April 7, it was still there.

    Phil Butler, general manager of Chandler Oil One said that during a recent meeting with his Altria rep about the bill, “the way they presented it to me was not right.”

    “I don’t support it,” he said. “When I signed up for it, I wasn’t given all the information on it.

    “It’s Big Tobacco trying to use the legal system to go after these smaller companies, because they’re taking their profits,” he said, adding that his store profits about $2,500 per month on the flavored vape devices, which outsell “Big Tobacco’s” vape products and have a better margin.

    The Arizona Republic said Altria did not respond to requests for comment from the newspaper about these incidents.

  • USN&WR Runs Down Last Week’s Federal Cuts

    USN&WR Runs Down Last Week’s Federal Cuts

    Today, U.S. News and World Report is running down the major anti-smoking efforts that have been shut down or paused by the U.S. government, most notably the CDC’s popular “Tips From Former Smokers” ad campaign. The program, which began in 2012, features real people who suffered health damage from smoking.

    “We estimate the Tips campaign generated nearly 2.1 million additional calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW during 2012-2023,” researchers wrote. The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, which led work on smoking cessation and research into youth tobacco use, was also cut. Now, with the CDC’s tobacco office staff cut, the campaign may go off the air, a former employee said.

    Former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden, now president of the global health organization Resolve to Save Lives, called the decision a “gift to Big Tobacco.” He told NBC News that, “the only winner here is the tobacco industry and cancer cells.”

    Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made major cuts to tobacco control offices at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dozens of workers were let go, including Brian King, the FDA’s top tobacco regulator.

    In 2023, the CDC gave more than $84 million to state health departments to run quitlines and help smokers quit. Thirteen states may lose at least 30% of their funding, and five states — Connecticut, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia — rely on the CDC for at least 75% of their quitline support, NBC News said.

    Other losses include research projects on tobacco use and the National Youth Tobacco Survey, which tracks smoking and vaping trends among teens. This survey first identified a spike in youth vaping in 2018.

    Kevin Caron, another fired CDC employee, helped trace the deadly 2019 vaping outbreak to vitamin E acetate in fake THC vapes. He said at least five major research projects may end “unless people just independently decide in their free time that they’re going to try to work on them.”

    Despite the cuts, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said tobacco efforts would continue and that the move was part of a larger plan to “streamline operations, enhance responsiveness to the American people, and ultimately improve the nation’s health as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.”

  • IQOS and SELETTI Create “Sensorium” for Milan Design Week

    IQOS and SELETTI Create “Sensorium” for Milan Design Week

    Philip Morris International collaborated with renowned design brand SELETTI to create a virtual, multisensory space where people can meet, converse, and connect as part of Milan Design Week in Italy. The project is titled “Curious X: Sensorium Piazza,” and “bridges the physical and digital worlds, creating an unexpected dimension where art and technology intertwine to create meaningful and extraordinary interactions,” all centered around the traditional Italian piazza. The exhibit will be available at Opificio 31, inside Tortona Rocks from April 7 to 13 2025.

    “Our collaboration with SELETTI is driven by the shared belief that curiosity paves the way to groundbreaking creativity which inspires us to connect, explore new possibilities beyond the limits and challenge the status quo,” said Stefano Volpetti, PMI’s President of Smoke-Free Products & Chief Consumer Officer. “Being forever curious at IQOS is what ultimately enables our quest for the continuous development of better smoke-free alternatives versus smoking,”

    The project also marks the debut of the new experiential platform IQOS Curious X, intended to deliver inspiring experiences to the brand’s ever-growing community of adult consumers. “Curiosity—the engine of creativity and innovation—is at the heart of the journey experienced by the over 32 million users of IQOS globally,” the company said. “Curiosity is at the core of IQOS’ quest to continuously innovate for the better, and this will be brought to life through a yearlong collaboration with SELETTI.”

    Through a multi-platform installation, featuring dynamic technologies and an ever-changing digital canvas molded by real-life interactions, the piazza will transform itself from day to night into an archive of human connections, processing the memories, voices, and figures of those who pass through the exhibit. Paying homage to the bold contrasts and pop reinterpretations typical of SELETTI’s work while at the same time experimenting with innovative codes, Sensorium Piazza transforms each guest from spectator to main character.

  • Cigar Industry Preparing for Trump’s Tariffs

    Cigar Industry Preparing for Trump’s Tariffs

    Yesterday (April 2), President Trump announced that the United States would be implementing widespread tariffs on nearly all products imported into the U.S., which would seemingly include cigars and smoking accessories.

    The Administration is implementing a 10% baseline tariff on nearly all imported goods from all countries except goods that are compliant with the USMCA free trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Additionally, a group of approximately 60 countries is facing additional reciprocal tariffs that are half the rate they charge to the United States.

    “We are monitoring the situation and engaging with appropriate stakeholders to protect the robust premium cigar market in the United States,” said Joshua Habursky, executive director of the Premium Cigar Association. “The administration is well aware of the importance of small business retail in main streets across the country, and we are hoping to mitigate cost burdens on retailers, manufacturers, and consumers overall. America is first in the premium cigar retail space, and we plan to continue to hold that position.”

    The announced new reciprocal tariffs for countries that are relevant to the U.S. cigar industry include:

    • Dominican Republic and Honduras: 10% (matching the universal rate).
    • Nicaragua: 19% (reflecting its 36% tariff on U.S. goods).
    • Costa Rica: 10% (despite a 17% tariff on U.S. goods).
    • Mexico: USMCA-compliant cigars remain at 0%, but non-compliant goods face a 12% tariff if existing fentanyl/migration measures lapse.
    • China: 34 percent
    • European Union: 20 percent

    Writing for halfwheel, Patrick Lagreid said, “The largest percentage increase will not affect cigars, but the accessories used to light and cut them. Products imported from China, which produces a significant amount of cigar accessories, from lighters to cutters, ashtrays, humidors, and other products, will be subject to a 34% reciprocal tariff. This is in addition to a previously implemented 20% tariff, bringing the total to 54%. Last year, multiple executives at cigar accessory companies told halfwheel they were concerned about the potential tariff if Trump were to win the election.”

    The baseline 10 percent tariffs are scheduled to take effect April 5 at 12:01 am ET, and the reciprocal tariffs are slated to go into effect April 9 at 12:01 am ET.

    “We are fully committed to protecting the premium cigar industry, which plays an essential role in supporting American small businesses and consumer interests,” Rob Burgess, of Connector Inc., a PCA Government Affairs representative said. “The PCA’s government relations team is working diligently, engaging actively with government officials and key stakeholders to address the implications of these tariffs. Our aim is to reduce financial pressures while ensuring the United States continues to lead in the premium cigar market, benefiting retailers, manufacturers, and consumers alike.”

    In a statement sent out to its members, Cigar Rights of America said that it is “carefully reviewing the scope and details of today’s policy shift to understand its potential impact on the premium cigar industry, including supply chains, pricing, and retail operations. As the federal government moves forward with implementation, we will continue to monitor developments closely and engage with relevant agencies. We are committed to keeping stakeholders informed and will provide timely updates as additional information and guidance become available.”

    The tariffs come the week before the American cigar industry’s most important sales week: the annual PCA Convention & Trade Show. Most manufacturers will offer retailers aggressive discounts to try to get larger orders, but it’s unclear whether some companies will modify their promotions to account for these tariffs.

  • 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.