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Category: Around the Industry

  • 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.”

  • Davidoff Taps New Boss of USA Operations

    Davidoff Taps New Boss of USA Operations

    On Friday (Feb. 21), Oettinger Davidoff AG announced that Emanuele Uccellini would assume the role of new general manager and president for Davidoff of Geneva USA beginning March 3. The 38-year-old joins Davidoff after eight years at the Lavazza Group, where he served in multiple leadership positions in several countries. He also spent four years at Procter & Gamble in Italy.

    “I have tremendous confidence that with his experience and his innovative and dynamic mindset, Emanuele Uccellini will accelerate our business in the challenging U.S. market and take it to the next level,” said Beat Hauenstein, CEO of Oettinger Davidoff. “Emanuele has a proven track record of developing successful channel strategies that are based on win-win propositions and understands the importance and value of relationships built on trust and accountability.”

    Uccellini replaces Dylan Austin who served that position from 2019 to 2024.

    “I am very excited to join the Davidoff of Geneva USA family in Pinellas Park,” Uccellini said. “And I look forward to continuing driving the growth of the company’s strong brand portfolio together with the team, while at the same time strengthening its position as an indispensable business partner for our U.S. customers and partners.”

  • Croatian Smokers, Tobacco Growers on the Rise

    Croatian Smokers, Tobacco Growers on the Rise

    According to a study, 37% of people in Croatia used tobacco products last month, an increase of 4% from two years ago. Of those users, 74% smoked cigarettes, a 6% increase from 2023. The study was carried out by JA Trgovac magazine and Hendal, a respected global market research agency.

    Tobacco use, however, is creating a boon for the country. The research indicated that 20% of the users were spending upward of €4.50 per day on the taxed products. In addition, Hrvatski Duhani, a BAT subsidiary located in Virovitica, reported buying more than 4,500 tons of tobacco from 250 local growers last year for more than €20 million, an increase of 41% from two years earlier. 

  • Kingsmakers Partners with Carmelo Anthony

    Kingsmakers Partners with Carmelo Anthony

    Kingmakers Cigars announced the upcoming release of Versa, a premium cigar said to embody passion, excellence, and resilience. In its latest celebrity collaboration, the company is partnering with 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony as the face of it.

    The name comes from the Latin word Versatilis, which stands for adaptability and strength. The cigar has a “complex yet smooth flavor profile that caters to both seasoned aficionados and newcomers.”

    According to Kingmakers, “the blend is comprised of a Habano 2000 wrapper, a Sumatra binder, and filler tobacco from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania. This medium-to-full-bodied smoke starts with notes of black pepper and spicy chili before transitioning to creamy undertones and nut and espresso notes. The cigar finishes with notes of dark chocolate, molasses, roasted almonds, and deep, leathery, and earthy notes. The finish also has subtle hints of dried fruits and black coffee, making for a memorable smoking experience.”

    Versa will be available March 31, 2025, and is currently available for pre-sale.

  • Ferio Tego Available in Canada

    Ferio Tego Available in Canada

    Ferio Tego announced that its products will now be available in Canada, partnering with Kretek International Canada for distribution.    

    “We have enjoyed working closely with the outstanding team at Kretek Canada,” said Brendon Scott, co-owner of Ferio Tego. “Canada has a robust premium cigar market with tremendous retailers and passionate consumers, and we’re excited to offer our brands in this market.”

    The initial launch will feature its Elegancia, Summa, Timeless Sterling, and Timeless Prestige lines, all manufactured in the Dominican Republic. Additional company offerings from Nicaragua and Honduras will be available later in 2025.

    “The complexity, style, and origins of our blends make them quite distinctive,” said Michael Herklots, co-owner of Ferio Tego. “Our neighbors in the north have sought out our blends over the years, so we’re pleased to finally deliver them to their local tobacconists with the help of Kretek Canada.”   

    This is the third international expansion for the company over the last two years following successful releases in Asia and the United Arab Emirates.

  • JTI Ranks No. 2 Among Philippines Top Employers

    JTI Ranks No. 2 Among Philippines Top Employers

    The Top Employers Institute, the global authority in recognizing outstanding people practices, ranked JTI Philippines second on its “Top Employers in the Philippines” list. It is the fourth straight year JTI was ranked on the list, with this being its highest-ever ranking.

    “To be awarded No. 2 Top Employer in the Philippines stands as a testament to how JTI puts its people at the heart of everything we do,” said Ari Wisnubroto, people and culture director at JTI Philippines. “Aside from continuing to improve our work environment and caring for their wellbeing, we pride ourselves on our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

     “In March, we will be celebrating our 25th year in the Philippines and we do this as the fastest-growing tobacco company in the country. We owe these two milestones to our hardworking employees who live out the culture and values of JTI. The Top Employer recognition is a celebration of our people and a pledge to continue cultivating a work environment that champions employees’ wellbeing, growth, and inclusion for many more years to come.”

    Included among JTI’s progressive programs are 20 fully-paid weeks of family leave for parents welcoming a child regardless of their gender or way they become parents; the Drive Ahead initiative offers free driving lessons to women without driving experience who want to pursue a field-based career in JTI; and the Bright Start program sponsors individuals from disadvantaged communities with the opportunity to earn a college degree while earning a salary and developing careers at JTI.

    JTI is also one of only 17 companies to be recognized this year as Global Top Employer. It is their 11th consecutive year to be certified by the Top Employers Institute for commendable people policies and practices worldwide.

  • PMI to Present at CAGNY

    PMI to Present at CAGNY

    Philip Morris International announced its participation in the 2025 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference, where CEO Jacek Olczak and CFO Emmanuel Babeau will present on February 19, 2025, at 1 p.m. EST. The presentation will be accessible via live audio webcast at www.pmi.com/2025CAGNY or through the company’s investor relations app at www.pmi.com/irapp.

    The company executives are expected to talk about PMI’s transformation toward a smoke-free future, having invested more than $14 billion since 2008 in developing and commercializing smoke-free products. Following its acquisition of Swedish Match, 39% of PMI’s annual net revenue now comes from the smoke-free segment with brands like IQOS and ZYN.

    For more than 50 years, CAGNY has been connecting investors, management teams, and the media dedicated to the consumer industry. It asserts to be “the largest not-for-profit of its kind” and hosts various events throughout the year, highlighted by the CAGNY conference in Boca Raton, Florida.

    The webcast replay will be available at the same link until March 21, 2025.

  • JT Again Recognized for Corporate Sustainability

    JT Again Recognized for Corporate Sustainability

    For the sixth year in a row, Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) has been recognized for its leadership in corporate sustainability by the global environmental non-profit organization CDP. With nearly 25,000 companies participating in the 2024 environmental disclosure program, JT was one of the select few to make the “A list,” based on the way it approached climate change.

    As part of its materiality and sustainability core, JT says it believes that as nature, society, and people’s lives are intertwined, sustaining our ways of living and the activities of corporate entities will depend on the sustainability of the environment and societies in which we live. “On this basis, we have looked at our past environmental initiatives. We did so from the perspective of the ecosystem, considering the aspect of biodiversity as well as the impact that our business may have on the ecosystem.”

    “We are honored that the JT Group has been recognized on CDP’s A List for the sixth consecutive year,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Hisato Imokawa. “This inclusion reflects our ongoing efforts to preserve ecosystems and enhance our transparency in sharing information. To fulfill the JT Group purpose of “Fulfilling Moments, Enriching Life,” we will continue to pursue our vision of sustainability and maintain the trust of our stakeholders by enhancing our efforts that are distinctive of the JT Group in collaboration with our suppliers.”

    CDP is a global non-profit that “runs the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system for companies, capital markets, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts.”