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Category: News This Week

  • Pouch Maker to Refile FDA Lawsuit in D.C.

    Pouch Maker to Refile FDA Lawsuit in D.C.

    Fontem US, the maker of Zone nicotine pouches, has dropped its lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after a Texas federal court transferred the case to South Carolina, saying it plans to refile in Washington, D.C. The company had alleged the FDA was unfairly delaying review of its premarket tobacco product application, which is required to market new nicotine products in the U.S.

    U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman in Texas said Fontem had little connection to the state and its congested Northern District, and sent the case to South Carolina, where Fontem is based. By voluntarily dismissing the case, the company is seeking a more favorable venue in D.C. federal court, where many regulatory disputes involving federal agencies are typically heard. Zone is manufactured by TJP Labs in Canada, and marketed by ITG Brands, a subsidiary of Imperial Brands.

  • JTI Posts 12% Revenue Increase in Posting 2025 Financials

    JTI Posts 12% Revenue Increase in Posting 2025 Financials

    Japan Tobacco published its financial statements and independent auditor’s report for the 2025 fiscal year yesterday (March 24). The company reported strong year-on-year growth in 2025, with revenue rising to ¥3.5 trillion ($21.9 billion) from ¥3.06 trillion ($19.3 billion) in 2024 and gross profit increasing to ¥2 trillion ($12.3 billion). Operating profit more than doubled to ¥867 billion ($5.5 billion), driven by higher income and significantly lower selling and administrative expenses, while profit before tax climbed to ¥739.8 billion ($4.7 billion). Net profit for the period surged to ¥513.2 billion ($3.2 billion), up from ¥182.6 billion ($1.2 billion) the previous year, with earnings per share nearly tripling. Comprehensive income also rose sharply to ¥686.4 billion ($4.3 billion), reflecting stronger foreign exchange gains and overall improved performance.

    According to Investing.com, JT’s outlook for 2026 remains optimistic, with an expected core revenue increase of 3.6% and an 8.9% rise in adjusted operating profit at constant currency. The company plans to invest ¥800 billion ($5 billion) in reduced-risk products (RRP) from 2026 to 2028, focusing on consumer acquisition and retention. JT is also exploring mergers and acquisitions opportunities to further strengthen its position in both combustibles and RRP markets.

  • KT&G’s Overseas Sales Up 29%

    KT&G’s Overseas Sales Up 29%

    KT&G announced today (March 24) that its super-slim cigarette brand Esse saw its overseas cigarette revenue jump 29.4% year-on-year to 1.9 trillion won ($1.3 billion) last year, becoming the “first Korean cigarette brand to surpass 1 trillion won in overseas sales.” KT&G also said it was the first time its global cigarette sales exceeded its domestic revenue.

    According to the company, Esse, now sold in more than 90 countries, has built its growth on differentiated slim designs and localized market strategies. The brand has recorded cumulative global sales of over 1 trillion cigarettes and currently accounts for “roughly one-third of the global super-slim segment, ranking as the leading brand in that category.”

  • Good Times Opens Premium Cigar Division

    Good Times Opens Premium Cigar Division

    Good Times Tobacco launched a new premium, handmade cigar division as it looks to expand beyond its core machine-made business, according to Halfwheel. The move includes plans for proprietary cigar brands, expanded distribution to existing retail partners, an e-commerce platform, and a walk-in humidor at its Tampa headquarters.

    The company has already introduced its first handmade products under the GT One and Done line, with additional offerings planned across multiple price points and formats. Company executives said the strategy will target different retail segments while leveraging Good Times’ existing scale, which, according to the company, sold roughly one billion machine-made cigars last year.

  • Arizona Lawmakers Debate Bill That Would Regulate Alternative Products

    Arizona Lawmakers Debate Bill That Would Regulate Alternative Products

    After passing through the full House, Arizona’s HB 4001, has been read by the Senate and is currently in the early stages of debate. Introduced by Rep. Jeff Weninger, the Bill would create a new regulatory framework for “alternative nicotine products” such as vapes and nicotine pouches. The bill would require manufacturers and distributors to obtain state licenses, with non-transferable permits tied to specific locations, and bring oversight under the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control rather than traditional health regulators. It also mandates that products meet federal standards — either having U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization or being made in FDA-registered facilities — and, by 2028, requires consumable materials to be manufactured and assembled in the U.S. The Bill would impose fines of up to $10,000 for repeat violations.

    Supporters, including industry representatives, argue the measure fills regulatory gaps, aligns enforcement with existing alcohol ID checks, and supports harm reduction by maintaining access to alternatives that can help adults move away from cigarettes. However, critics — including Rep. Cesar Aguilar, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and public health advocates — warn the bill could weaken enforcement by shifting oversight away from health authorities and limiting undercover investigations. They also argue the proposed fines are too low to deter large retailers and that the legislation falls short of a comprehensive licensing system covering all nicotine products, potentially leaving loopholes that undermine efforts to prevent youth sales.

  • Scandinavian Announces AGM for April 15

    Scandinavian Announces AGM for April 15

    Scandinavian Tobacco Group announced that it has scheduled its annual general meeting for April 15 in Copenhagen, where shareholders will vote on key items, including approval of the 2025 annual report, a proposed dividend of DKK 4.50 ($0.72) per share, board remuneration, and director elections. The board has nominated several members for re-election and proposed Lars Dahlgren as a new director, while also recommending the reappointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as auditor. Shareholders will be able to attend in person or follow the meeting via webcast, though remote participants will not be able to vote or ask questions.

  • Sesh Nicotine Pouches Move to Final PMTA Stage

    Sesh Nicotine Pouches Move to Final PMTA Stage

    Sesh Products US Inc. said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted its bundled Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) covering 64 SKUs of its Sesh+ nicotine pouch line for substantive scientific review. The filing determination confirms the application is sufficiently complete to proceed to the final stage of the PMTA process. The submission spans multiple flavors, strengths, and formats aimed at adult consumers.

    The company said the milestone reflects several years of scientific preparation and engagement with regulators, positioning it among a limited number of independent U.S.-based brands advancing through the PMTA pathway.

  • OOKA Marketing Efforts Target Miami Music Week

    OOKA Marketing Efforts Target Miami Music Week

    Shisha brand OOKA is using Miami Music Week as a marketing platform, hosting branded activations at pool parties in The Sagamore South Beach and Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel from March 25–29. The company is targeting hospitality and nightlife channels by offering VIP guests access to its charcoal-free hookah devices, positioning the product in high-traffic, premium social settings to drive visibility and trial among adult consumers.

    The activation focuses on integrating shisha use into venue experiences, highlighting ease of operation and suitability for bars, hotels, and clubs as operators seek alternatives to traditional hookah setups. The effort reflects a broader push by OOKa’s parent company, Advanced Inhalation Rituals, to expand distribution through experiential marketing and partnerships with hospitality venues, particularly in international nightlife hubs.

  • IMF Calls for Risk-Proportionate Nicotine Taxes

    IMF Calls for Risk-Proportionate Nicotine Taxes

    A report by the International Monetary Fund earlier this month called for risk-proportionate taxation of nicotine products, arguing that excise policies should better reflect relative health harms. The IMF paper states that while newer alternatives such as vapes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products are not risk-free, they expose users to fewer toxicants than combustible cigarettes and therefore warrant lower tax rates that can be adjusted as evidence evolves. The authors suggest that aligning fiscal policy with health outcomes could support smoking reduction by incentivizing consumers to shift toward less harmful products.

    Writing for Filter, Kiran Sidhu said the report has drawn support from tobacco harm reduction advocates, who say it reinforces longstanding arguments that price differentials can accelerate declines in cigarette use, citing examples such as New Zealand where lower-risk products and tax gaps have coincided with falling smoking rates. The report also implicitly challenges approaches backed by the World Health Organization that favor equal taxation across nicotine categories, warning that misaligned policies may sustain cigarette consumption or push users toward illicit markets, while emphasizing that taxation remains a key lever for shaping public health outcomes.

  • Altria Expands On! PLUS Retail Availability

    Altria Expands On! PLUS Retail Availability

    Altria Group announced the national retail expansion of its on! PLUS nicotine pouches, produced by its subsidiary Helix Innovations, marking a further step in its shift toward smoke-free products. The rollout follows initial availability in select states and e-commerce channels, with wholesale shipments beginning March 16, and nationwide retail distribution starting March 23. The product range includes mint, tobacco, and wintergreen variants in 6 mg and 9 mg strengths, and incorporates proprietary Nicoslik technology alongside a built-in disposal feature.

    The company said on! PLUS is the first product cleared under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pilot program aimed at accelerating premarket review of nicotine pouch applications. The authorization allows Altria to market the six SKUs nationally, positioning the brand to compete in the growing oral nicotine segment as demand increases for non-combustible alternatives under evolving regulatory oversight.