Japan Tobacco’s human resources department has won an award in the Corporate HR category of the “HR Award 2026” for its “Wellness Advance” initiative, which addresses health issues related to gender differences and supports employee well-being and career development. Introduced in October 2025, the program provides support for menopause symptoms, menstrual issues, and declining fertility, including workplace and financial assistance, management training, and collaboration with occupational health nurses. JT said the initiative has improved health literacy among employees and reduced barriers to seeking advice, medical care, and treatment.
Category: Business & Finance
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Scandinavian Announces Retailer Tariff Refunds
Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG), parent of General Cigar Co. and Forged Cigar Co., will refund retailers for import charges applied to orders from May 19, 2025, through Feb. 23, 2026, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that the Trump administration’s IEEPA tariffs were unlawful, according to Halfwheel. STG said refunds will be issued as account credits, expected around Oct. 23, after months of processing tariff refunds with the government.
The company said it had previously reserved the option to remove the 5% import charge if the tariffs were repealed or otherwise ended. STG is currently applying a 7% import charge to account for tariffs of 12.5% on goods imported directly from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, and 10% on goods from Honduras. The company valued its tariff refunds at DKK 33 million ($5.12 million) in August.
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Scandinavian, JT Complete Break, Moro Transaction
Scandinavian Tobacco Group completed the sale of its Break and Moro fine-cut tobacco brands to Japan Tobacco for DKK 1.3 billion, or DKK 1 billion after tax. The transaction, effective Oct. 1, includes the transfer of certain inventories to Japan Tobacco, with proceeds from the inventory sale to be included in the group’s free cash flow before acquisitions and divestments.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group raised its 2026 free cash flow guidance to DKK 1.2 billion-1.4 billion from DKK 950 million-1.2 billion. The company said the divestment will be dilutive to earnings but maintained its 2026 guidance for reported net sales growth at constant currencies, EBIT margin before special items, and adjusted earnings per share.
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Lucy Goods Partners with NBA Hall-of-Famer
Lucy Goods is partnering with NBA Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton on a marketing campaign as the company expands its U.S. retail presence with “next-level nicotine products,” including breakers, pouches, and gum. The campaign will feature Payton alongside CEO David Renteln in digital and social media content, with additional retail appearances and meet-and-greets planned, including Payton’s scheduled appearance at the NACS Show in Las Vegas Oct. 7-9.
Lucy Goods said it has secured retail agreements with convenience chains including Circle K, Kwik Trip, Maverik, RaceTrac, Sheetz, and Wawa, and is on pace to exceed its 2026 revenue targets.
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Imperial Expands Paramount Brand in UK
Imperial Brands has expanded its Paramount value cigarette range in the UK with the launch of Paramount Red Superkings. The new product features an American Blend of tobaccos and is positioned as a full-strength cigarette offering a stronger tobacco taste and aftertaste. It is available through independent and wholesale outlets at a recommended retail price of £14.80.
Imperial said the Paramount brand, launched in late 2024, has benefited from growth in the value segment. According to company-cited data, value cigarettes accounted for 38% of UK cigarette sales and grew 2% over the past year, while the broader value-price segment represented 17% of the total market in May 2026.
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Meta, TikTok Scrutinized for Illegal Nicotine Ads in Australia
TikTok and Meta are facing scrutiny in Australia after the Brisbane Times reported that their platforms carried paid advertisements promoting illegal cigarettes and vapes, including products allegedly supplied through criminal networks. The report said Meta’s advertising library showed 460 unique ads for Chinese vape brand Alibarbar, with at least 93 active when the newspaper contacted the company, while ads for cigarette brands including Manchester and Double Happiness also appeared on TikTok and Meta platforms. Both companies said they took action against accounts and ads identified by the newspaper.
Meta said tobacco and vape ads violate its policies and that it had removed the reported ads and accounts, while TikTok said the identified accounts had been permanently banned. The report also cited estimates that 95% to 98% of Australian vape sales are illegal and Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing illicit cigarettes and vapes accounted for 80% of the market in 2025, up from 12% in 2017.
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Nion Launches Dissolvable Nicotine Strips in UK
Nion announced the launch of its dissolvable oral nicotine strips in the UK, initially being distributed in Manchester. Placed under the lip, the strips dissolve in about 10 to 15 minutes, requiring no device, charging, or disposal after use. The launch range includes Mint and Lemon flavors in three strengths — 1 mg, 3 mg, and 6 mg — with 20 individually wrapped strips per £5.99 pack.
Nion said the product is designed as a discreet alternative to existing nicotine formats for adult users and will be available through selected convenience stores, kiosks, vape shops, tobacco retailers, and online retailers. As an oral nicotine product, Nion is outside UK’s Vaping Products Duty that will impose a £2.20-per-10ml duty on vaping liquid, plus VAT, beginning Oct. 1.
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JTI Says Regulatory Gaps Fueling Illicit Trade in Philippines
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) said regulatory and enforcement gaps are contributing to the movement of illicit tobacco across the Philippines’ borders, with criminal networks using maritime routes between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Mindanao. JTI Anti-Illicit Trade Operations Regional Director Valentin Dinca said illicit tobacco originating in China, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia moves through regional transit hubs including Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. In the Philippines, he identified Tawi-Tawi, Sarangani, and Zamboanga as key points for shipments arriving by sea before being redistributed domestically.
JTI Philippines Director for Corporate Affairs and Communications Shaiful Mahpar called on ASEAN governments to align export-control requirements, increase intelligence sharing, and strengthen cross-border enforcement. JTI said a June operation with Philippine authorities led to the seizure of 23 containers of illicit cigarettes valued at about 1.7 billion pesos ($27.5 million). Mahpar said export shipments should comply with the destination market’s requirements, including tax stamps and graphic health warnings, to reduce opportunities for illicit trade.
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BAT Hosts Capital Markets Day
British American Tobacco hosted its Capital Markets Day for institutional investors and analysts today (Sept. 29) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, outlining its Horizon 2030 strategy. Chief Executive Tadeu Marroco and members of BAT’s management team highlighted the company’s global multi-category nicotine portfolio and capabilities. BAT said it expects New Category revenue to grow at a mid-teens rate through 2030 and New Category contribution margin to reach at least 30% by 2030, driven by premiumization, improved product mix, increased scale, and more targeted resource allocation.
BAT said it remains on track to deliver toward the lower end of its 3%-5% revenue growth and 4%-6% adjusted profit from operations growth targets for 2026, with adjusted diluted EPS growth toward the middle of its 5%-8% range, all at constant currency rates. The company also expects to reach its 2.0-2.5x target leverage range by year-end and said it expects a 2%-2.5% translational foreign-exchange headwind to 2026 adjusted diluted EPS growth based on current spot rates.
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Elitecon Inks $60M South African Tobacco Supply Agreement
Elitecon International entered into a Product Supply Framework Agreement with South Africa-based World Class 77 covering potential exports of cut blended tobacco, homogenized tobacco, cigarettes, and fast-moving consumer goods, according to a report in Business Standard. The agreement, signed Sept. 26, establishes an indicative program ceiling of up to $60 million, or approximately ₹574.2 crore, based on a contractual reference rate of ₹95.70 per U.S. dollar.
The agreement runs through Aug. 31, 2027, and provides a commercial framework for Elitecon’s export supplies to South Africa. The company said the agreement is intended to support the continued development of its international business.