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Category: Business & Finance

  • Chemular Launches Child-Resistant Packaging for Nicotine Pouches

    Chemular Launches Child-Resistant Packaging for Nicotine Pouches

    Chemular announced the launch of Safeguard Mark I, a patent-pending child-resistant packaging platform designed to convert existing nicotine pouch cans into compliant child-resistant packaging without requiring container redesigns or replacement of manufacturing infrastructure. The external system is designed to preserve existing labels, branding, and UPC barcodes while minimizing manufacturing disruption and changes to products with PMTA submissions under FDA review.

    Safeguard uses a proprietary spring-based locking system designed to provide child resistance while maintaining adult usability. Chemular said the platform can accommodate multiple can formats and product lines using a single application station, potentially reducing redevelopment and capital costs for manufacturers.

    Chemular, a regulatory consultancy specializing in tobacco and nicotine products, is working with brands and manufacturers to evaluate Safeguard for existing and new nicotine pouch products.

  • Ispire Technology Names Przybyla President

    Ispire Technology Names Przybyla President

    Ispire Technology appointed Steven Przybyla as president, effective immediately. He will retain his roles as Chief Legal Officer and secretary and lead investor communications, working with the CEO and CFO on investor relations. The company said the move strengthens its U.S.-based leadership and provides investors with a consistent point of contact on its regulatory strategy and growth plans.

    Przybyla has served as Ispire’s chief legal officer and secretary since September 2023 and has more than 10 years of experience in nicotine and tobacco regulation. He previously served as a director and corporate secretary of IKE Tech, Ispire’s joint venture developing biometric age verification, product authentication and compliance technology for regulated nicotine markets. He previously held legal and executive roles at 22nd Century Group and Jushi.

  • LT Group Hits Record Income on Banking, Tobacco Gains

    LT Group Hits Record Income on Banking, Tobacco Gains

    LT Group Inc. — one of the Philippines’ largest business groups, controlled by the Lucio Tan family — reported a 14% increase in attributable net income to a record P17 billion ($272 million) in the first half of 2026, driven by higher earnings from its banking and tobacco businesses. Philippine National Bank contributed P8.2 billion ($131 million), or 48% of group earnings, while Fortune Tobacco Corp. contributed P6.1 billion ($98.1 million), or 36%.

    Fortune Tobacco’s net income rose 13% to P6.2 billion ($98.6 million), supported by higher equity earnings from its 49.6%-owned associate PMFTC Inc. PMFTC benefited from cigarette price increases implemented in March and a 2% increase in offtake volume to 11 billion sticks, matching overall industry growth. LT Group also said government enforcement and seizures had reduced illicit tobacco activity, with stricter port controls and action against machinery used to produce illicit tobacco expected to support further progress.

  • FRE Launches Limited-Edition Platform

    FRE Launches Limited-Edition Platform

    FRE announced the launch of FRE Labs, a new platform for limited-edition, small-batch flavors developed with consumer feedback. The platform will allow adult nicotine users to vote on which flavors return and potentially join the brand’s permanent lineup.

    The first release is Blackberry Lemon Ice, part of the new Ice line featuring fruit-forward profiles with a menthol cooling component. The products will be offered in 6mg and 12mg nicotine strengths and sold exclusively online, with additional flavors to be revealed as the series progresses. The Turning Point Brands affiliate says the initiative is intended to give its consumer community a greater role in product development.

  • BAT Expands Technology Partnership with ITC Infotech

    BAT Expands Technology Partnership with ITC Infotech

    British American Tobacco (BAT) signed a multi-year strategic technology agreement with ITC Infotech to accelerate the transformation of its technology operations, with a focus on AI-assisted innovation, skills development, and efficiency improvements.

    Under the expanded partnership, ITC Infotech will provide technology services to BAT in Poland, Romania, and India, while continuing to scale capabilities at BAT’s Future Capabilities Centre in India. The company will also support BAT’s technology centers in Malaysia and Mexico.

  • Black Buffalo Ranks Among Fastest-Growing Private Companies

    Black Buffalo Ranks Among Fastest-Growing Private Companies

    Black Buffalo was ranked No. 2,011 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., marking the company’s fifth consecutive appearance on the ranking since its 2015 founding. Chief Growth Officer Matthew Hanson said the company’s team “works relentlessly and responsibly” to continue the company’s growth.

    The 2026 Inc. 5000 ranks companies based on revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. Collectively, the companies on this year’s list added more than 627,000 jobs, with a median three-year revenue growth of 130%.

  • Imperial Preparing Thousands of Job Cuts: Bloomberg

    Imperial Preparing Thousands of Job Cuts: Bloomberg

    According to Bloomberg, Imperial Brands is preparing to cut thousands of jobs across key markets including the United States and Europe as part of a cost-reduction effort. Shares of the tobacco company fell 5.3% to 2,643 pence following the report.

    The first phase is expected to affect human resources, finance, procurement, and supply-chain staff at ITG Brands, Imperial’s U.S. business covering the United States, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. A second phase would target legal, marketing, and insights and intelligence teams, with affected employees expected to be notified in April and cuts beginning mid-year, Bloomberg reported.

    An Imperial Brands spokesperson said the changes would “have an impact across our global market footprint” but did not disclose the number of positions affected. Bloomberg also reported that some ITG Brands roles will be outsourced to strategic partner Capgemini before year-end, while Imperial has begun consultations with relevant EU bodies regarding planned redundancies. Imperial employed about 25,800 people globally at the end of 2025.

  • PM Korea to Launch VEEV E-Cigarette

    PM Korea to Launch VEEV E-Cigarette

    Philip Morris Korea will launch its VEEV inPRIME liquid e-cigarette on Aug. 18 as part of Philip Morris International’s expansion of its non-combustion portfolio. The closed-pod system uses a rechargeable device and replaceable pods, with five device colors and five pod varieties. Pre-sales begin Aug. 11 at IQOS flagship stores, with broader retail distribution from Aug. 26.

    The VEEV inPRIME device will retail for 29,000 won ($20.60), while 2ml VEEBI inPRIME pods will cost 8,000 won ($5.68). Philip Morris Korea said the launch expands choices for adult smokers and represents the company’s broader multi-category strategy in South Korea.

  • Universal Reports Weak Q1 as Oversupply Harms   

    Universal Reports Weak Q1 as Oversupply Harms   

    Universal Corporation reported weaker fiscal first-quarter 2027 results, with revenue falling 12% year over year to $523.8 million as lower tobacco sales volumes and prices offset stable customer demand. The company posted an operating income of $2.3 million, down 93%, and a net loss of $5 million, or $0.20 per share, compared with net income of $8.5 million a year earlier. Chairman and CEO Preston Wigner said results reflected slower tobacco purchasing activity as customers assessed oversupply in flue-cured and burley markets, while the ingredients business continued to face weak consumer demand and high operating costs.

    Tobacco segment revenue declined 13% to $437.1 million, with operating income dropping 90% to $3.5 million due to lower carryover crop sales, an unfavorable product mix in Asia, and weaker pricing. Ingredients revenue slipped 3% to $86.7 million and posted a $700,000 operating loss as inflation, supply constraints, tariff volatility, and high fixed costs at its expanded Lancaster facility continued to pressure performance. Despite the weak quarter, Universal said customer commitments remain in line with its fiscal 2027 sales plan, tobacco shipments are expected to accelerate in the second half of the year, and the company ended the quarter with approximately $1.1 billion in available liquidity and lower debt levels than a year ago.

  • KT&G Raises Forecast After Record First-Half

    KT&G Raises Forecast After Record First-Half

    KT&G raised its full-year guidance after reporting record first-half revenue and a fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit profit growth. Second-quarter revenue increased 9.9% year over year to 1.7 trillion won ($1.2 billion), while operating profit rose 18.5% to 414.5 billion won ($290 million). First-half revenue reached a record 3.4 trillion won ($2.4 billion), prompting the company to increase its 2026 outlook to 5%-7% revenue growth and 10%-13% operating profit growth.

    Growth was driven by the tobacco business, where overseas revenue climbed 18.9% and operating profit surged 45.6% on higher sales volumes and price increases. KT&G also reported a 23.8% increase in next-generation products revenue, led by heated tobacco products, while maintaining a 67.9% share of South Korea’s cigarette market and a 48.2% share of the domestic heated tobacco segment. The company also increased its interim dividend to 2,000 won ($1.40) per share, reaffirmed plans for additional share buybacks and cancellations, and said it will introduce a new heated tobacco product in the second half of the year.