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Category: Business & Finance

  • BAT to Cut 59% of Jobs from Belgium Facility

    BAT to Cut 59% of Jobs from Belgium Facility

    Yesterday morning (January 14) at a special works council meeting, BAT Belgium announced plans to cut up to 51 of its 87 jobs at its Groot-Bijgaarden facility as part of a proposed restructuring driven by mounting regulatory and economic pressures, according to Retail Detail. The company said it has initiated a collective redundancy procedure, with 48 of the 74 roles in its commercial unit and three of 13 positions in other departments potentially affected, subject to consultations with social partners.

    According to BAT, increasing regulation, bans on certain nicotine products, rising excise duties, and the expansion of the illegal tobacco market have led to a sustained erosion of revenue and weighed heavily on business performance. The company said the restructuring aims to create a more efficient and agile organization in response to these challenges.

  • Cabbacis Hosting Webinar Outlining its $7.5M Offering

    Cabbacis Hosting Webinar Outlining its $7.5M Offering

    Cabbacis announced it will host an investor webinar on January 22 at 11:30 EST as part of its ongoing $7.5 million Regulation A offering. During the session, CEO and chairman Joseph Pandolfino will outline the company’s commercialization strategy for its patented iBlend cigarettes and vaporizer pods, which combine very-low-nicotine tobacco with non-intoxicating hemp and are positioned as harm-reduction products aimed at reducing nicotine dependence and supporting quit attempts.

    The company will also update investors on its regulatory pathway with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, leadership team, and plans for an international rollout later in 2026 to generate early revenue and brand validation ahead of U.S. market entry. Cabbacis said proceeds from the offering are intended to support product development and commercialization, positioning the company ahead of a potential FDA rule to cap nicotine levels in cigarettes, while expanding into reduced-nicotine and alternative tobacco formats.

    Register for the webinar here.

  • KT&G Says lil on Track to Top $3B in Cumulative Sales

    KT&G Says lil on Track to Top $3B in Cumulative Sales

    KT&G said its heated tobacco brand lil has emerged as a major next-generation product (NGP) player within a decade of launch, driven by rapid device innovation and an aggressive patent strategy. Introduced in 2017 with initial sales of KRW 7.8 billion ($5.3 million), lil has now recorded cumulative sales of about KRW 4.3 trillion ($2.9 billion) as of the third quarter of 2025 and is on track to reach KRW 5 trillion ($3.4 billion), with average annual sales topping KRW 800 billion ($544 million) over the past three years. The brand holds more than 60% share of South Korea’s e-cigarette market and now operates three device platforms with frequent upgrades, supported by a sharp rise in NGP-related patent filings. Overseas momentum is also building, with international NGP sales up about 35% year over year to KRW 110.8 billion ($75.3 million) and products now sold in more than 30 markets, including through partnerships with Philip Morris International.

  • JT Introduces ‘Purple Dusk’ for Ploom AURA

    JT Introduces ‘Purple Dusk’ for Ploom AURA

    JT released the fourth offering in its limited color series for the Ploom AURA today (January 13), introducing “Purple Dusk.” It joins “Amber Haze,” “Bronze Royal,” and “Aqua Green.”

    Regarding Purple Dusk, JT says, “the deep colors reminiscent of the night scene and the accented patterned front panel create a mysterious atmosphere and presence. It contains the desire to be close to the moment to enjoy the night in your own way and to encourage the time you spend with your sensibility.”

    A limited quantity is available in Japan for pre-sale at CLUB JT online shop and Ploom Shop for 2,980 yen ($18.77). It will be available at convenience stores and some tobacco stores beginning January 20.

  • 22nd Century to Participate in the Needham Annual Growth Conference

    22nd Century to Participate in the Needham Annual Growth Conference

    22nd Century Group, Inc. announced that CEO Larry Firestone and CFO Dan Otto will present as part of the Needham Growth Conference taking place January 16. The management team will be available for virtual one-on-one meetings.

    Investors interested in booking meetings can register for the conference and arrange a time through their Needham representative or the Company’s investor relations at investorrelations@xxiicentury.com.

  • Doseology Partners with McKinney to Bring Pouches to Market

    Doseology Partners with McKinney to Bring Pouches to Market

    Doseology Sciences entered a strategic partnership with McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors to guide its U.S. regulatory strategy as it advances oral pouch products toward commercial readiness. Under the agreement, McKinney will advise on formulation strategy, data generation, PMTA preparation, and post-market compliance, positioning Doseology to navigate FDA requirements while strengthening product design and intellectual property protection.

    The company said the collaboration marks a shift from development to regulatory execution, with a focus on dose consistency, consumer safety, and compliance in regulated markets. McKinney’s regulatory roadmap will be integrated into Doseology’s R&D and manufacturing validation plans, supporting structured PMTA readiness for both nicotine and nicotine-analogue products as the company seeks to establish a defensible, science-led position in the oral pouch category.

  • China Scrutinizing Vape Industry

    China Scrutinizing Vape Industry

    China’s e-cigarette industry is entering a new round of regulatory tightening, with multiple draft policies recently opened for public consultation, according to China Business Network. Last week, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) released draft rules on credit management for e-cigarette manufacturers and wholesale enterprises, proposing a formal credit system that covers information collection, ratings, public disclosure, penalties for dishonesty, and credit restoration. Under the draft, companies would be graded A to D, with lower-rated firms facing stricter scrutiny on capacity expansion, investment approvals, and even licensing. This follows a STMA draft policy in December aimed at maintaining a dynamic balance between supply and demand, reinforcing total capacity control, and largely prohibiting new capacity additions except under tightly defined conditions.

    Together with earlier moves — including the solicitation of 2026 national e-cigarette standards and the State Council’s December call for tougher crackdowns on tobacco-related illegal activities — the measures signal a push toward more standardized, compliance-driven industry governance. Industry observers say the policies build on the regulatory framework established in 2021, when e-cigarettes were brought under tobacco-style supervision, and are intended to curb disorderly competition, raise compliance thresholds, and accelerate industry consolidation.

  • Zhilai Sci Collaborates for Nicotine Vending

    Zhilai Sci Collaborates for Nicotine Vending

    Shenzhen Zhilai Sci and Tech Co. and software partner Applestone Solutions have launched a new vending machine system designed specifically for nicotine pouches, vape products, and other age-restricted items. The solution integrates IDscan.net age-verification technology to ensure compliance with federal and local laws, while allowing automated sales in venues such as bars, casinos, sports arenas, and convenience stores. The free-standing machines can hold up to 488 items, support mixed regulated and non-regulated sales in a single transaction, and offer real-time reporting, inventory tracking, and on-screen advertising—positioning the platform as a compliance-focused automation tool for regulated nicotine retail.

  • Europe Helping Offset China Losses in Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Exports 

    Europe Helping Offset China Losses in Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Exports 

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports dipped 0.7% from the previous year to $1.36 billion (as of mid-December), thanks in part to exports to China dropping from $953.2 million to $819.3 million. Despite the 14% decline, the Far East still accounted for 60% of the nation’s total tobacco export value, all data according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).

    While traditional Asian markets cooled, a massive surge in European demand and steady growth within Africa helped offset the overall decline. The European Union emerged as the standout growth market this season, with export values skyrocketing by 64.5%, going from $103.1 million to $169.6 million. According to the TIMB, the surge reflects a growing preference for Zimbabwe’s high-quality, flue-cured Virginia leaf among continental manufacturers.

  • Nabis Acquires Major Share of Calif. Cannabis Market

    Nabis Acquires Major Share of Calif. Cannabis Market

    Nabis, the “largest licensed cannabis wholesale platform in the U.S.,” acquired select assets of California distributor Humble Cannabis Solutions, expanding its distribution footprint across Northern and Southern California as the industry adjusts to federal cannabis rescheduling from Schedule I to Schedule III. The deal adds roughly $13 million in assets and $20 million in gross sales, strengthening Nabis’ technology-driven infrastructure to support scaling demand.

    The transaction includes a $4 million strategic capital investment from Humble Cannabis Solutions, $4 million in distribution assets to be integrated into Nabis’ California operations, and $5 million in debt financing to support the company’s growth.