Category: Now Available

  • Habanos Presents 2024 Upmann Magnum Finite LE

    Habanos Presents 2024 Upmann Magnum Finite LE

    The launch of the H. Upmann Magnum Finite Limited Edition 2024 vitola took place in one of the most iconic locations in the Spanish capital—the arches and inner gates of the Las Ventas bullring, a space filled with charm, history and culture.

    Habanos S.A., the distribution arm of Cuban cigars, together with its partner and exclusive distributor for the Spanish market, Tabacalera S.L.U., presented the new vitola at the event organized by the Club Pasion Habanos under the name El ruedo de H. Upmann.

    “The H. Upmann Magnum Finite Limited Edition 2024 (53 ring gauge x 130 mm length) stands out not only for its elegance but also for its exclusivity. It is a vitola designed for aficionados seeking a unique and sophisticated experience, combining the heritage and brand’s tradition, its refined Habanos, with a light to medium strength, and the characteristic aging of at least two years for limited editions,” a Habanos release states. “H. Upmann Magnum Finite is the result of a meticulous crafting process, using wrapper, filler and binder leaves from the Vuelta Abajo plantations, where the world’s best tobacco is produced, in Pinar del Rio region, Cuba.”

    Magnum Finite comes in an exclusive box of 25 units. The flavor is creamy, woody, toasted and earthy with vegetal and mineral hints, ripe fruit, sweetness and light spices, leaving a finish of hay, smoked cedar, damp earth, moss, iodine hints, dried plum, vanilla, nutmeg and molasses.

    Its aroma is tobacco, woody, toasted, herbal, ripe fruit, spicy and sweet, smoked cedar, leather, raisin, coffee, cocoa, clove, vanilla and molasses.

  • KT&G Releases Lil Solid 3.0

    KT&G Releases Lil Solid 3.0

    Image: KT&G

    KT&G has released Lil Solid 3.0 in South Korea, reports Maeil Business Newspaper.

    The new product is an upgrade to Reel Solid 2.0, which debuted in 2020. Lil Solid 3.0 offers two new usage settings that provide a differentiated sense of smoking. Boost mode delivers a rich haze volume and strong impact. Normal mode offers the same experience as Reel Solid 2.0.

    A “smart-on” function heats the device instantly when the stick is inserted. The fast charging allows the user to charge the device up to 50 percent of its capacity within 40 minutes.

    The recommended consumer price is KRW88,000 ($66).

    “Reel Solid 3.0 is expected to provide more satisfaction to consumers with upgraded user convenience and design,” said Lim Wang-seop, head of KT&G’s next-generation products business division. “We will continue to develop innovative products that can meet domestic and foreign consumer needs based on world-class brand competitiveness.”

  • Republic Launches Plastic-Free Tips

    Republic Launches Plastic-Free Tips

    Image: Republic Technologies

    Republic Technologies has launched Just Paper plastic-free filter tips in the United Kingdom, reports Talking Retail.

    According to Republic Technologies, Just Paper filters provide consumers with an experience that is similar to that of traditional cellulose acetate filters but with a lower environmental impact.

    “The Just Paper range represents a breakthrough in the development of filter tips with a significantly reduced impact on the environment,” said Gavin Anderson, sales and marketing director at Republic Technologies (U.K.).

    “We know that there’s more to do on this journey, but innovation of this kind is a major step for the brand and category. We’re confident that it will attract new shoppers to Swan, strengthening its position as the brand of choice for retailers and roll-your-own shoppers.”

  • JT Launches Mayfair Gold RYO

    JT Launches Mayfair Gold RYO

    Image: JTI UK

    Japan Tobacco International U.K. has launched Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco 30g in England, Scotland and Wales.

    “Ultra value” remains the fastest-growing segment in the British tobacco category, and Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco offers a premium quality Virginia tobacco at a recommended retail price of £18.50 ($24.22) per 30g pouch.

    The launch builds on the success of Mayfair Gold factory-made cigarettes, which have achieved a retail sales value of £46.7 million since debuting in September 2023 and is the fastest growing factory-made cigarette brand in Independent & Symbol Groups in the last 12 months.

    The continued demand for lower-priced options has led to an increase in growth of ultra value tobacco products. According to JTI, Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco 30g represents a great opportunity for retailers to capitalize on an established heritage brand at an ultra-value price point.

    “We find new product launches are helpful for our business across all categories, even in tobacco where customers are more brand loyal,” said Aruna Patel of Rons News in Worcestershire. “Mayfair is a popular brand, and we’d recommend Mayfair Gold to other retailers, as price is the main factor for our customers.”

    “The ultra-value price point remains the key focus for us, with 60 percent of all sales volumes coming from this sector,” said Mark McGuiness, marketing director at JTI U.K. “We are continuing to innovate our offering in this area with the launch of a heritage brand, Mayfair Gold, into the RYO [roll-your-own] category.”

  • Zig-Zag Launches New Hemp Wrap Flavors

    Zig-Zag Launches New Hemp Wrap Flavors

    Credit: Zig-Zag

    Zig-Zag rolling papers announced the expansion of its hemp wrap line, featuring 100 percent tobacco-free hemp wraps in four new flavors: Sour Squeeze, Georgia Peach, Summer Slice, and Mellow Haze.

    The wraps are designed to enhance the smoking experience with their smooth, slow-burning properties and exceptional draw, according to a release.

    Each pack of Zig-Zag Hemp Wraps includes two premium wraps and a convenient packing straw, ensuring an “effortless and enjoyable rolling experience.

    The new hemp wraps are exclusively available in 25-pack cartons online for $24.75 and in 2 packs at retail across the country.

    “Our new hemp wraps are crafted to deliver a superior smoking experience without the use of tobacco,” said Stacey Neuhaus at Zig-Zag. “We are excited to introduce these unique flavors to our lineup, offering our customers more options to enjoy their smoking rituals.”

  • Sonoco Announces 3-Piece Can

    Sonoco Announces 3-Piece Can

    Image: Sonoco Industrial & Specialty Plastics

    Sonoco Industrial & Specialty Plastics has launched the Sonoco 3-Piece Can for tobacco and other products.

    “The inspiration behind the 3-Piece Can stems from the challenges we’ve learned many manufacturers face, particularly in the chewing tobacco industry,” said Curtis Bares, global director of sales and marketing for Sonoco Industrial & Specialty Plastics.

    “The burden of ordering cans from overseas results in extensive lead times, increased inventory levels and excess packaging waste. That’s why we’ve embarked on a journey to develop a locally molded polypropylene can to alleviate these pain points.”

    The can is an injection-molded, 3-piece food-grade polypropylene set to be manufactured entirely in Forest City, North Carolina, USA. According to Sonoco, the company’s factory is FDA-registered and ISO-9001 certified, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and a robust quality management system to guarantee adherence to specifications and sustainability standards.

    Sonoco lists the following benefits for its new product:

    • A dual-compartment design offering flexibility with two separate moisture-resistant compartments
    • Compact dimensions of 2.75” in diameter and 0.940” in depth
    • Eco-friendly makeup from single-resin material, recyclable in areas with proper collection infrastructure
    • Made in the USA, supporting local manufacturing and reducing carbon footprint
    • Just-in-time supply management, ensuring optimal inventory levels and minimizing storage costs
    • Efficient packaging design with reduced waste and minimal use of corrugate
    • Stackable design for ease of transportation and storage, ensuring product integrity

    For more information, visit sonoco.com/plastics.

  • FOBA Presents Compact UV Laser

    FOBA Presents Compact UV Laser

    Photo: Foba

    FOBA will be exhibiting three laser marking systems at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, Sept. 9-14. The main focus will be on the lightweight and space-saving integration of the new UV laser head into a FOBA M1000.

    At IMTS, FOBA will be showcasing a full range of laser marking solutions, from the largest laser marking workstation, the M3000, to the compact M1000 manual workstation and the world’s smallest laser marking head, Titus. Each laser system shows different application areas and functions for efficient industrial product marking, from metals to plastics.

    The latest product in the FOBA product family is the optimized V series, which, with the 4 watt UV and 10 watt green marking laser, offers higher performance and better precision than its predecessor models, but at a fraction of the size. The laser head is so compact that it can be integrated into the FOBA M1000 manual workstation. The smaller size makes it easier to integrate into existing production environments.

    “The new V-Series shows its strength above all in the marking of plastics and composites, and is a sustainable alternative to other marking technologies such as continuous inkjet or pad printing,” says Philipp Febel, director product strategy and customer experience at FOBA. “In contrast to these technologies, the marking lasers require hardly any consumables and therefore minimize waste and operating costs.

  • Jochamp Upgrades Shisha Equipment

    Jochamp Upgrades Shisha Equipment

    Photo: Jochamp

    Jochamp has upgraded its JCZ-100 and JCZ-250 shisha tobacco packaging machines, enabling them to package 50-gram and 250-gram boxes.

    “By incorporating the 50-gram shisha tobacco packaging capability, Jochamp aims to align itself with the dynamic market needs while ensuring our clients remain competitive,” said Jochamp Sales Manager Senary Lin in a statement. “With our new packaging technology, we want shisha manufacturers to achieve flexible packaging solutions that are scalable, robust and sustainable.”

    Jochamp has adopted a new dosing system for weight accuracy within the ±1.5 percent range. The shisha tobacco packaging line is fully automatic with production capacity varying from 60 packs per minute to 100 packs per minute.

    Jochamp JCS-100 and JCZ-250 can dose shisha into packages, handle carton/box packaging and overwrapping, among other functions. All these processes are integrated for an efficient, accurate and contamination-free shisha packaging process, according to Jochamp.

  • Filtrona Launches Plastic-Free RYO Filter

    Filtrona Launches Plastic-Free RYO Filter

    Photo: Filtrona

    Filtrona has launched a plastic-free filter for the roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco market.

    According to Filtrona, the Rip-a-Tip filter marks an exciting material advancement in the RYO market, a category expected to reach a global value of $45 billion by 2033.

    “The launch of Rip-a-Tip supports our ESG goal to offer a complete portfolio of plastic-free products by 2050. It is a biodegradable RYO filter solution that meets growing consumer and regulatory demand for tobacco products grounded in sustainability,” said Filtrona CEO Robert Pye in a statement.

    “As the tobacco industry moves toward plastic reduction or elimination, accelerated by complex regulations on sustainability, the Rip-a-Tip ticks all the boxes while enhancing the consumer experience with our century-long filtration expertise,” said Pye.

    The Rip-a-Tip is designed with convenience and configurability in mind, with the option for RYO tobacco companies to customize the filter to the preferred diameter, pressure drop and choice of substrate, such as white or unbleached sustainable materials.

    Each Rip-a-Tip stick holds six individual filter tips measuring 14 mm in tip length. To provide more “real estate” for branding and product differentiation, the outer wrap of Rip-a-Tip can be customized to a preferred color or print.

    Filtrona also supplies the packaging box for the Rip-a-Tip filters in popular pack formats, including the flip top, cigarette, push and slide, and side push and slide. The design of the packaging box can also be customized.

  • Reynolds Launches Non-Nicotine Vape

    Reynolds Launches Non-Nicotine Vape

    Image: Wall Street Journal

    R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company (RJRVC), an operating company of Reynolds American Inc. (Reynolds American), BAT Group’s U.S. subsidiary, is expanding its innovative vapor portfolio with SENSA, a zero-nicotine vapor product.

    As the market leader in vapor with its Vuse products, RJRVC is joining the growing marketplace for zero-nicotine vapor products and aims to establish the highest standards in the industry, according to an emailed press release.

    SENSA products include a locking feature to prevent unintended usage, and adult consumers of the device will have access to Call2Recycle’s battery recycling program, which will facilitate the responsible disposal of SENSA batteries.

    “Adult tobacco and vapor consumers across the retail marketplace are looking for more options,” said Valerie Mras, senior vice president for RJRVC. “Adding a zero-nicotine product to our growing vapor portfolio is driven by deep adult vapor consumer insights and enables us to responsibly compete within a category that is already well established in many countries.”

    The SENSA portfolio of flavors is intended for adult tobacco and vapor consumers and does not include flavors intended to appeal to those who are underage. The product will be responsibly marketed to adult tobacco and vapor consumers consistent with the Reynolds American organization’s marketing practices for tobacco and nicotine products, according to the release. All web properties will be age-gated.