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  • ASF Launches LOOP in South Africa

    ASF Launches LOOP in South Africa

    Another Snus Factory (ASF), the Swedish nicotine pouch manufacturer acquired by KT&G and Altria in late 2025, launched its flagship LOOP nicotine pouch brand in South Africa through local distributor Venture South (Pty) Ltd. The initial rollout targets the Johannesburg and Cape Town markets with three products — LOOP Jalapeño Lime Hyper Strong, LOOP Red Chili Melon Hyper Strong, and LOOP Habanero Mint Hyper Strong — with plans to expand distribution based on consumer demand.

    ASF said South Africa, the largest nicotine pouch market in Africa, will serve as a strategic base for broader regional expansion. The launch supports KT&G’s strategy to expand its presence in the global nicotine pouch category following its joint acquisition of ASF with Altria, as the company continues to diversify its next-generation product portfolio and international footprint.

  • Altria Reports Modest Q2 Growth, Raises Low End of EPS

    Altria Reports Modest Q2 Growth, Raises Low End of EPS

    Altria Group reported mostly flat second-quarter net revenue of $6.1 billion, while adjusted diluted EPS rose 2.8% to $1.48. For the first half, revenue increased 1.6% to $11.5 billion and adjusted diluted EPS rose 4.9% to $2.80. Reported Q2 diluted EPS fell 2.8% to $1.37, reflecting litigation costs, USSTC facility-consolidation expenses, and ABI-related items.

    The smokeable business remained the main revenue driver, with Q2 net revenue up 0.7% to $5.39 billion and adjusted operating company income up 2.4%. However, domestic cigarette shipments fell 3.2%, with Marlboro shipments down 7.4%, while discount cigarette shipments jumped 67.3% as consumers faced continued discretionary-income pressures. Marlboro’s total cigarette-category retail share fell 1.5% points to 39.5%.

    Oral tobacco Q2 revenue was down 5.3% to $713 million and adjusted operating companies income down 8%. Segment shipments declined 8.5%, although the broader U.S. oral category grew an estimated 6% in the first half, driven primarily by nicotine pouches. Altria’s on! shipments increased 5.1% in the first half, and its Q2 retail share rose to 8.6%; the nicotine pouch category itself reached 59.9% of the oral tobacco category.

    Altria said Helix expanded on! PLUS to 120,000 stores nationwide, with additional flavors and nicotine strengths planned for the fourth quarter. The company also returned nearly $3.9 billion to shareholders in the first half through dividends and share repurchases. It raised the lower end of its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance, now expecting $5.61-$5.72, representing growth of 3.5%-5.5%, while increasing expected 2026 capital expenditures to $375 million-$450 million, primarily to support USSTC manufacturing consolidation.

  • Amicus Briefs Back Altria, Juul in Antitrust Appeal

    Amicus Briefs Back Altria, Juul in Antitrust Appeal

    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 14 states, and several legal groups are backing Altria and Juul’s appeal of a lower-court decision allowing antitrust claims against the companies to proceed as a class action. The briefs argue that the trial court improperly relied on California law to cover alleged conduct and purchases occurring in other states, where different antitrust laws and standards apply. The Chamber and other amici contend that applying California’s Cartwright Act across multiple jurisdictions creates significant legal and manageability problems for the litigation.

    The underlying lawsuit alleges that Altria’s 2018 investment in Juul, together with its decision to withdraw from the U.S. e-cigarette market, harmed competition and contributed to higher prices, which Altria and Juul dispute.

  • Canadian Court Certifies Class Action Against Juul, Altria

    Canadian Court Certifies Class Action Against Juul, Altria

    The Supreme Court of British Columbia certified a nationwide class action against Juul Labs and Altria Group, allowing claims to proceed on behalf of individuals in Canada who purchased or used Juul products for personal use between August 2018 and July 15, 2026. The lawsuit alleges the companies marketed e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to cigarettes while contributing to nicotine addiction among a new generation of consumers. The ruling is procedural and does not determine liability.

    The court rejected several arguments raised by Juul and Altria regarding certification, allowing the case to move forward. The action is one of two legal proceedings against Juul in Canada, alongside a separate lawsuit by the government of British Columbia seeking recovery of healthcare costs associated with the company’s products. Juul and Altria may appeal the certification decision.

  • Altria, Juul Ask 9th Circ. To Overturn Antitrust Classes

    Altria, Juul Ask 9th Circ. To Overturn Antitrust Classes

    Altria and Juul Labs are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to overturn a lower court’s decision certifying nationwide antitrust classes in litigation challenging Altria’s former investment in Juul. According to Law 360, the companies are arguing that the certified classes improperly combine a wide range of purchasers with differing legal claims under the laws of multiple states, making class treatment inappropriate.

    The underlying lawsuit alleges that Altria’s 2018 acquisition of a 35% stake in Juul reduced competition in the U.S. e-cigarette market after Altria withdrew its own competing vapor products. Plaintiffs claim the transaction allowed Juul to maintain higher prices and limited consumer choice. Altria and Juul deny the allegations and contend the district court erred by certifying classes that they say contain materially different groups of purchasers with varying legal and factual issues.

  • Altria Schedules Financial Webcast for July 30

    Altria Schedules Financial Webcast for July 30

    Altria Group will host a live audio webcast on July 30 at 9 a.m. ET to discuss its 2026 second-quarter and first-half financial results, which will be released at approximately 7 a.m. ET that day. The webcast will feature Chief Executive Officer Sal Mancuso and Chief Financial Officer Heather Newman, who will review the company’s operating and financial performance and participate in a question-and-answer session with investors and the media. The event will be available in listen-only mode, with pre-registration required, and an archived replay will be posted on Altria’s investor relations website.

  • Dutch Report Raises Concerns Over Big Tobacco Getting into Cannabis  

    Dutch Report Raises Concerns Over Big Tobacco Getting into Cannabis  

    A new investigative report by Investico, De Groene Amsterdammer, and NU.nl is intensifying scrutiny of tobacco-linked investment in the Netherlands’ regulated cannabis experiment, highlighting concerns over industry influence in emerging legal cannabis markets. The report cites ownership ties linking Altria Group to CanAdelaar, the largest licensed cannabis grower in the Dutch pilot program, through its stake in Cronos Group, which agreed in December 2025 to acquire CanAdelaar for €57.5 million.

    The investigation draws on interviews with addiction and tobacco policy experts who warn that major tobacco companies are increasingly treating cannabis as part of a broader diversification strategy, alongside nicotine and vapor products. Researchers cited in the report raise concerns about industry-funded studies and communications shaping cannabis narratives, including work linked to subsidiaries associated with Philip Morris International. The article frames the issue as part of a wider debate over how established tobacco firms may influence regulatory frameworks and scientific discourse as governments test legalized cannabis supply models.

  • USSTC Moving Facilities from Tennessee to Kentucky

    USSTC Moving Facilities from Tennessee to Kentucky

    U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC announced plans to consolidate manufacturing operations as part of a long-term strategy to modernize production and improve operational efficiency. The Altria subsidiary will gradually transition manufacturing from its 800,000-square-foot Nashville, Tennessee, facility to a new 270,000-square-foot plant to be built on its existing campus in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with Nashville operations expected to conclude in early 2028. The move is intended to centralize processing, production, and finishing activities for major smokeless tobacco brands, including Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky.

    USSTC said the consolidation is expected to reduce fixed-cost inefficiencies, generate operational savings, and improve manufacturing resilience as market conditions evolve. The company plans to sell its more than 30-acre downtown Nashville campus, which currently employs over 300 workers, while encouraging employees to apply for positions in Hopkinsville or Richmond, Virginia. Employees not relocating will be offered severance and transition support. Hopkinsville, where the company already employs roughly 200 full-time workers, will become the primary production hub for USSTC’s smokeless tobacco operations using tobacco sourced primarily from Tennessee and Kentucky growers.

  • Mancuso Takes Reins of Altria After Annual Meeting

    Mancuso Takes Reins of Altria After Annual Meeting

    Altria Group, Inc. held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders today (May 14), where outgoing CEO Billy Gifford addressed shareholder questions and highlighted company priorities. Following the meeting, Sal Mancuso formally succeeded Gifford as chief executive officer, marking a planned leadership transition announced at the end of 2025 after Gifford’s more than 30-year career with the Altria family of companies. Gifford said Mancuso’s decades of leadership experience, including service as chief financial officer, position him well to lead the company forward. A copy of the presentation and a replay of the webcast are available on Altria’s website.

    Shareholders elected all 10 board nominees to one-year terms, ratified the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Altria’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2026, and approved executive compensation on an advisory basis. Following the meeting, Altria’s board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, payable July 10, to shareholders of record as of June 15, with the same date serving as the ex-dividend date. Final voting results will be disclosed in a forthcoming Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

  • Altria to Host Webcast of 2026 Annual Meeting May 14

    Altria to Host Webcast of 2026 Annual Meeting May 14

    Altria Group, Inc. will host its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders via live audio webcast on May 14 at 9 a.m. ET. Shareholders of record as of March 25 will be able to vote electronically and submit questions during the virtual meeting, while non-shareholders may attend as guests without participation rights. The company encourages shareholders to vote in advance using methods outlined in its proxy materials, and said an archived webcast will be available after the event, along with supporting business and financial resources on its investor website.