Tag: Featured

Stories featured at the top of tobaccoreporter.com

  • Tobacco Firms Fined for ‘Distorting Competition’

    Tobacco Firms Fined for ‘Distorting Competition’

    Photo: Eugene-Onischenko

    The Dutch competition watchdog has fined Philip Morris (PM) Benelux, British American Tobacco (BAT), Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Van Nelle Tabak a total of €82 million ($95.7 million) for “distorting competition,” according to Reuters.

    BAT was fined €31.2 million, PM Benelux was fined €27.5 million, JTI was fined €13 million and Van Nelle Tabak was fined €10.4 million.

    The Authority for Consumers and Markets claims the companies illegally exchanged future pricing plan information between 2008 and 2011 in order to adjust their own prices. The companies have all filed objections. Three of the companies went to court to attempt to stop the publication of the ACM’s decision, but the court denied that request.

  • Call for Common Ground in THR

    Call for Common Ground in THR

    Joe Murillo

    For tobacco harm reduction to be successful, it is imperative that alternative products can compete with combustible cigarettes and that adult smokers have clear information on a product’s relative risk compared to smoking, according to Juul Labs Chief Regulatory Officer Joe Murillo.
     
    In his closing remarks at the 2020 Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum (GTNF), Murillo spoke on how the category can sustainably accelerate the market away from combustible products while at the same time combating underage use and fostering a more responsible marketplace for vapor products that ensures equal access for all adult smokers.
     
    Murillo’s address pinpointed critical areas where the industry and stakeholders can find common ground in the pursuit of progress, including educating society on the benefits of tobacco harm reduction and using risk-proportionate regulation to elevate alternatives that can ultimately end the death and disease caused by smoking combustible cigarettes.
     
    According to Juul Labs, this year’s GTNF provided an invaluable opportunity for a diverse set of stakeholders to come together and speak about using innovation and regulation to create sustainable change in the tobacco and nicotine market.

  • Peter Hoffmann Joins Goebel IMS

    Peter Hoffmann Joins Goebel IMS

    Photo: Goebel IMS

    Peter H. Hoffmann has joined IMS Technologies Group as business development film vice president for Goebel IMS brand.
     
    Hoffmann has decades of experience in the plastic film industry in North America. He also worked for many years for one of the leading suppliers of bi-oriented film stretching lines.
     
    In his new role, Hoffman will report directly to Marino Ferrarese, group sales and marketing director, collaborating with Tobias Lanksweirt, sales director for the film business unit, and Maurens Amaral Gomes, sales manager for the Americas.

  • Vilosophy Launches Oils and Pouches

    Vilosophy Launches Oils and Pouches

    Photo: Vilosophy

    Vilosophy has launched V&YOU, a portfolio of premium products with “active” ingredients, in the United Kingdom.

    V&YOU products are available in four “vibes”—calm, chill, focus and boost. They include CBD oils and pouches, as well as nicotine pouches. According to Vilosophy, the V&YOU CBD and nicotine pouches provide a new, discreet and convenient way to consume either ingredient.

    V&YOU products adhere to the strictest quality standards and are sold an accessible price, according to the manufacturer.

    “We are excited that our first brand V&YOU will be one of the only producers of nicotine pouches in the U.K.,” says Vilosophy CEO Wouda Kuipers, who founded the company with Ged Shudall and Markus Bonke, two seasoned executives from the fast-moving consumer goods space.

    “Pouches are incredibly popular across Europe and we think people in the U.K. will find them a convenient way to take nicotine; they also provide longer lasting flavors,” adds Wouda Kuipers.

    “Vilosophy has been founded on the belief that people should be free to choose how they live their life and our aim is to develop a portfolio of lifestyle brands that bring premium active ingredients to market, in a way that is best for people,” he says.  

     

  • Imperial Delays Sale of Cigar Business

    Imperial Delays Sale of Cigar Business

    Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Imperial Brands will complete the sale of its premium cigar business slightly later than originally envisioned. Given the challenges caused by Covid-19, both transactions will now be finalized on Oct. 29, 2020, the company said in a statement.
     
    In April, Imperial Brands announced the sale of its worldwide premium cigar businesses for €1.2 million ($1.4 million), of which net cash proceeds of €1.1 billion will be used to reduce debt.
     
    Gemstone Investment Holding and Allied Cigar Corp. have made a nonrefundable down payment of €91.7 million to Imperial. In addition, the purchasers have agreed to pay a further nonrefundable down payment of approximately €85 million to Imperial by Oct. 7.
     
    Imperial has also agreed to provide a six-month vendor loan at completion of up to €250 million while the purchasers finalize long-term financing arrangements. All other terms remain in line with the April 27 announcement.

  • Industry Critic Stanton Glantz Retires

    Industry Critic Stanton Glantz Retires

    Photo: StockSnap from Pixabay

    University of California San Francisco (UCSF) professor and anti-tobacco activist Stanton Glantz has retired after 45 years.
     
    “I have finally retired from UCSF, ready to move to the next phase,” Glantz wrote in an email to colleagues that has since been shared by many, including Clive Bates, on Twitter. “I will also be continuing to work with my UCSF colleagues to complete work that is underway. From talking to colleagues who have already retired, I am confident that there will be more ways that I can keep contributing to fighting the tobacco industry and promoting public health.”
     
    Glantz announced that he would be stepping down as UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education director in June of this year after previously stepping down as principal investigator for the center.
     
    Glantz’s research on tobacco and vaping has been frequently criticized by vaping advocates. Recently, he was forced to retract a 2019 study that suggested a connection between vaping and heart attacks. It turned out that participants in the study had heart attacks before beginning to vape.
     
    In 2018, Glantz was accused of sexual harassment by two different women, resulting in a university settlement of $150,000 outside of court.
     
    Many of his critics are celebrating Glantz’s retirement. “Stanton Glantz’s long-overdue retirement is a win for taxpayers, consumers and public health,” said Taxpayers Protection Alliance President David Williams.
     
    Clive Bates wrote on Twitter, “It should have happened years ago—many lives would have been saved. And much else.”

  • Tobacco Heating Market to Reach $33.6 billion

    Tobacco Heating Market to Reach $33.6 billion

    .Photo: Лечение Наркомании from Pixabay

    The global heat-not-burn tobacco market is expected to grow to $33.6 billion from $14.6 billion by 2025, according to a Research and Markets report.
     
    The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to be 14.87 percent.
     
    “The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the global heat-not-burn tobacco products market, including British American Tobacco PLC, Japan Tobacco Inc., Pax Labs, Philip Morris International and Vapor Tobacco Manufacturing LLC,” according to the Research and Markets website.
     
    The report also takes into consideration the effects of Covid-19.

  • 22nd Century Anticipates MRTP

    22nd Century Anticipates MRTP

    Photo: Myriam Zilles from Pixabay

    22nd Century Group plans to commercialize its VLN cigarette plan within 90 days of receiving a modified-risk tobacco product (MRTP) application.

    In a letter to shareholders, group CEO James A. Mish expressed optimism that the company’s VLN brand, which contains 95 percent less nicotine than other leading cigarette brands, would be granted MRTP status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    In March 2018, the FDA issued “Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Level of Combusted Cigarettes,” an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comment for consideration in developing a potential nicotine product standard.

    “We now believe it is not a matter of if but when our application will be granted, and we believe we are months, not years, away from securing our MRTP designation,” wrote Mish.

    Mish suggested that an MRTP would greatly boost 22nd Century’s market value.

    “Having the only combustible cigarette with a modified exposure claim authorized by the FDA […], could serve as a catalyst for 22nd Century’s commercial sales as even achieving just one-quarter of 1 percent—0.25 percent—market share of the U.S. tobacco market could result in revenues that may over time, based on current market multiples, drive the company’s market capitalization more than five to 10 times higher than it is today,” he said.

    “In addition, FDA authorizing the marketing of 22nd Century’s modified risk tobacco products with modified exposure claims would open multiple licensing opportunities for 22nd Century’s proprietary reduced nicotine content tobacco to accelerate the commercial and public health potential.”

  • Smoking Now Viewed as a ‘Moral Offense’

    Smoking Now Viewed as a ‘Moral Offense’

    Vyacheslav Dumchev | Dreamstime.com

    The Freedom Organization for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (Forest) released a new report stating that “smoking is no longer seen merely as a health risk to the consumer but as a moral offense to be kept ‘out of sight, out of mind.’”

    The report follows an uptick in smoking and vaping bans across England, Wales and Scotland. Freedom of Information requests were made to 340 authorities in England and Wales and 32 authorities in Scotland; 283 provided responses.

    More than 100 councils banned smoking outside council buildings and on council grounds, and 68 percent of councils had a policy restricting smoking and vaping for employees during working hours. There were 49 councils that banned smoking and vaping breaks completely, even if workers were clocked out, and the bans also included walking between work appointments.

    Many councils, says the report, are introducing outdoor smoking bans by stealth. “This isn’t about the risk of passive smoking, it’s a moral crusade,” said Josie Appleton, author of the report. “Smoking is being treated as a shameful activity that should never be seen in public spaces or near official buildings.”

    Absurdly, according to Forest, some councils are stopping their workers from vaping too, which makes it harder for smokers to give up. “It would be better if councils focused on providing public services rather than interfering in the lifestyle choices of their employees and residents,” Forest wrote in its report.  

  • Menthol Sales up After U.S. Flavor Ban

    Menthol Sales up After U.S. Flavor Ban

    Photo: Photo: Miriam Doerr | Dreamstime.com

    Sales in menthol e-cigarettes have risen since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance banning flavors has gone into effect, according to an article in Tobacco Control.

    Since Juul Labs has taken mint flavors off the market and the FDA has banned flavors other than menthol and tobacco, market shares of menthol-flavored e-cigarettes increased.

    After Juul’s actions, there was a 59.4 percent increase in the market share of menthol products after four weeks, and after the FDA guidance, there was a 54.5 percent increase after four weeks and an 82.8 percent increase after eight weeks.