Tag: Ploom

JTI Launches Ploom X Advanced in Italy

TR Archive
Japan Tobacco International launched its Ploom X Advanced in Italy’s travel retail market at Milan Malpensa Airport.
Already available in duty-free stores in Japan and Switzerland, the product comes in a variety of device colors, sticks and accessories.
“I was excited to see JTI’s premium offer in the RRP [reduced-risk product] category taking off in Milan,” said JTI Global Travel Retail Sales Director Simone Mammi in a statement. “Our Ploom X Advanced device has been launched in Italy travel retail, alongside Camel heated-tobacco sticks, available in four flavors and tobacco intensities (gold, bronze, burgundy and teal).”
JTI noted that with Avolta as one of its longstanding retail partners at Milan Malpensa Airport, it optimized the premium front-of-category space to provide impactful showcasing that, when coupled with ongoing consumer engagement, “should deliver promising results.”
The Ploom X Advanced device was named the best product available in the heated-tobacco category at the U.K. Product of The Year Awards 2024.
May 22, 2024
Ploom X Advanced Named Product of Year

Image: JTI
Japan Tobacco International’ s Ploom X Advanced device has been named the best product available in the heated tobacco category at the U.K. Product of The Year Awards 2024.
Product of the Year is the U.K.’s largest consumer survey of product innovation. Every year over 10,000 shoppers vote to crown the winning products in each category, giving retailers a picture of what customers think about the products they stock.
Launched in September 2023, the Ploom X Advanced is the latest heated tobacco device from JTI, featuring an optimized heating system, with higher vapor volume during initial puffs offering an enhanced user experience, and faster charging, now taking less than 90 minutes to achieve a full
“Just a few months after the launch, we are thrilled that Ploom X Advanced has come out on top in the Product of the Year awards 2024,” said JTI UK Marketing Director Mark McGuinness. “In response to consumer feedback, we made some positive changes when we launched Ploom X Advanced, and the brand has gone from strength to strength with device sales doubling and EVO tobacco stick sales tripling year on year. With the Heated Tobacco category continuing to grow at a rapid rate, this award shows not only the success of our product, but the clear consumer interest in the category and Ploom.”
The U.K. heated tobacco category is currently worth £105 million ($133.67 million) in traditional retail and growing 20.5 percent year-on-year.
January 25, 2024
JT Launches Ploom X Advanced in Japan
Image: JT
Japan Tobacco announced the launch Ploom X Advanced, a new model of heated tobacco device that has evolved in terms of taste and user comfort.
The company believes the new device will play a significant role in its mid- to long-term business strategy.
According to JT, the new device represents a significant improvement over the current model and incorporates advanced features, including:
An upgraded heating technology, dubbed “Power Heatflow,” which increases the maximum heating temperature from 295 degrees Celsius to 320 degrees Celsius to provide a richer flavor experience.
A new automatic heating function that automatically starts heating when a stick is inserted into the device.
Reduced charging time from approximately 110 minutes for the current model to approximately 90 minutes.
The device will be available at convenience stores and tobacco retailers nationwide in Japan starting on Nov. 21, 2023, at a suggested, tax-included retail price of ¥1,980 ($13.22).
Following the launch of Ploom X Advanced, JT will discontinue sales of the current Ploom X model in Japan.
October 30, 2023
JTI to Launch Ploom in Greece

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
Japan Tobacco International is set to launch Ploom, its heated-tobacco product, on the Greek market, according to 2Firsts.
JTI plans to invest $3 billion in the global expansion of Ploom. Greece is the first planned market for promotion. JTI’s Greece subsidiary will be responsible for the Cyprus and Malta markets as well.
The company’s goal is to introduce Ploom in 25 countries. JTI also plans to invest €2 billion from 2023 to 2025 for the development of other heated-tobacco products.
October 24, 2023
JT Launches New Infused Tobacco Device

Photo: JT
Japan Tobacco is launching a new brand named “With” and a new device named “With 2” for infused tobacco capsules in Japan this summer, the company announced on its website.
The company will discontinue its Ploom TECH, Ploom TECH + and Ploom TECH + With infused tobacco capsule devices, which are only in Japan. They will be available until stocks are sold out.
Ploom X, which is a device for heated tobacco sticks, is unaffected by this announcement and will continue to be sold and rolled out in a number of markets including Japan.
JT says it remains committed to investing in reduced-risk products. The company competes in the heated-tobacco segment with its Ploom brand and participates in the e-cigarette market with its Logic brand.

The discontinued devices
July 5, 2023
Ploom X Debuts in the United Kingdom
Photo: JTI
Japan Tobacco International has launched its Ploom X heated-tobacco device at select locations in the United Kingdom, the company announced in a press release. This product is now available in the Greater London area, at pop-up stores in Shoreditch, online nationwide and in selected online vape stores.
According to JTI, Ploom X represents the cutting edge of the next generation of heated-tobacco products. Technological upgrades include:
A redesigned “HeatFlow” system and a higher heating temperature to ensure a more consistent nicotine delivery and a more enhanced flavor delivery;
One easy-to-use heating mode;
Adjustments to the airflow system enabling a more consistent vapor delivery and increased vapor volume;
Session times of up to 5 minutes and the ability to use more EVO tobacco sticks per charge, with up to 22 sessions with one charge; and
A smaller and more compact device. Users can customize the device with colorful magnetic front panels.
According to JTI, Ploom X reduces the level of nine smoke constituents by an average of 90 percent to 95 percent.
Ploom devices are designed to be used exclusively with EVO tobacco sticks, which contain a tobacco blend made from microground and fine-cut tobacco.
With 20 sticks in a pack and a recommended retail price of £4.50, EVO costs less than half the price of a pack of cigarettes in the U.K. EVO tobacco sticks are available in classic tobacco, menthol, and fruit and menthol infusions. The company also offers capsule variants that offer consumers the option to release an additional burst of flavor.
“The launch of Ploom X marks a milestone in JTI’s story and also sets a new paradigm in the heated-tobacco category,” said JTI Director of Marketing Mark McGuinness. “Ploom X is a truly innovative product that will exceed consumer expectations, making their tobacco moments even more pleasurable and truly unique.”
November 3, 2022
Altria and JT to Sell Heated Products in U.S.

Photo: ASDF
The JT Group and Altria Group, through their Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris USA subsidiaries, have established a joint venture to market and commercialize heated-tobacco sticks (HTS) products in the U.S. with Ploom-branded devices and Marlboro-branded consumables.
The two groups also signed a long-term, nonbinding global memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore commercial opportunities for a wide range of potentially reduced-risk products (RRP).
“As part of our strategic focus on HTS, we’re very enthusiastic to launch our Ploom brand in the U.S., the world’s largest RRP market in value, through our partnership with the market leader, Altria,” said Masamichi Terabatake, president and CEO of the JT Group’s tobacco business, in a statement.
“We also look forward to entering into a long-term strategic collaboration with Altria to further explore global commercial opportunities in the RRP category. I strongly believe that this cooperation will increase the global harm reduction possibilities for adult consumers and drive incremental value for the JT Group and Altria.”
“We are excited to begin a new partnership with JT Group, a leading international tobacco company,” said Altria CEO Billy Gifford in a statement. “We believe this relationship can accelerate harm reduction for adult smokers across the globe.”
“We believe moving beyond smoking in the U.S. requires multiple FDA-authorized products within each smoke-free category to appeal to a diverse range of adult smokers. We believe that our joint venture and pipeline of heated-tobacco products position us well to increase adoption of smoke-free products.”
The joint venture establishes a new company, Horizon Innovations, for the U.S. commercialization of current and future HTS products owned and developed by either party. Horizon will commercialize HTS products in the U.S. under the Ploom and Marlboro trademarks.
JTI will have a 25 percent economic interest in Horizon to reflect its HTS product contribution. PM USA will have a 75 percent economic interest, reflecting the company’s strong distribution network and infrastructure, as well as its initial capital contribution of $150 million to Horizon.
Subsequent capital contributions made to Horizon will be split according to the parties’ respective economic interest. JTI and PM USA will both maintain independent ownership of their respective intellectual properties, including any IP acquired after the formation of the joint venture that supports the development of future HTS products.

“I strongly believe that this cooperation will increase the global harm reduction possibilities for adult consumers and drive incremental value for the JT Group and Altria.”
Masamichi Terabatake, president and CEO, JT Group’s tobacco business
As part of the joint venture, JTI and PM USA will combine their scientific and regulatory expertise to jointly prepare U.S. Food and Drug Administration filings, including a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) for the latest version of Ploom HTS products. The parties currently expect to submit the PMTA for these products in the first half of 2025. Upon PMTA authorization, JTI will supply HTS devices and PM USA will manufacture HTS consumables for Horizon. In addition, JTI and PM USA have agreed to commercialization milestones for Horizon, which include distribution requirements and minimum levels of cumulative marketing investments.
“By forming this JV [joint venture], we are bringing together the marketing, innovation, R&D and science capabilities that JTI has developed over the years with Altria’s science, U.S. regulatory experience and vast infrastructure to create a very strong proposition for the U.S. adult smoker,” said JTI CEO Eddy Pirard.
Separate to the JV, the JT Group and Altria also announced the mutual signing of a nonbinding MOU. Under this MOU, the parties aim to structure a strategic partnership over time to market and commercialize a wide range of potentially reduced-risk products and strengthen their shared development capabilities and geographic reach. The companies believe this collaboration will accelerate global tobacco harm reduction solutions and bring significant value to their respective businesses.
Altria’s pipeline of heated-tobacco products includes tobacco-heating product formats and new-to-market technologies. “We believe HTC products can appeal to U.S. adult smokers who are open to novel smoke-free products but have not yet found a satisfying alternative to cigarettes,” the company wrote. “This audience includes the millions of U.S. adult smokers who tried, but ultimately rejected, e-vapor products.”
Altria expects to finalize the design of its HTC platform 1 technology (HTC1) by the end of this year and then begin regulatory preparations for a PMTA submission by the end of 2024.
The company also expects to partner with JT to launch the HTC1 technology in an international test market in late 2024 or early 2025 using JT’s sales and distribution network.
Prior to the recent agreement with the JT Group, Altria terminated its noncompete agreement with Juul Labs and sold its exclusive U.S. commercialization rights for the IQOS tobacco-heating system to Philip Morris International for about $2.9 billion.
October 28, 2022
Japan Tobacco Launches Ploom X

Photo: JT/JTI
Japan Tobacco is launching Ploom X, its next-generation heated-tobacco device, on Aug. 17, 2021. Ploom X will gradually be made available across Japan, including in convenience stores and select tobacco retail stores. Ploom X will also be available for pre-launch sale at the Club JT online shop from July 26, 2021.
The device was jointly developed by JT in Japan and JTI, the group’s international subsidiary headquartered in Switzerland.
“Ploom X is the first global device developed by JT and JTI, bringing together all our resources to offer the best user experience of our time,” said Daniel Torras, senior vice president of reduced-risk products, in a statement.
“We are delighted to be able to offer this new innovative product to adult consumers in Japan, the world’s leading heated-tobacco market and where product standards and quality are of the highest importance. Listening to consumers globally, we have created a proposition that is aligned with today’s lifestyles and choices. This includes a more authentic tobacco taste, new connectivity possibilities and several options to personalize the device to everyday needs.”

Ploom X is the first global device developed by JT and JTI, bringing together all our resources to offer the best user experience of our time.
Daniel Torras, senior vice president of reduced-risk products, JTI
The new device adopts the aesthetic and innovative “Nastro” design with a more intuitive user experience, with no buttons on its surface. In addition to allowing users to precisely control heating temperature, Ploom X is equipped with a new heating technology, Heatflow, which focuses on airflow.
Ploom X is also equipped with Bluetooth functionalities that connect with users’ smartphones, enable consumers to see the battery status, lock the device and much more.
Along with the device, improved heated-tobacco sticks are being rolled out. The regular tobacco stick flavor is blended with lamina, the most aromatic part of the tobacco leaf. There is a range of 12 different heated-tobacco sticks.
July 15, 2021
Ploom S Debuts in the United Kingdom

Photo: JTI
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has launched its Ploom S heated-tobaccodevice in the U.K., reports The Grocer.
The product will be sold through two Ploom-branded lounges in London, Ploompop-up shops, online at www.ploom.co.uk and through accredited retailers.
The device is used with tobacco sticks, which are sold separately. The tobaccosticks will be available in four different flavors—flavored tobacco, smoothtobacco, menthol and menthol/berry. The Ploom S device will have arecommended retail price of £89 ($116.06) and the consumables will have arecommended retail price of £4.50 for a pack of 20 sticks.
“The time is right for JTI to enter this exciting growth segment in the U.K. with aproven product that continues to grow in markets in which we have alreadylaunched,” said JTI U.K. General Manager Dean Gilfillan.
Ploom S is the second tobacco-heating system available in the U.K., after PhilipMorris International’s IQOS, which launched in 2016.
Previously, JTI launched Ploom in Japan, Russia and Italy.
November 2, 2020
Japan Tobacco to Launch Ploom S 2.0

Image: Japan Tobacco
Japan Tobacco (JT) is rolling out its Ploom S 2.0, an upgraded heated-tobacco device specialized for menthol. In addition, JT will launch two new menthol tobacco stick products under the Camel brand—Camel Menthol Red and Camel Menthol Yellow. These products will gradually be available at convenience stores and select tobacco retail stores across Japan beginning July 2, 2020.
Ploom S 2.0 is equipped with a new heating mode that lengthens the duration of the peak heating temperature compared to that of the current Ploom S. According to JT, this allows for a balance among the freshness of menthol, rich vapor and clear tobacco taste.
“The two biggest factors that influence the flavor of T-Vapor products are heating temperature and its duration,” explained Toru Takahashi, vice president of the marketing group product and brand division for reduced-risk products.
“Ploom S 2.0 is capable of tailoring the device to heat the sticks at an optimal temperature and for an optimal duration with respect to the different stages from the first inhalation to the last rather than heating at a steady temperature,” he said. “This is the key to delivering the best flavor in T-Vapor products.”

June 1, 2020