Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has announced the launch of Signature Action Mix cigarillos, which are available to retailers now.
Signature Action Mix cigarillos contain two capsules combining the flavours of Berry and Mint in ten-packs with an RRP of just £5.85 which is lower than competitor brands, but still with an attractive margin for retailers. The new Action Mix cigarillos will be a key focus for STG UK’s growing sales force, who will be targeting over 10,000 convenience stores in the coming months to talk to them about the launch, as well as offering them branded merchandise. There will also be promotions in the wholesale channel of both Action and Action Mix, as well as a significant trade comms campaign to support the launch, too.
The Cigarillo category only started five years ago in the UK and is now worth nearly £150m in annual sales, accounting for over 56 per cent of all cigar volume. STG UK launched the original Signature Action brand in the same year, with sales now really taking off, growing by over 50 per cent year on year.
“We know many adult smokers continue to look for features they used to enjoy with cigarettes such as flavour, click filters and smaller pack sizes, so these new Signature Action Mix cigarillos should really hit the spot," said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. "The continued positive performance of the cigarillos category is showing no sign of slowing, so we’d urge retailers to get behind this exciting launch and enjoy those profitable sales.”
A festive treat once again awaits rolling tobacco smokers across the UK this year in the form of limited-edition, retro-themed rolling papers from Imperial Brands.
Available in Golden Virginia Original, Amber, and Yellow, the limited-edition papers have proved a major hit over the years, with some smokers collecting the packs as well as using the papers to roll tobacco.
As always, consumers can be assured of the unique taste, quality, and value they have come to expect from Golden Virginia, which combines 20 separate fine tobacco grades from four continents, making this limited-edition product the perfect festive gift for smokers.
Andrew Malm, UK Market Manager for Imperial Brands, explained: “We’re delighted to introduce our 2024 limited-edition rolling papers to retailers this Christmas. Demand for these rolling papers has traditionally proven to be high, with great interest in the pack designs from consumers.
"We therefore recommend that retailers stock up now to maximise on the business opportunity available this festive season!”
Retailers should contact their wholesaler for availability or speak to their local Imperial Brands representative if they require more information.
Imperial Brands has announced the launch of Paramount, a new cigarette brand designed for adult smokers who seek exceptional value without compromising on quality.
To support the launch, Paramount is offering additional support to retailers to enable them to sell at £11.50 or less per pack should they wish to.
Paramount features premium, full-flavour Virginia sun-ripened tobacco, meeting the needs of the majority of UK cigarette smokers, where over 90 per cent of cigarettes sold are Virginia blends and 83 per cent are full-flavour tobacco.
Now available through UK Wholesale and Independent Retail channels, Paramount’s introduction reflects the growing demand for value options in the UK, with the value sector expanding by five per cent in the past year and now representing 30 per cent of the UK cigarette market.
With great offers in wholesale to support the launch, Paramount is a top choice for value-seeking consumers. The brand is available in both full flavour king-size and super king-size formats, catering to a wide range of UK smokers.
The UK launch of Paramount follows the success of its debut in Germany, where it is currently the fastest-growing cigarette product since hitting the shelves5. Paramount has also launched successfully in a number of other European markets.
Yawer Rasool, Consumer Marketing Director UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, stated: “The demand for value products that still offer high quality continues to grow. Paramount will be our best value product in the UK market – synonymous with great value and proven success on the Continent.
“Many smokers of value products are open to trying new brands if the price is right. Given its success in key European markets, we anticipate strong demand for the Paramount brand across the UK.”
Imperial Brands has announced a new pouch size for its best-selling premium Golden Virginia Original hand-rolling tobacco.
As well as the established 30g and 50g sizes, Golden Virginia Original will now for the first time also be available in a 40g pouch, on sale with an RRP of £33.70. The move is a response to continued price inflation and pressures on the cost of living, with consumers more than ever seeking both quality and value in everything they buy, and willing to try new options which they see as offering those attributes.
It follows other 40g pouch size introductions across the market in response to the financial challenges facing many individuals and households under continued difficult economic conditions.
Yawer Rasool, Consumer Marketing Director UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, explained, “There is enormous loyalty towards the Golden Virginia Original brand, and the 40g pouch size has been introduced to provide increased options for Golden Virginia customers to enjoy their favourite rolling tobacco at a more affordable cost, without compromising on the quality they expect and are used to.
Introduced in 1877, Golden Virginia brings together 20 separate fine tobacco grades, sourced from four continents, to deliver a unique taste, and is widely recognised for its quality and value. Over more than 150 years, it has secured an enviable position in the UK and Ireland market as both a preferred choice for established hand-rolling tobacco users and for those opting for hand-rolling tobacco instead of cigarettes for the first time. Rolling papers are included with all pack sizes.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has introduced this year’s limited-edition pack for its ever-popular Henri Wintermans Half Corona brand, which is available to retailers now.
The Henri Wintermans Half Corona is easily the biggest brand in the medium / large segment and is now the UK’s fifth biggest selling cigar in value terms, with annual sales worth £16.3m. This new limited edition “Gentleman” pack adds a personal touch to the brand and celebrates its long heritage and continuing success, designed in a timeless pin stripe suit with the logo and information stitched into the fabric, which reflects both the aspirational nature of the product and the attention to detail that goes into crafting these fine cigars. Despite the changes to the packaging, the cigars inside of course remain the same.
“Retailers certainly won’t need me to tell them that sales of larger cigars go up in the build up to Christmas when adult smokers are in celebratory mood and typically have more time to enjoy them,” said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. “Our Henri Wintermans Half Corona is always a big seller at this time of year and this limited issue Gentleman’s edition pack should only increase sales further. My advice to retailers is to stock up on it, as it is easily the UK’s best-selling medium / large cigar and has a loyal following due to its quality blend and heritage.”
An eye-catching design created by a customer is bringing a unique appeal to a new limited-edition range of king-size slim papers from the iconic Rizla brand.
The Super Thin Silver papers from the UK’s favourite rolling papers brand* come in three exciting and colourful designs, which form a complete image when placed together.
The final design - featuring an interpretation of Michelangelo’s sculpture David, with each version having a differing vibrant and colourful background - was chosen from more than 580 entries submitted via Instagram for a global competition which reached an audience of more than 2 million people.
The new papers provide retailers with an additional sales opportunity – and further demonstrate how the iconic Rizla brand continues to deliver strong visual appeal backed by unrivalled product quality.
Each bright and colourful pack contains 32 king size papers and is available to buy at an MRRP of just £0.99**.
They represent the latest chapter in Rizla’s unique journey which, for more than two centuries, has seen the brand pioneer major developments in this category – from the world’s first hand-rolling machine to the launch of rolling papers with gum, and papers with cut corners.
Rizla King Size papers were created and introduced to the market in the 1970s and are now the paper of choice for millions of customers worldwide. Indeed, many people now simply refer to Rizla when discussing or buying rolling papers in general.
Yawer Rasool, Consumer Marketing Director UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, explained: “King size slim papers seem to have lost none of their popularity with customers and that was one of the reasons we decided to add new limited-edition papers to the line-up – and ask our customers to come up with an eye-catching new design which would work with our established brand look.
“The Instagram competition was hugely popular and drew a vast range of entries, meaning our judges had a really tough time picking a winner to be used on the new packs.
“In the end they went for a novel design where each pack works individually but also in combination with the other two to form a larger image. The design truly reflects the unique image of the Rizla brand, delivering the iconic look and feel which continues to appeal to millions of smokers worldwide. We believe the trio of designs will definitely catch the eye of customers to pick up a pack – or even all three!”