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.”
In an important step forward for nicotine pouches in the US and internationally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed and authorised for marketing Philip Morris International’s nicotine pouch brand, ZYN. The announcement marks a new stage for nicotine pouches in the US and is a clear signal to the world of the increasingly important role pouches play in the transition away from smoking cigarettes.
Growing in popularity with adult smokers in the UK looking for a discrete, convenient and reduced-risk smoke-free alternative, the pouches category has seen a 91 per cent rise in volume since 2019, with the potential for similar uptake as in Scandinavia and the US.
“This decision is an important step forward in the protection of public health in the US and resonates here in the UK," said Duncan Cunningham, External Affairs Director at Philip Morris Limited. "It affirms that ZYN nicotine pouches are a better alternative for legal age adults who smoke or use other traditional tobacco products and is a win for the consumer and for public health. Importantly, the decision was based on a comprehensive review of available science.”
The US Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires new tobacco products (including non-medical nicotine products) to be authorised by FDA before they can be sold. The science-based review analyses factors including toxicological risk compared to cigarettes, risk of initiation by non-users and minors and overall benefit to public health.
After a stringent review, the FDA determined that the marketing of all 20 ZYN variants is appropriate as it has ‘the potential to provide a benefit to adults who smoke cigarettes’, and the benefits to legal-aged nicotine users were sufficient to outweigh any potential risk of the product, including youth access.
“The decision demonstrates the very real benefits of driving awareness of nicotine pouches to help switch adult smokers away from cigarettes," Cunningham said. "Clearly, if we are to succeed in realising the UK’s smoke-free ambition, we need to provide smokers with access to – and information about – the full range of smoke-free products.
“In the UK we’re seeing encouraging growth with products like ZYN as a reduced risk alternative, and the government should ensure that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently working its way through Parliament does not unintentionally harm the chances of the six million adult smokers in the UK today being able to switch to these and other less harmful alternatives.”
Philip Morris Limited’s brand, ZYN has grown +161 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023. UK retailers interested in stocking the product can find ZYN available in wholesalers nationwide.
JTI (Japan Tobacco International) has announced a price repositioning of its Mayfair Gold ready-made cigarettes from an RRP of £13.30 to £12.50 for a pack of 20.
Since its launch in October 2023, Mayfair Gold has achieved remarkable success, securing the top spot as the UK’s fastest-growing new brand in 2024. This has generated an impressive retail sales value of £94.4M. This new price adjustment positions Mayfair Gold as JTI’s most affordable ready-made cigarette offering, giving retailers the opportunity to stock a trusted, premium Virginia blend tobacco brand at a competitive price.
The RRP reduction is especially timely as the Ultra Value segment continues to lead in market share growth, now comprising 17.9 per cent of the total tobacco market. By offering Mayfair Gold at RRP of £12.50, retailers can capitalise on this upward trend, meeting consumer demand while enhancing their sales potential.
“We’re incredibly pleased with the performance of Mayfair Gold since its launch, and this price repositioning further strengthens its appeal," said Marketing Director Mark McGuinness. "With a reduction on the RRP of 80p per pack, we are making the brand even more accessible to shoppers, while providing retailers with an excellent opportunity to increase sales.”
He continued, “As costs continue to rise and consumer budgets tighten, we remain dedicated to offering retailers top-quality products at the most competitive prices, ensuring they can maximise their profit opportunities.”
This price repositioning follows the successful introduction of Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco into the Ultra Value category in September 2024, underscoring JTI’s ongoing commitment to innovation and meeting consumer preferences.
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.”