This week the convenience store industry converges on Atlanta, Ga. to participate in it’s annual trade show. Industry participants will find a “lot of the old” and a “lot of the new” at this impressive trade show. Many interested in the tobacco industry however will have their interests focussed on a pretty impressive looking round tin that has been launched at retail in the Atlanta market by Philip Morris. Here’s your chance to share your thoughts with others regarding this launch!
ATLANTA TEST MARKET – MARLBORO MOIST
November 6th, 2007 | Nacs, Snus, Snuff & Alternative Products in US Markets | Lou Maiellano
55 comments ↓
Anybody know which specific retail stores are carrying the Marlboro moist product? I assume we would have a read from the market already since it was launched about three weeks ago. How’s it doing?
I was in a Pilot truck stop location and saw it and they said there was a lot of trial. One or two were repeat consumers but they said it was probably going to do well.
It is now about a month on the market. With the NACS show in Atlanta, I would think that Philip Morris would be sharing some early results from the launch. I am not at the show.
I tried the Marlboro chew at the Atlanta race. I didn’t like it. I like my Skoal straight. Maybe if they had a straight chew I’d like that.
hey mst you can find the product in the chamblee area, marietta area and smyrna area. I see it at all the BP & Exxon locations
Does anyone know how the Snus is doing versus the PM pouches? Why are they in small rectangular containers versus round? It will mess up a lot of current smokeless merchandising.
Wow this blog idea is a great idea. I was in Atlanta at NACs and did stop at a few locations while going back and forth from different events. Seemed like there was a lot of trial on the product. The point of sale was pretty impressive. Was surprised to see the round can dispenser attached right to the cig section but when you own the space thats dead center at checkout why not use it. Pretty impressive! Seemed like it may have an impact.
hey footbal042 – rectangular cans are used to distinguish that its different — the camel stuff was in a round can but it was probably making people think it was another chew so they probably went to the rectangular tin to say “i’m different” I heard the Camel Frost is doing quite well– did you see the Marlboro round tin with moist tobacco — i was impressed with that packaging – WOW!
The merchandising of snus on the cig fixtures is primarily due in part to communicate the alternative of the snus product directly to cigarette smokers. If it merchandised within the regular smokeless merchandising set, the “alternative message” becomes diminished. The target consumer for snus isn’t the current smokeless consumer but rather the smoking consumer who needs an alternative when smoking isn’t an option. Rectangular cans fit better in the springloads and provide additional distinction of the snus product between regular moist smokeless. I think this is why PM has the two different types of cans– round for Marlboro moist, and rectangular for it’s Marlboro snus.
Makes sense to me…
Lorillard’s Triumph Snus is round though.
I find it all so very interesting how together the industry is attacking a new market and great comments top leaf – but why would lorillard not follow the other two cig companies or is it the Swedish Match involvement? Anyone have thoughts? Anyone taste the new Marlboro? I think they are going to be a player! It makes the old tobacco buyer here get excited!
One more point about distinguishing snus from snuff with the rectangular can vs. round is that a rectangular can more closely mimics a rectangular cigarette pack so the act of placing the can in a pocket is more closely the same. Cigguy’s right: the round Triumph can is due to Swedish Match’s experience in Sweden. I wouldn’t be surprised if it moves to rectangular at some point though since it appears that Camel snus is beating out Marlboro snus in the Dallas Ft. Worth market, it could be the other way around. Still too early to tell, but what is key about Camel snus is that it delivers more nicotine or so I am told given the problems PM has had with the porosity of its tea bag and tendency to split at thinner / more porous levels.
I’m wondering if anyone likes the stuff – is it being reordered? Sure is a nice looking can. Time will tell! Sure is a lot of chatter about PM & RJ flexing their contractural agreements.
Where is Lorillard testing their Snus? Is it better than the Marlboro Snus. The Camel Snus really has a kick! You can feel it hit you right away! The Frost has a real nice flavor. I heard yesterday that RJR is going to expand their launch to more cities. I can’t wait to get it in my tobacco locations. My RJR account manager told me that the product is doing very well in Sheetz. How did Jerry do that? Gotta give him a attaboy for pulling that off! Hey RJ when you gonna come to Delaware!!!!
Is anybody able to confirm that RJR will be raising the price on grizzly?
Hey JD,
Conwood announced a price increase today of $.05 per can. Good hunch.
TAZ
If you are looking for an option when you simply can’t light up, SmokeScents are going into full launch in December. You can see more at http://www.SmokeScents.com. Watch their progress.
TAZ,
Thanks! Do you think Swedish will raise Longhorn or still keep pricing their product so much lower than Grizzly? Does USST raise Husky?
SmokeScents,
You gotta be kidding me. Is this some type of aromatherapy? Inhale the sweet scent of cherry tobacco. Wow!
Anybody know when PM is furthering their test? Are they doing any good in Atlanta? I heard RJR is going to further expand their snus rollout – is this true?
I heard IT is getting ready to come out with a new product? Anyone know what, when and where?
How’s redman doing?
PM is requiring wholesalers thru their Leaders programs to supply them with OTP data. Look out retailers and distributors, your PM market share requirements for OTP are not far off!
I think they will need to get some actual volume before they can demand anything and from what I can grasp it looks like the snus, moist and b&m will most likely go dead center in the PM fixture. From what I’m finding the moist product in Atlanta is ok to good but not creating a lot of movement. Trial is over. I hear that Redman is doing very well!
Monte, think you may be right about other tobacco being dead center in the PM set as last week I saw the new 2008 leaders program.
They will have prime location but they need to fix both products (snus and moist) if they want to seriously pick up share.
Oh, I saw and tried at NACS the new USST product called Skoal Edge, now there’s a kickass product! Wow it is unbelievable! This product just rocks! Can’t wait to have it in the stores.
JD,
SmokeScents is much more than Tobacco Aroma. It has absolute tobacco essential oil (purest and strongest tobacco oil from the tobacco leaf) and 5 other essential olis that are calming and relaxing. I am getting testimonials from all over the US as well as Germany, England and Belgium. SmokeScents simply works. It’ll get rid of that smokers edge when you simply can’t light up. There are other options but smokescents is convenient and last more than 3 months. It’ll give you that extra 30 minutes to an hour when you think your gonna bust when you need o smoke. This is by far more than just “tobacco aroma”!
Anyone here attend the PM meeting held in Chicago yesterday with selected retailers and wholesalers? Feedback??
I heard from some folks that the Marlboro Moist in Atlanta is a flop. Had trial but little retention. I think they just actually tested implementation of a launch. Product needs work was what I was told!
Heard PM is expanding the test area to move more product. – Wholesalers sitting on product since volume is slow. Seems like Monte heard the same report!
I heard from my USST rep that some locations in Atlanta were actually sending back product. Really don’t hear much good about the product. I heard they are also seriously discounting the product! Wonder if the new target is price value not premium.
Hi. I’m curious about this Marlboro Moist, I haven’t heard about it before today but it seems like a very interesting product with a mixed market response. Has anyone tried a new product called Nicogel? I’m a huge fan overnight! Not even six months ago I was a huge Newport 100’s smoker. I saw Nicogel packets being sold at a rural-suburban gas station and gave it a try. It’s something like a tobacco gel that you rub on your hands and you get a calming cigarette sensation. It’s very nice especially on the lungs. I’m actually an ex-college athlete and it feels great to breathe again. Someone try this product and let me know what you think. -Nick M.
Haven’t been on here lately but looks like my earlier thoughts were correct. I’m not the only one not liking marlboro in a tin.
Sure is amazing to me that it seems in the race to diversify their business that Reynolds has just out performed Philip Morris hands down. Reynolds made a wonderful transformation into the smokeless category purchasing Conwood, PM can’t give Marlboro Moist away after it’s initial launch. And Camel Snus has a 10 mile headstart on Marlboro Snus. And if the rumors are true and Reynolds buys Swisher they beat PM again even though JM is a nice deal. will be interesting to see the battles of the tobacco space in the next several years!
Any truth out there that PM is dealing a 1 can get 4 can promotion in Atlanta?
I heard the deal is buy a can get a coupon for 5 cans? Can any one clarify?
They say a picture is worth a 1000 words. Here is a picture from the Georgia market.
I wonder why PM is still in GA. Haven’t they been in that market for almost 8 months? Redman came out after this and I hear it’s going nationwide.
Johnie Jay,
You have made a really good point about Redman vs Marlboro. It does seem like something must be wrong with the Marlboro product. In the past several months we have seen the other manufacturers launch new products and they are doing well ie. grizzly snuff, redman & Skoal edge. Something has to give soon I’d think. Great picture but a $1.00 a can. Wow! And I thought $.49 for a can of Kayak was absurd!
Smokescents,
Where can I get this product? Is there any harm associated with the product? I’m referring to the inhaler.
Still very little movement here in Atlanta with the Moist Marlboro and in case you didn’t know PM discontinued the secretive product called Marlboro Ultra Smooth. Wasn’t a product that was featured with much promotional effort. If they gave it away like they gave away Marlboro menthol it would probably have done better. It had a different filter than other Marlboro’s.
Found this info online:
“Buy Copenhagen, Skoal, Grizzly, Longhorn, Etc… Get Marlboro Free”
With the hopes of promoting “trial and awareness of Marlboro MST among adult MST consumers”, Altria is enacting a “Buy any MST can, get 1 can of Marlboro free” promotion in its Atlanta test market. The company has instructed its retail customers to offer 1 free can of Marlboro MST for each can of MST (any brand) purchased. This program is expected to run between June 30th and July 6th.
Is that legal?
I am a B&M distributor and understand they booted out a guy who had experience with moist. Understand he is a real tobacco company drifter, but you think they would have valued this guys experience.
WCG,
Are you referencing RF? I heard he left also. Pretty amazing when you think he could have helped Philip Morris with their Moist tobacco adventure. Or maybe he said something he shouldn’t have that riled the group that think they do no wrong. I do think that folks @ UST & Swedish Match should look cautiously at how PM just eliminates the folks rather quickly after acquisition. Not a very pretty site but the PM sales force does very little out in the field anyway.
Any word on Philip Morric extending their moist test to mirror the Red Man Launch?
i recently moved to hawaii and am in need of more snus mint flavored if posible can i mabey get some free samples e-mail for adress
Brandon – I think you can order online.
Brandon I am sure American Smokeless will send some to you I like Peach and Strawberry their snus is GREAT 434-517-6192
Hey tT can I get some also.
I heard the other day that Reynolds was going ahead with a total USA launch of Camel Snus.
Deerhunter give them a call I did last week and was sent some samples, I wonder if Brandon called them
Can any one in the Dallas market discuss how Marlboro Moist is doing in the recent launch by PM?
For all those folks that thought Marlboro Moist was as good as Copenhagen. Think again if it was true then why did PM go spend 11.7 million dollars. The reason – Marlboro Moist is bad! Even giving it away to consumers didn’t work. I hope they keep a few folks on board to run the moist side of the business. And a serious word of advice from a big time dipping retailer, moist tobacco is not cigarettes and needs to be marketed differently! I wonder if they will understand how to market a product with a shelf life of a couple of weeks. Don’t mess with my Cope!
Any one know what is the status with Marlboro Moist in Georgia now that Philip Morris is buying USST?
Any one know if PM is going to expand the test? It’s been in Georgia a long time now.
Last week, David Adelman (at Morgan Stanley) reported that Altria will;
- reduce the price of Skoal and Copenhagen by $.30/can in SE states, and
- end its test market of Marlboro MST in Atlanta.
While Adelman also indicated that Altria may test market Marlboro MST in other locations, I suspect that Marlboro MST wasn’t selling well in Atlanta, and that future test markets for Marlboro MST may be with a different tasting (and perhaps different nicotine content) product.
Reading thru all the posting here on this topic it’s obvious the bloggers had it right as PM discontinued the Marlboro brand of moist tobacco.
Leave a Comment