Entries from March 2008 ↓

Officially Altria breaks up today into PM USA and PM International -whether you think this is a good move or not - the question is what’s next?

At PM USA I speculate they will pursue a US acquisition in the smokeless category - most probably Swedish Match or US Smokeless. Everybody else believes the top pick is Swedish Match, but I think the most likely candidate is USST.

Here’s why;

USST has the greater share of Premium (yes Premium) Brands in the smokeless category.

They have product development expertise.

An experienced sales force and, despite some pessimistic opinions, good marketing.

I know most of this applies to Swedish Match but USST has size -for this reason I see USST as a better fit for PM USA on this basis.

At PM International, the jewel in the crown must be China - did anyone hear the PBS news this morning - they said so too.

With 350 million male smokers in China, you don’t have to get much percentage penetration to have a huge volume (for Marlboro.)

Agree / diagree - post your view and let’s have a discussion?

Watch this space.

The following information was delivered to my email the other day! Tell me what your thoughts are? Is it Possible to smoke harm free? I find this extremely interesting. What are your thoughts?

Millions of consumers who smoke cigarettes are looking for acceptable alternatives to satisfy their cravings for nicotine - anyplace and anytime. Whether consumers want to avoid the harmful byproducts of smoking tobacco or consumers want to enjoy the sensation of smoking in a public place, bar or restaurant, the Ruyan Electronic Cigarette not only simulates the experience of ordinary cigarette smoking, it also delivers nicotine to the system to satisfy the craving.

The Ruyan Electronic Cigarette Offers Significant Benefits to Users:

• Free of tar and the dangers associated with the many chemicals commonly produced by a lit, ordinary cigarette
• It does not require heat or ignition by flame
• One 16 mg cartridge is equivalent on average to 20 - 30 cigarettes
• Does not produce second-hand smoke
• Not regulated by the FDA
• It can be used in most “No-Smoking” areas and poses no fire danger

In honor of March Madness,  Michael Siegel is running his own tournament, complete with regions and brackets, to determine the anti-smoking organization champion for most ridiculous secondhand smoke health claim. Check out is his link listed in the blogroll, The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary. Then come back to the tobaccotoday.info blog and tell fellow tobacco bloggers who you think is the anti-smoking organization champion for the most ridiculous secondhand smoke health claim!

That Dante Letti has suceeded Flavio de Andrade as President of Souza Cruz is fact. Less clear is the exact reason why Flavio departed. Was he passed over for a promotion as has been rumoured or was it the discovery of his covert ownership of Veneto Tabaco - one of the top four producers in Paraguay. If correct, this is sensational news. But is it correct?

It has been rumoured for years that “senior management of Souza Cruz” may be involved in one of the cigarette manufacturers in Paraguay.

That’s all - just a rumour.

Until recently it was thought Luiz Santi was the owner of Veneto. Luiz used to work for Souza Cruz in Paraguay and is said to know Flavio well from when they worked together in sales and marketing.

Nothing remarkable as plenty of ex Souza Cruz employees have found refuge in the tobacco business in Paraguay.

If you have a comment to add…………………?