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Swedish Match publishes annual report for 2011  

• Swedish Match Announces Market Expansion for General Snus  

General is the number #1 selling snus in the world and the flagship brand for Swedish Match. Now General will be available in convenience stores and tobacco outlets in the metropolitan areas of New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Denver, Nashville and throughout the state of Ohio with its two new flavors in the product assortment, Nordic Mint and Classic Blend. Those flavors were launched in Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia in mid-2011.

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• Cigarette Paper Patent Fight To Be Decided by U.S. Agency 

Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc. (SWM) (SWM)’s efforts to block a German competitor from selling self- extinguishing cigarette papers in the U.S. were revived by a trade agency that can block imports of the rival products.

The U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington said yesterday it will review Judge James Gildea’s findings from February that Julius Glatz GmbH of Neidenfels, Germany, and its LIPtec unit didn’t violate Schweitzer-Mauduit’s patent rights. Notice of the commission’s decision was posted on the agency’s website.

The dispute is over so-called low-ignition proclivity papers, which have thick bands that act as buffers so a cigarette goes out if a smoker isn’t drawing air through it. All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have passed laws requiring so-called fire-safe cigarettes.

While cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires, smoking is the top reason people die in home conflagrations, with an estimated 700 to 900 deaths each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

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Swedish company hopes to chip away at Reynolds' snus market  

Swedish Match is ramping up production of snus in hopes of chipping away at the dominant U.S. market share held by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.'s Camel Snus brand.

Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Swedish Match has been selling its snus product in the United States since 2006, Sandy Fowler-Jones, a U.S. spokeswoman, said Friday.

Swedish Match is the third-largest producer of moist snuff in the United States, said Stephen Pope, an industry analyst and managing partner of Spotlight Ideas in England.

The main Swedish Match snus brand is General, which is sold locally at outlets that include Tar Heel Tobacco shops and Four Brothers convenience stores. The company is testing two new styles of snus in rectangular cans in Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia.

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Swedish company hopes to chip away at Reynolds' snus market  

Swedish Match is ramping up production of snus in hopes of chipping away at the dominant U.S. market share held by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.'s Camel Snus brand.

Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Swedish Match has been selling its snus product in the United States since 2006, Sandy Fowler-Jones, a U.S. spokeswoman, said Friday.

Swedish Match is the third-largest producer of moist snuff in the United States, said Stephen Pope, an industry analyst and managing partner of Spotlight Ideas in England.

The main Swedish Match snus brand is General, which is sold locally at outlets that include Tar Heel Tobacco shops and Four Brothers convenience stores. The company is testing two new styles of snus in rectangular cans in Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia.

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Brad K. Rodu — University of Louisville 

Brad K. Rodu, D.D.S. has been appointed the first holder of the Endowed Chair in Tobacco Harm Reduction Research at the University of Louisville's James Graham Brown Cancer Center.

His research focuses on the substitution of safer tobacco products by smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit smoking with conventional cessation methods because of their addiction to nicotine.

His research in comparative epidemiology established the scientific foundation for harm reduction and he continues to study clinical and social interventions aimed at harm reduction.

Tobacco harm reduction has been popular among Swedish men, who have the lowest smoking rate and highest smokeless tobacco usage rate in Europe.

In a study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, Rodu found that smokeless tobacco products were primarily responsible for a decline in smoking among Swedish men from 19 percent in 1986 to 11 percent in 1999. . . .

Endowed Chair in Tobacco Harm Reduction Research

School of Medicine - Established April 2005

The endowed chair and research funds were created by the James Graham Brown Cancer Center using more than $3 million in unrestricted gifts by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and Swedish Match North America, Inc. to the University of Louisville.

The sponsors have no influence over the chair holder’s research.

The funds and the chair are part of the "Finding Answers to Cancer" campaign.

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White Owl Launches Hottest New Flavor-UNFLAVORED!  

White Owl announced today the launch of the hottest new flavor to hit the cigarillo market, White Owl FoilFresh® Silver Cigarillos. The newest addition to the White Owl Cigarillo product line is in stores now.

"This is an example of how White Owl is on the cutting edge of consumer trends," according to Katherine Macomber, White Owl Brand Manager. "Small Unflavored HTL is the fastest growing segment in the industry, almost doubling in size in 2011. White Owl is the first major brand to invest in this segment, catering to the consumer who wants a smooth, uncomplicated and great tasting smoke."

White Owl is also using its innovative FoilFresh® technology for the latest addition to the portfolio, guaranteeing each Silver Cigarillo is as fresh as the day it was made.

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Brand New Winners Announced in the Red Man Moist Snuff "Always Fresh" Sweepstakes 

Casey Jordan of Pueblo, CO and Nicolas Otzel of Naugatuck, CT are the latest winners in the Red Man Moist Snuff "Always Fresh" sweepstakes. Jordan has won a trip for two to Las Vegas, NV and Otzel has won a 16' ELPT FourStroke 20 boat. . . .

"The 'Always Fresh' Sweepstakes is one of the key elements of the freshness platform for Red Man Moist Snuff," according to Tracy Vernon, associate brand manager for Red Man Moist Snuff. "Our strategy centers, of course, on the Red Man Moist Snuff Flavor Fresh Lid, introduced earlier this year. Our brand continues to drive innovation with our new lid which creates a tight seal and improves moisture retention keeping the product fresh."

Adult consumers over 21 years of age have a chance to win by entering on-line each day at www.redman.com . The contest ends September 29, 2011.

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Red Man Moist Snuff Announces Newest 'Always Fresh' Sweepstakes Winners  

Steven Young of Tully, NY is the latest winner in the Red Man Moist Snuff "Always Fresh" sweepstakes. Young has won the May prize package that includes a Polaris Sportsman 550 Indy red ATV with helmet and accessories. Age verified participants vote in the monthly "Always Fresh" sweepstakes for the prize of their choice. The prize that garners the most votes is awarded. Themes vary from "Lake Living" to "The Great Outdoors" to "On the Hunt," with a prize list that includes an Alaskan salmon fishing trip for two, a white water rafting trip, a Coleman Destiny Series Camp Trailer and an $8,000 shopping spree for camping gear.

"Keeping the contest always fresh, always exciting, is our goal," according to Tracy Vernon, associate brand manager for Red Man Moist Snuff. "The 'Always Fresh' sweepstakes is one of the key components of our strategy to drive awareness of the freshness platform for Red Man Moist Snuff. A key element, of course, is the Red Man Moist Snuff FlavorFresh™ Lid which we introduced earlier this year. Our brand continues to drive innovation with our new lid which creates a tight seal and improves moisture retention keeping the product always fresh."

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• Swedish Snus Maker Sets Sights on U.S. Market ($$) 

Smokeless-tobacco giant Swedish Match AB, the dominant maker of snus in Scandinavia, plans to begin a major push into the category in the U.S. in the coming months.

The company, which to date has only dipped its toes into the small-but-growing segment of the U.S. smokeless-tobacco industry, is unveiling two new versions of its General brand for American consumers and sharply expanding retail distribution starting this month. Initial markets will be Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia, executives said in an interview Thursday.

The effort underscores tobacco makers' rising interest in expanding a product style that is popular in Sweden and Norway ...

Swedish Match said it intends to emphasize to consumers that General is an authentic Swedish snus that has been made in Sweden for more than 150 years. The new Nordic Mint and Classic Blend varieties will sell at a slight premium to Camel Snus, the market leader in the U.S.

"We think snus in the U.S. is going to be a big category," said Clark Darrah, vice president for next-generation products for Swedish Match's U.S. division. "Globally, this is the biggest opportunity that we have."

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Red Man Moist Snuff Announces Monthly 'Always Fresh' Sweepstakes Winners  

Casemiro Ovalle of San Antonio Texas and Robert Badzioch of Buffalo Grove, IL are the first two winners in the Red Man Moist Snuff "Always Fresh" sweepstakes. Ovalle, the March winner in the contest receives a Power tool set which includes a Honda 5000watt Generator, a Karcher 2600psi gas powered washer, a plunge and fixed router base kit and Bosch jobsite stereo with CD player.

The winner of the February prize, Robert Badzioch has a package that includes a 60" Sony Bravia television with an entertainment system, a home theater chair and a Sony blue-Ray disc player.

Age verified participants vote in the monthly "Always Fresh" sweepstakes for the prize of their choice. The prize that garners the most votes is awarded. Themes vary from "Backyard Gear" to "Off Road Adventure" to "Bar Games," with a prize list that includes a Hot Springs Jetsetter Hot Tub, a Polaris Sportsman 550 Indy red ATV and an Olhausen billiard table.

"Changing the prizes is one way to keep the sweepstakes always fresh, always exciting," according to Tracy Vernon, associate brand manager for Red Man Moist Snuff. "The contest is one of the key programs that support our strategy to drive awareness of our freshness platform for Red Man Moist Snuff."

The sweepstakes is a component of the overall campaign for the recently introduced Red Man Moist Snuff FlavorFresh™ Lid. Vernon adds, "Our brand continues to drive innovation with our new lid which creates a tight seal, improves moisture retention and keep the product always fresh."

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Swedish Match: Interim Report January – March 2011  

Comparable sales1) for the first quarter increased by 1 percent to 2,646 MSEK (2,608). In local currencies, comparable sales1) for the first quarter increased by 6 percent. Sales for the first quarter of 2010 including businesses transferred to STG amounted to 3,282 MSEK

Comparable operating profit2) for the first quarter increased by 11 percent to 729 MSEK (655). In local currencies, comparable operating profit2) for the first quarter increased by 17 percent

Operating profit including businesses transferred to STG, share of net profit from STG and larger one time items3) for the first quarter amounted to 793 MSEK (755)

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Swedish Match: Full Year Report January – December 2010  

· Comparable sales1) for the full year increased by 5 percent to 11,222 MSEK (10,678) and for the fourth quarter by 7 percent to 2,801 MSEK (2,620). Sales for the full year, including businesses transferred to STG2), were 13,606 MSEK (14,204)

· In local currencies, comparable sales1) for the full year increased by 7 percent and for the fourth quarter by 9 percent

· Comparable operating profit3) for the full year increased by 9 percent to 3,158 MSEK (2,900) and for the fourth quarter by 13 percent to 836 MSEK (740)

· In local currencies, comparable operating profit3) for the full year increased by 12 percent and for the fourth quarter by 15 percent

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UPDATE 2-U.S. cigar sales spike boosts Swedish Match Q4  

Snuff and cigar maker Swedish Match (SWMA.ST) posted higher fourth-quarter profits helped by a spike in sales of cheap cigars in the United States, and saw rising profits for that business this year, sending shares up.

Analysts said results were overall strong, and the firm's shares rose 6.9 percent to 199.70 crowns at 1012 GMT, outperforming the blue-chip Stockholm index .OMXS30.

UBS analyst David Hallden said core profit, sales, positive one-offs as well as dividend were slightly bigger than expected.

"I would have liked to see a stronger snuff margin but such a broad strength overall outweighs that. Shares have come down a bit ahead of the report but this is better than feared, so it's a bit of a relief (rally)," he said.

Swedish Match, whose main markets are Sweden, Norway and the United States, forecast increased sales and profits this year for its U.S. mass market cigar business, which has grown rapidly in recent quarters. A

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RAI reaches agreement to sell Lane, Limited to STG (PDF) 

Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI) announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell Lane, Limited, to Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S (STG), a global company based in Denmark.

Under terms of the transaction, STG has agreed to pay $205 million in cash for Lane. The Lane operations contribute approximately $0.04 per share to RAI’s annual earnings.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2011, pending anti-trust review and approval. . . .

“Reynolds American’s operating companies are strategically focused on key brands in the cigarette, moist-snuff and modern smoke-free categories of the tobacco business, so this is an opportunity to maximize the potential of the Lane business and brands under an owner who is focused on the ‘other tobacco products’ (OTP) category,” said Susan M. Ivey, president and chief executive officer of Reynolds American.

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