ORLANDO, Fla. — With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publicly announcing proposals to restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarettes to age-restricted areas at convenience stores and ban flavors in cigars, a speaker at CSP’s Convenience Retailing University (CRU) conference said flavors in vaping and with large cigars represent a significant and growing segment of the nicotine category.
In a session on tobacco, Don Burke, senior vice president of Management Science Associates (MSA), Pittsburgh, said flavored products saw impressive growth in both vaping and large cigars, including cigarillos, in 2018, with any potential ban from the FDA threatening incremental new business.
Based on data from manufacturer shipments to retail, Burke said flavors represented a strong 42% of all vaping products and 55% of total cigar volume in 2018. In terms of growth, flavors saw an increase of 248.7% within total vaping volume and 3.8% with large cigars, including cigarillos.
With cartridges or pods used in vaping devices, flavors saw volume growth of 308.4% in 2018, with total growth including flavors, nonflavored, menthol and mint pods at 169.2%.
Also, a panel of three retailers discussed a broad range of issues, including regulatory developments at the federal, state and local levels; the changing tobacco consumer, including increased trial of e-cigarettes and the growing dual use of more than one tobacco product at the same time; and optimal management of the store’s backbar.
LAS VEGAS — Through the puffs of vapor from Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE) attendees, the exhibit floor at the annual convention and trade show featured an array of cigars, vaping devices, hookahs, pipes, glassware and loose tobacco, as well as cannabis- and hemp-based cannabidiols (CBDs).
Brands such as San Francisco-based Juul Labs, as well as newcomers from the e-liquid, vaping and medicinal-remedy space, presented at the show, which was held Feb. 11-13 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Here’s a rundown of a few memorable products …
Juul had a big presence, with TPE attendees well aware of Richmond, Va.-based Altria Group’s recent $12.8 billion investment for a 35% stake in the e-cigarette maker. After discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Juul pulled its Creme, Cucumber, Fruit and Mango flavored cartridges, or “pods,” from retail stores, opting to sell those only online.
Continuing its initial product debuts at last fall’s NACS Show, which was also in Las Vegas, Chesterfield Mo.-based Premier Manufacturing promoted its Belmore line of handmade, premium cigars.
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