KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- Blue Whale Worldwide, the maker of premium smokeless alternatives, said that Dan Custred has been appointed director of sales, and will focus on the company's flagship product, Blue Whale Smokeless.
In his new role at Blue Whale, he will spearhead product branding efforts, build wholesale distribution and outreach, and oversee retail strategy for the end consumer. He reports directly to Jim Airaghi, vice president of sales.
Custred is the former director of business development for Greenwich, Conn.-based [image-nocss] U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., where for more than 20 years, he held several positions, most recently director of business development, where he was responsible for developing new accounts and delivering the company's sales plans and trade tactics to the retail industry.
Dan's strong industry reputation and professional relationships will open many doors for our new product, said Bill Whalen, founder of Blue Whale. He has demonstrated his wealth of experience in Texasthe No. 1 smokeless tobacco state in the countryand I am confident he will expand Blue Whale's presence on the national stage, too. I look forward to growing the business with Dan, and realizing Blue Whale's full market potential.
Custred has also served in several leading associations and committees, most notably the National Association of Convenience Stores Political Action Committee (NACSPAC), and the American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) board. For NACSPAC, he organized and conducted business sessions at regional events that covered such diverse topics as product introduction, regulatory affairs, government relations, new promotions and strategic planning. As a member of the AWMA board, Custred sat on the Business Exchange, Expo and Systems to Enhance Professional Selling (STEPS) committees.
King of Prussia, Pa.-based Blue Whale Worldwide produces Blue Whale Smokeless, a smokeless tobacco alternative. Its proprietary ingredient is NicoDipT, a natural botanical tobacco extract that the company said delivers the same taste, smell and pack of premium tobacco, while significantly reducing tobacco consumption. Blue Whale also distributes Nicogel, a water-soluble gel cigarette replacement containing natural tobacco extract.
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