Published: October 12, 2008 04:11 pm      

Cigarette giant rolls out new tobacco products

Cigarette giant R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is introducing three dissolvable smokeless products in its latest bid to make tobacco more accessible in a society that’s clamping down on smoking.

The dissolvable products -- a pellet (Camel Orbs), a twisted stick the size of a toothpick (Camel Sticks) and a film strip for the tongue (Camel Strips) -- had their debut at last week’s National Association of Convenience Stores convention.

The products drew criticism from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which has protested most Reynolds tobacco innovations in recent years.

“These products are flavored and packaged like candy, and very likely will appeal to children,” said Matthew Myers, president of the advocacy group.

Company spokeswoman Maura Payne said that the products are sold in child-resistant packaging. Only adult consumers will be able to buy the products, and they will carry the same health warnings as other oral smokeless products.

“These products appear to be part of a continuing effort by RJR and other tobacco companies to get around the growing number of smoke-free laws and give smokers new ways to sustain their addiction in places they cannot smoke,” Myers said.

The products are made of finely milled tobacco and come in the flavor styles of fresh and mellow, Payne said. The products last from two to three minutes for the strips, 10 to 15 minutes for the orbs and 20 to 30 minutes for the sticks.

“We’re meeting the adult tobacco consumer where they are in society today,” Payne said. “Consumer research has found that adult tobacco consumers have wanted another option for using tobacco where it wasn’t comfortable or they weren’t permitted to smoke.”

Reynolds said it is the first major U.S. tobacco manufacturer to offer the products. Star Scientific Inc., a smaller manufacturer in Petersburg, Va., has been selling its dissolvable tobacco products -- Ariva and Stonewall -- in select regional and national chains such as Food Lion and 7-Eleven.

Reynolds plans to test the new products in Indianapolis; Columbus, Ohio; and Portland, Ore. The orbs and sticks products will have their debut in January and the strips in the second quarter.

Although Reynolds does not dictate retail prices, the company said that the dissolvable products should sell at a comparable price to a tin of Camel Snus, which is between $4 and $4.50.

Bill Godshall, executive director of SmokeFree Pennsylvania, said that Reynolds is probably trying to introduce its new smokeless products before potential Food and Drug Administration regulation stamps out most innovation.

“I’m pleased that Reynolds is being aggressive in accelerating the switch to smokeless tobacco and getting more products that are likely to appeal to tobacco users,” Godshall said.

In the past nine years, Reynolds has expanded its flagship brand Camel through such introductions as Camel Exotic Blends, Camel No. 9 and Camel Signature. It has branched out with Camel Snus, a smokeless product that is being promoted as the industry’s best bet in a post-smoking environment.