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The two new Flavours in the Café Crème aromatic line are Italian Macchiato (centre) and French Vanilla (right) |
SCANDINAVIA/FRANCE. Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufacturer of cigar, pipe and fine cut tobacco, launched a number of new products and line extensions at TFWA World Exhibition as it bids to grow its market share, particularly in the aromatic cigar and cigarillo segments.
The key launches included Café Crème Filter & Flavour, a new cigarillo, two new flavours in the Café Crème Flavours range, plus three more variants from the Café Crème Finos family. Each will have wide distribution in travel retail, the company said.
Senior Vice President of Marketing Lars Toft Wassberg told The Moodie Report: “There is now more of a focus on the travel retail channel, and we’ll see more of that, through novelty items, promotional packs and differentiated displays. We will tailor products for the market, and any new launches will tie in well with those on the domestic market as we build awareness. These new products and line extensions are a part of that strategy.”
The new Café Crème Filter & Flavour follows the trend for smaller, aromatic cigars and comes in three flavours: Vanilla Honeyswirl, Espresso Rumtwist and Caramel Cream. With a built-in filter, the range is made of a blend of tobaccos from Asia, Africa and Brazil wrapped in a blond Ecuadorian leaf.
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| The new Café Crème Filter & Flavour line follows the trend for smaller, aromatic cigars | ||
The range is packaged in portrait-sized tins with a flip lid featuring a contemporary design with different-coloured swirls for each flavour. Distribution begins in early 2010 in selected European markets.
“This is an important development for us,” noted Wassberg. “It will strengthen our position as one of the world leaders in cigarillos, while increasing our share of the aromatic segment.”
He added: “Tobacco is limited as an industry in how it can communicate, and the iPod-style, techno model packaging is one route. It is very tactile and easy to hold, and it also looked different to the traditional packs. That helps younger adults develop a point of difference from the products that their fathers smoke.
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Tiedemanns Naturgrønn (Natural Green) will make a big impact in the ryo category, says the company |
“It’s also part of the strategy to convert consumers from cigarettes, and these filtered cigarillos are styled like King Size cigarettes. In the past few years we have not grown our share of the flavoured segment as that segment has emerged. New products such as these are part of our drive to take back that share.”
The two new flavours in the Café Crème aromatic line are French Vanilla and Italian Macchiato. These are packaged in tins featuring the brand’s logo and are available in both cigarillo and fino sizes.
Café Crème Senior Brand Manager Monique van Stipdonk said: “We developed the new products following research that showed coffee and vanilla flavours were closest to the existing Café Crème brand image.” She added: “These are natural flavours and are very accessible.”
The two new variants will be launched this month, beginning in France, with roll-out continuing in other markets in 2010.
Finally the group has introduced a new addition to its range of Tiedemanns tobacco. Tiedemanns Naturgrønn (Natural Green) has no artificial additives and will make a big impact in the ryo category, said the company.
Global Travel Retail Manager Claus Chemnitz noted: “Our research has shown us that ryo smokers will welcome Tiedemanns Naturgrønn and duty free outlets should be prepared for adult smokers requesting it. The 25g pouch is ideal for travellers – the design is simple yet appealing. The brand performs particularly well in key ryo markets such as Norway, where it is a duty free staple in the tobacco sector.”
MORE STORIES ON SCANDINAVIAN TOBACCO GROUP
Scandinavian Tobacco to launch new line extensions – 26/08/09
Scandinavian Tobacco marks a new beginning – 08/05/09
