Tobacco News JTI rides the travel retail wave For JTI, a member of the Japan Tobacco Group of Companies, the top sellers in travel retail are Winston, Mild Seven and Camel. Winston is the second leading brand worldwide, Mild Seven is the top selling charcoal filter cigarette and Camel is an iconic American brand. “Travel retail and duty free is around one percent of JTI’s total sales volume, however it is extremely important as it gives the company the opportunity to follow its consumers when they travel and offer them the same brands they are used to,” the company says. In Latin America, the travel retail business is growing well for the company, showing a double-digit increase in financial results year over year last October compared with the same month in 2010. For 2012, JTI will launch an extension to the Camel line for travel retail—Camel Black & White. JTI says Black & White “is a genuine American Blend cigarette made with a selection of the best tobaccos and has been crafted to deliver an exceptionally smooth taste.” The packages have a modernist black, white and silver design. The range will be rolled out in Mexico, Argentina and the Dominican Republic in the second quarter.
JTI will showcase Winston XSense super slims at IAADFS
For US travel retail, JTI will introduce Sobranie Superslims, made with the Less Smoke Smell technology. The product will be available in Black, White and Pink versions. All new travel retail products will be highlighted at IAADFS, including Winston XSense, a new Winston entry in a king size super slims cigarette with a charcoal filter. JTI will also present the 2012 Winston Limited Edition Pack, which will be launched by year’s end in Mexico, Argentina and the Dominican Republic.
Imperial refines its offer Imperial Tobacco’s duty free team is based around the world in Hamburg, Athens, Fort Lauderdale and Hong Kong (recently relocated from Singapore). Global and local brands are sold though in flight, on ferries and cruise lines, in airports and at border locations. The company’s global strategic brand Davidoff is sold in more than 120 countries. “We focus on special editions as travelling is special,” says Dr. Jennifer Thanscheidt, Imperial’s Corporate Affairs Manager – Global Duty Free. “Duty free is a market where ‘home’ products meet ‘global’ products. It’s unique.” She says the major challenge is that there isn’t a single cluster that fits the “traveler” or “tourist” designation. But, she adds, there are global trends like the increasing speed of traveling and “hopping.” Notable special editions for Imperial in duty free include the Davidoff Book Edition and the Chinese New Year edition, which was created to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in 2012 and was unveiled at Cannes. Thanscheidt is keeping the company’s IAADFS plans under wraps for now, but she did say that Imperial was looking forward to springing some surprises. In Americas duty free, the increase in Chinese travelers to the US is driving growth for Davidoff and contributing to the overall positive trend for Imperial’s duty free performance in that country. Moreover, the company is completing a reorganization on the duty free side, and the expansion of the supply chain and marketing teams has undoubtedly also had a positive impact, as has the inauguration of a global Corporate Affairs portfolio.
218
THE AMERICAS DUTY FREE & TRAVEL RETAILING MARCH/APRIL 2012
Imperial’s special Davidoff edition for 2012, Year of the Dragon