Tobacco News
Just in time for TFWA AP in Singapore, Monus has announced the launch of two line extensions for the best-selling brand: FAST Black and White
Monus continues growth in duty free, announces extensions in FAST cigarette range Established in 1993, Monus was originally engaged in wholesale commodity trading. In 1999, a strategic decision was taken to create a cigarette brand using the company name. The brand FAST was launched two years later and in 2002 became the most sold cigarette in Serbia and Montenegro. Today Monus boasts a modern, automated cigarette manufacturing plant, producing 10,000 sticks per minute, with six manufacturing lines and the capacity to pack 4,000 kg of cut tobacco per hour. Monus exports 150,000,000 cigarettes per month while selling an additional 300,000,000 sticks domestically. The company has also been certified for 9001:2008 ISO standards. A strategic management decision was made in 2009 to increase exports and to enter the travel retail and duty free business. The company now exports cigarettes to Greece, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In European travel retail specifically, Monus currently works with Dufry Serbia and Hellenic Duty Free in Greece. In Africa, Monus cooperates with duty free operators at airports in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. In the Middle East, Monus has successfully launched Herald cigarettes at Abu Dhabi International airport through DFS and is currently in negotiations with other key operators in the region to further expand the availability of its product throughout the region. Monus also entered the Asia Pacific market with Monus Slims Aroma's (strawberry, grape and apple) in cooperation with duty
free shops in the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Macau. Just in time for TFWA AP in Singapore, Monus has announced the launch of two FAST line extensions for the best-selling brand: FAST Black and White. The company says that the new offerings are “characterized by a modern pack, new look cigarettes and an improved blend.” "In addition to the launch of the new extensions in the FAST range, we’re currently in the developmental stage for a new brand in the super premium segment," explains Zika Zorkic, General Manager of Monus. "At Monus we pride ourselves on innovation and for this reason continually seek to offer our customers more choices.”
JTI opens biggest ever smoking lounge in Dubai Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Dubai International recently inaugurated five smoking lounges, aiming to offer to the passengers traveling from Dubai Airport a unique experience. This global travel hub now joins a select group of international airports like Munich, Zurich, Moscow, Kuala Lumpur and Geneva, providing passengers with a refined and relaxing environment to pause before boarding while enhancing the airport environment for non-smokers. “The Smoking Lounge concept was created in 2003 as we were looking for a solution to accommodate smokers and nonsmokers in the airports—a top priority for JTI. Since then, this innovative concept has been implemented in 21 airports around the world that have a combined traffic of more than 300 million passengers per year,” said David Francis, General Manager Worldwide Duty Free Vice President at JTI. “The Smoking Lounges proved to be a win-win solution for all parties—smokers are enjoying a break in a pleasant environment especially designed
for them, non-smokers benefit from a smokefree environment and the airport is providing travelers with a high quality service,” he added. The five smoking lounges at Dubai International have a total floor area of more than 600 square meters and are located in all three terminals, Terminal 1 offering the largest airport Smoking Lounge worldwide with a surface of 250 square meters. “This is just one more way in which Dubai Airports is striving to cater to the varying needs of the over 50 million passengers who travel through Dubai International every year. The lounge provides passengers who smoke with a well-ventilated and comfort-
able place to relax while ensuring our nonsmoking passengers can continue to experience a completely smoke-free airport environment,” said Eugene Barry, Senior Vice President Commercial at Dubai Airports. The initiative was achieved through JCDecaux Dicon. Commenting on the partnership, Emmanuel Russel, CEO Middle East & Africa at JCDecaux, said: “This is a remarkable service that was complex to execute but will effectively enhance passenger experience upon completion. We are glad to facilitate this project, and will continue to add value for our partners through innovative concepts, services and solutions.”
The five smoking lounges at Dubai International are located in all three terminals, with Terminal 1 offering the largest airport smoking lounge worldwide www.dutyfreemagazine.ca GULF-AFRICA DUTY FREE & TRAVEL RETAILING
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