Imperial Brands has announced the launch of Paramount, a new cigarette brand designed for adult smokers who seek exceptional value without compromising on quality.
To support the launch, Paramount is offering additional support to retailers to enable them to sell at £11.50 or less per pack should they wish to.
Paramount features premium, full-flavour Virginia sun-ripened tobacco, meeting the needs of the majority of UK cigarette smokers, where over 90 per cent of cigarettes sold are Virginia blends and 83 per cent are full-flavour tobacco.
Now available through UK Wholesale and Independent Retail channels, Paramount’s introduction reflects the growing demand for value options in the UK, with the value sector expanding by five per cent in the past year and now representing 30 per cent of the UK cigarette market.
With great offers in wholesale to support the launch, Paramount is a top choice for value-seeking consumers. The brand is available in both full flavour king-size and super king-size formats, catering to a wide range of UK smokers.
The UK launch of Paramount follows the success of its debut in Germany, where it is currently the fastest-growing cigarette product since hitting the shelves5. Paramount has also launched successfully in a number of other European markets.
Yawer Rasool, Consumer Marketing Director UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, stated: “The demand for value products that still offer high quality continues to grow. Paramount will be our best value product in the UK market – synonymous with great value and proven success on the Continent.
“Many smokers of value products are open to trying new brands if the price is right. Given its success in key European markets, we anticipate strong demand for the Paramount brand across the UK.”
Imperial Brands has announced a new pouch size for its best-selling premium Golden Virginia Original hand-rolling tobacco.
As well as the established 30g and 50g sizes, Golden Virginia Original will now for the first time also be available in a 40g pouch, on sale with an RRP of £33.70. The move is a response to continued price inflation and pressures on the cost of living, with consumers more than ever seeking both quality and value in everything they buy, and willing to try new options which they see as offering those attributes.
It follows other 40g pouch size introductions across the market in response to the financial challenges facing many individuals and households under continued difficult economic conditions.
Yawer Rasool, Consumer Marketing Director UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, explained, “There is enormous loyalty towards the Golden Virginia Original brand, and the 40g pouch size has been introduced to provide increased options for Golden Virginia customers to enjoy their favourite rolling tobacco at a more affordable cost, without compromising on the quality they expect and are used to.
Introduced in 1877, Golden Virginia brings together 20 separate fine tobacco grades, sourced from four continents, to deliver a unique taste, and is widely recognised for its quality and value. Over more than 150 years, it has secured an enviable position in the UK and Ireland market as both a preferred choice for established hand-rolling tobacco users and for those opting for hand-rolling tobacco instead of cigarettes for the first time. Rolling papers are included with all pack sizes.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has introduced this year’s limited-edition pack for its ever-popular Henri Wintermans Half Corona brand, which is available to retailers now.
The Henri Wintermans Half Corona is easily the biggest brand in the medium / large segment and is now the UK’s fifth biggest selling cigar in value terms, with annual sales worth £16.3m. This new limited edition “Gentleman” pack adds a personal touch to the brand and celebrates its long heritage and continuing success, designed in a timeless pin stripe suit with the logo and information stitched into the fabric, which reflects both the aspirational nature of the product and the attention to detail that goes into crafting these fine cigars. Despite the changes to the packaging, the cigars inside of course remain the same.
“Retailers certainly won’t need me to tell them that sales of larger cigars go up in the build up to Christmas when adult smokers are in celebratory mood and typically have more time to enjoy them,” said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. “Our Henri Wintermans Half Corona is always a big seller at this time of year and this limited issue Gentleman’s edition pack should only increase sales further. My advice to retailers is to stock up on it, as it is easily the UK’s best-selling medium / large cigar and has a loyal following due to its quality blend and heritage.”
An eye-catching design created by a customer is bringing a unique appeal to a new limited-edition range of king-size slim papers from the iconic Rizla brand.
The Super Thin Silver papers from the UK’s favourite rolling papers brand* come in three exciting and colourful designs, which form a complete image when placed together.
The final design - featuring an interpretation of Michelangelo’s sculpture David, with each version having a differing vibrant and colourful background - was chosen from more than 580 entries submitted via Instagram for a global competition which reached an audience of more than 2 million people.
The new papers provide retailers with an additional sales opportunity – and further demonstrate how the iconic Rizla brand continues to deliver strong visual appeal backed by unrivalled product quality.
Each bright and colourful pack contains 32 king size papers and is available to buy at an MRRP of just £0.99**.
They represent the latest chapter in Rizla’s unique journey which, for more than two centuries, has seen the brand pioneer major developments in this category – from the world’s first hand-rolling machine to the launch of rolling papers with gum, and papers with cut corners.
Rizla King Size papers were created and introduced to the market in the 1970s and are now the paper of choice for millions of customers worldwide. Indeed, many people now simply refer to Rizla when discussing or buying rolling papers in general.
Yawer Rasool, Consumer Marketing Director UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, explained: “King size slim papers seem to have lost none of their popularity with customers and that was one of the reasons we decided to add new limited-edition papers to the line-up – and ask our customers to come up with an eye-catching new design which would work with our established brand look.
“The Instagram competition was hugely popular and drew a vast range of entries, meaning our judges had a really tough time picking a winner to be used on the new packs.
“In the end they went for a novel design where each pack works individually but also in combination with the other two to form a larger image. The design truly reflects the unique image of the Rizla brand, delivering the iconic look and feel which continues to appeal to millions of smokers worldwide. We believe the trio of designs will definitely catch the eye of customers to pick up a pack – or even all three!”
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has announced two new limited-edition designs for its ten-pack tins of both Signature Blue and Signature Original miniature cigars, which are available to retailers from the end of September onwards.
The new "Signature 1963 Edition" tins offer real standout on-shelf and tip their hat to the brand’s history, heritage and uncompromising quality. Not only do they have an eye-catching design on the tins, but also include limited edition liners inside. Since launching back in 1963, Signature has gone on to become one of the world’s leading machine-rolled cigar brands, with a global presence and well-earned reputation for a smooth and balanced smoke.
Last year Signature celebrated its 60th anniversary since launch, and also announced the return of ten-pack tins to ensure optimal freshness and preservation. Today, annual UK sales of Signature cigars are worth more than £45m a year, with the brand having strong products in both the miniature and cigarillo segments.
“We are delighted to unveil the Signature 1963 Edition tins which have been elegantly designed in a vintage, old-money style that captures the brand’s timeless elegance and appeal," said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. "We know limited edition packs are well received by consumers as they elevate the brand’s appeal and provide a touch of exclusivity, so we encourage retailers to stock up in anticipation of high demand.”
Republic Technologies has rolled out an unmissable competition from the UK’s brand of choice in filters and papers, giving ten retailers a chance to win a cash prize.
The competition is open now and will run until Saturday 31 August, with five retailers winning £1000 and another five prizes of £100 up for grabs. All retailers need to do is purchase three cases of any Swan branded filters from the qualifying wholesalers.