Swedish Match pushes into the US market this summer...two new varieties

[rickcharles606]

Rick, am I to assume you won't be helping distribute the new snus?

I'm in hate with you...ahaha

[jagmanss]

Rick primarily deals Jaks and V2, it may be different from SM stuff

Yeah I forgot about that when I posted, But still begs the question... What makes Jaks and V2 any different than SM products... I mean what is the secret ingredient that makes some snus not need to be refrigerated yet others do.... Hell! I refrigerate all no matter anyway.... But inquiring minds want to know especially when purchasing from a US based Tobacco store or any store for that matter in the near future...

[GoVegan]

Well whatever gets swedish snus available at 7-11 works for me.

This. I would buy it on occasion even with the lack of salt that I just love. The fact is, as demand increases so will the new products that become available. Let them start with their watered down snus and the next thing you know both Gellivare and Granit los will be at 7-11. The only thing I am not liking about this is 15 portions.

[chadizzy1]

I'm in hate with you...ahaha

Just save it all up, when I come meet with Frank in October you can give me a swift kick to the nuts. Only ONE!

[jagmanss]

I get this because I like Stargate. . Haha

Yeah, The Goa'uld I also get because I like Stargate, But that is all i got out of that whole post.... Didn't understand anything else tho

BTW: Stargate Atlantis was the best and had humor at least ... Stargate Universe is just to Meh! and kinda boring...

[GoVegan]

I can't wait to say "I would like $20.00 on pump 2 and a pack of General snus please!"

[Ephemeris]

LOL, your post implies that someone's been telling retailers to unplug their fridges? Is that right? SM, can claim that their snus needs to be refrigerated all they want, and they can tell their retailers that their snus needs to be refrigerated. The retailers will in the end, do what they want. It seems that with all their distribution issues, they'd be more concerned with keeping expired product out of their precious refrigerators. Feck, if your "new" friend Elliot wants to address this with me directly, feel free to give him my number, lol.

I'M not implying anyone's telling retailers to unplug their chillers, but Swedish Match vaguely hinted at the idea. They're definitely concerned with it from what it seemed.

They actually said all complimentary things about you guys, believe it or not. They're impressed that you've been able to do the seemingly impossible (ie, get real Swedish snus into brick and mortar stores almost singlehandedly). Maybe I should give him your number, so you can tell them what they're doing wrong

(Just so everyone knows, Rick and I are close friends, and he always gives me shit when I hang around the competition, LOL.)

[rickcharles606]

I'M not implying anyone's telling retailers to unplug their chillers, but Swedish Match vaguely hinted at the idea. They're definitely concerned with it from what it seemed.

They actually said all complimentary things about you guys, believe it or not. They're impressed that you've been able to do the seemingly impossible (ie, get real Swedish snus into brick and mortar stores almost singlehandedly). Maybe I should give him your number, so you can tell them what they're doing wrong

(Just so everyone knows, Rick and I are close friends, and he always gives me shit when I hang around the competition, LOL.)

Yes Feck and I are good friends, he's a great guy, even if he is a hippie ;-) Elliot has my number, we exchanged business cards in Vegas. It's no secret that I've been critical of SM's gameplan, and I was critical of them long before I went to work for Northerner. I honestly wish SM well here in the US because it will take all of us to make Swedish snus mainstream here in the US. Besides the snus market here is big enough for all of us ;-)

[sirloot]

Seems to me what they are doing wrong .. is trying to re-invent the wheel so to speak.... they should market the entire list of current production snus instead of time/effort/ripoff (cmon 15 portions no starpattern ?) of this new redesigned Nordic/classic and jump feet first in .. quit the toe dipping with general then ettan ... give the people it all roda ,N&J,onyx, longs/sterks, GES,Catch collections,goteborgs, etc most biz these days are going the smokefree way. the reps sell the cigars to markets .. they afraid to try to sell snus other than general ? i know if i saw it up near the skoal and the camel and the marlboro id atleast think hmm wonder what thats like .. not bad at all .. yes more of this please :P

[Jwalker]

7mg isn't too much lower actually but I'm still wondering why they did it, I would have at least kept it at 8mg probably boosted it to 9mg. They should also just pay a few nationwide retailers like say 7-11 1k each to carry it and pay to take back unsold cans every three months or so I mean that would cost like what 3 million. Also I just realized won't it be a little weird if in 10 years if there successful and all (which I hope they are) we walk into 7-11 and ettan is sold in round cans while general is sold in the coffin tins.

[Jwalker]

Also the thing is what else will they do Timberwolf and Longhorn are good dip for the price but they're not going to gain market share they should try to get as much of the snus market as they can before RJR and Altria finally get their act together and sell decent snus.

[chadizzy1]

One thing you guys have to understand that even at 7mg of nicotine - that's still pretty intense compared to current American snus offerings. Talking "free" or usable nicotine, the current products are very, very low. People will immediately notice the different in strength. 7mg may seem weak to us, but to those used to American snus it will seem quite strong.

[TBD]

7mg is a guess. SMNA really wouldn't confirm or deny the nicotine level. I would guess it's between 7 and 8mg. Being a dry, relatively, portion and .9 gram, the nic would be lower per portion.

My question about refrigeration is if V2 and Gotlands does not need to be chilled, for whatever reason, why do they put them in fridges in Sweden? Because SM does is not an acceptable answer.

[WickedKitchen]

I'm brainwashed into the cold snus idea. I don't see the need for it unless you have a stash that you won't go through in three months. I've kept a few cans out for this period of time either in my desk at work, or in my car. I did this for convenience just to have snus in various places so I didn't have to carry any on my person. It's worked out quite nice and I've enjoyed every portion. The taste, nic, moisture, etc. is the same. I'd even go so far as to say there's a slightly faster flavor development and aroma with a room temperature snus but man, nothing beats coming home to a cold one. Especially los. I do prefer them cold, always but I think it's a matter of conditioning now.

Rick, that was a home run post about the distribution. It's a fantastic gimmick selling it cold.

[Lcarvone]

LOL, so let me get this straight, the great and mighty SM can't figure out how to increase shelf life and retain moisture without a refrigerator, but other smaller manufacturers can accomplish it AND somehow keep TSNA levels from rising for at least 4 months unrefrigerated.

I don't live near any of the stores listed on the Snus Retail Locations so are the Jaks brands etc that you distribute displayed on shelves/racks then in the tobacco shops etc versus fridge?