HELP BRING BACK OUR LUCKIES!

[sagedil]

I support this effort but in all reality they most likely aren't going to repackage and rename Lucky just to sell it in the US. I think their stance is that snus isn't popular enough in the US to warrant the cost and effort to repackage it just for one country. Let us hope that assumption is incorrect.

I think your assumption may very well be incorrect.

Just read a article on Swedish Match's recent profit announcement, dated a few months ago.

The first line of the article read "Tobacco maker Swedish Match said profit rose as snuff sales climbed rapidly in Sweden and the US."

The US market is most definitely becoming a big thing for them. Helped, I'm sure, by Camel's release. And a no small part WE have played to get the word out.

More from the article...

“It’s an outstanding report”, a Swedish analyst said to the Direkt news bureau. “Although the snuff margin was lower, the volumes in Scandinavia and the USA and the mark-ups that are expected to have effect in the third quarter looks good”.

Last month Swedish Match raised its prizes of snuff with 4 percent on the Swedish and American market

Sales increased 15 percent to 3.7 billion kronor. Snuff sales and volumes grew in all Scandinavian markets while the company continued to gain market share for snuff in the US where volumes grew by 21 percent.


http://www.swedishwire.com/business/...f-sales-swells

[geeeeoffff]

just a note, i do NOT think you can just change lucky strike to "?" and call it good. if it still has the general look of lucky strike then that's copying "trade dress".

i suggest, same tin, but all black or white. call it something with the word 'toast' in it . maybe "Toasty"?

[tom502]

Or "Toasted". That'd be cool.

[sm0ke42o]

I support this effort but in all reality they most likely aren't going to repackage and rename Lucky just to sell it in the US. I think their stance is that snus isn't popular enough in the US to warrant the cost and effort to repackage it just for one country. Let us hope that assumption is incorrect.

I think your assumption may very well be incorrect.

Just read a article on Swedish Match's recent profit announcement, dated a few months ago.

The first line of the article read "Tobacco maker Swedish Match said profit rose as snuff sales climbed rapidly in Sweden and the US."

The US market is most definitely becoming a big thing for them. Helped, I'm sure, by Camel's release. And a no small part WE have played to get the word out.

More from the article...

“It’s an outstanding report”, a Swedish analyst said to the Direkt news bureau. “Although the snuff margin was lower, the volumes in Scandinavia and the USA and the mark-ups that are expected to have effect in the third quarter looks good”.

Last month Swedish Match raised its prizes of snuff with 4 percent on the Swedish and American market

Sales increased 15 percent to 3.7 billion kronor. Snuff sales and volumes grew in all Scandinavian markets while the company continued to gain market share for snuff in the US where volumes grew by 21 percent.


http://www.swedishwire.com/business/...f-sales-swells

I hope more than anyone that I am incorrect in this assumption. Glad to see that the US is starting to get taken seriously in the snus market. I can only hope this makes all the difference.

Got my fingers crossed until we see this matter resolved.

[justintempler]

Here's mine:

I started using Swedish snus about 10 months ago and one of my favorite brands was Lucky Strike snus which I bought through Northerner.com and BuySnus.com.

I do understand RAI has exercised their legal claim to the US trademark pertaining to sale of Lucky Strike to customers in the USA.

I would like to see the creation of a new "Fiedler & Lundgren export" brandname utilizing the same formulations but sold under the new brandname to the export market for sale to the USA.

Fiedler & Lundgren could utilize the old Pall Mall or older Retro snus containers so the only additional expense would be the creation of new labeling. Using Fiedler & Lundgren as part of the name would give instant brand recognition and minimize the cost of new artwork.

There is an oppourtunity here in the states to establish new smokeless tobacco products. Due to new Federal and state taxes here in Florida sales of cigarettes have declined 28% compared to last year during the month of July.

A rebranded Lucky Strike snus for sale to the USA could fill a niche to satisfy the demand for new smokeless products for people who are motivated to find an alternative to their smoking habit and also create a loyal customer base to improve chances of success should BAT at some later date decide to do a national rollout of snus in the USA.

I hope you find my suggestions helpful.

Fiedler & Lundgren responded to my email :

Hi Justin,

Thank you for your e-mail and your input.

Yes, you are correct, the Lucky Strike brand is, in the US, owned by RJ
Reynolds. Thus, we cannot export the product, and neither can The
Northerner (without getting into trouble).

We have no plans today to export our snus to the US due to seveal reasons. One big reason is that the demand for our products is so big that all our production lines are set up to cater to the Scandinavian market demands. We simply do not, today, have the resources for an export business.

Sorry I could not be more helpful. I hope you will find what you are
looking for on your domestic market.

All the best!

Bästa hälsningar / Best regards

Joakim Almetoft
Brand Manager
Fiedler & Lundgren AB
Tel: + 46 40 630 39 63 Mobile: + 46 734 21 3963
Fax: + 46 40 670 20 70
joakim.almetoft@flsnus.se
joakim_almetoft@bat.com

I wish there was better news but I do appreciate that they took the time to write a real response instead of a automated form letter. 8)

[tom502]

It was very nice they did reply.

Guess we'll just have to do without. This company makes Granit, right? Is that comparable?

I have a can of Lucky whites with me now, and 2 cans of original in the freezer.

Now these cans are nice, and probably won't get tossed when emptied.

[Snusdog]

I started a thread earlier today without realizing that folks had already begun posting the replies that they received from BAT over here.

Moderators: If you would like I will be glad to delete my "Un-Lucky News" thread and we can just keep it all over here. Let me know?


Anyway, here is the response I received;

Thank you for you e-mail!

There is no conflict over the brand name, but it is a bit complicated.
Lucky Strike in Sweden is owned by British America Tobacco and in the US
the brand is owned by RJ Reynolds. We have never exported the Lucky
Strike Snus due to the above ownership, but web shops have.

This is no longer tolerated and that is why the Lucky Strike snus is not
sold over the net to the US anymore.

I am sorry I don´t have better news for you. I hope you will find a
good substitue along the way.

All the best!


Bästa hälsningar / Best regards

Joakim Almetoft
Brand Manager
Fiedler & Lundgren AB
Tel: + 46 40 630 39 63 Mobile: + 46 734 21 3963
Fax: + 46 40 670 20 70
joakim.almetoft@flsnus.se
joakim_almetoft@bat.com

It Does not look good. Does not look like they want to fool with finding alternate solutions :cry: :cry: :cry:

[paulwall9]

I really hope you guys fina a viable alternative for Lucky because as of right now, it does not look good! RJ REYNOLDS IS GREEDY, GREEDY, GREEDY!!

[sagedil]

LD white is very good. Not exactly the same, but equal in the quality and taste department.

[BatRastard]

I was starting to feel dejected as I started the email requests and hadn't
received a response but I just received one! Now I just feel rejected,
which is soooo much better.


This is what I got
_______________________________________________________ ______
Thank you for you e-mail!

You are correct, we are not able to support the US market with Lucky Strike
snus due to, like you wrote, trademark regulations. Also, at the moment,
we are focusing on the Scandinavian markets and due to the high demand, we
simply do not have the capacity for exporting our products.

I am sorry that I don't have better news for you; I hope you will find a
good substitute product along the way.

All the best!

Bästa hälsningar / Best regards

Joakim Almetoft
Brand Manager
Fiedler & Lundgren AB
Tel: + 46 40 630 39 63 Mobile: + 46 734 21 3963
Fax: + 46 40 670 20 70
joakim.almetoft@flsnus.se
joakim_almetoft@bat.com
_______________________________________________________ ______

Maybe I should give him a call, do some hardball negotiating.
Not sure how to do that as the only Swede I've known was
the next door neighbor who would crack me up side the head when
I crossed the line. One time I wrote all over his garage door with
mud and I thought he was a psyphic until he pointed out I signed it.

Any tips on coercing Swedes? Hey chossy, how about some advice.
Should I threaten, cajole, grovel???

WAIT! Iknow ... A HUNGER STRIKE!
The HUNGER STRIKE FOR LUCKY STRIKE!

Go all Ghandi on his ass! This isn't over yet! Not by a long shot, no sir.

So who's with me?

I said, WHO'S WITH ME?



BAT :twisted:

p.s.- did you notice joakim's last email address? "bat.com"? He's infringing
me! I may just have him by the short and curlies! Calling my
trademark lawyer asap.

[Veganpunk]

lol, Bat I must say you are a wonderful addition to Snus-On! :lol:

[paulwall9]

Yes Bat is very enthusiastic!

[chossy]

I don´t know.

Nobody cared about the cool picture I posted on the first page anyway.

Give him a call, they usually aren´t as tough over the phone, even if it fails atleast you can listen to his ridiculous accent and have a laugh.

As a last resort play this song for him over the phone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTQY0...eature=related

A real classic oldie

If that won´t melt his stonecold heart nothing will.

[cj]

i just want to roll around naked in all my lucky strike snus :twisted:

[Allergy]

i just want to roll around naked in all my lucky strike snus :twisted:

Hell, I'll still take a portion after you troll all over it.