Smokeless Product A 'Smash Hit' in Japan

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 06/10/2010

Japan Tobacco Inc said yesterday it would double its capacity for producing the smokeless tobacco product it introduced last month because the product has become a "smash hit", according to a Kyodo News story. The launch of Zerostyle Mint was announced in the middle of March and it went on sale exclusively in Tokyo two months later. Within two weeks of its launch, JT had sold 650,000 packs and recently Zerostyle Mint has been hard to find in shops. JT plans to increase its production capacity from 500,000 packs to one million packs a month by setting up a new manufacturing line at its factory in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture. It expects the supply shortage to be resolved within about four months. The new product, which is referred to as a "new style snuff", resembles a "smokeless cigarette", has a tapered mouthpiece with a removable cap and is consumed by drawing air through a cartridge containing tobacco and menthol. Refill cartridges, which are individually wrapped, last for between half a day and a day, depending on the consumer. Zerostyle Mint is said to combine the "fresh and sweet scent of peppermint with the aroma and flavor of tobacco". Enditem