JTI's Zerostyle Mint is Flying Off the Shelves

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 02/09/2011

Japan Tobacco Inc. said today that it would launch its smokeless tobacco product, Zerostyle Mint, in Saitama and Chiba prefectures in the middle of next month. Zerostyle Mint has enjoyed considerable success since its launch in Tokyo in May and JTI is having to boost production capacity in an attempt to catch up with demand and expand the areas where this product is available. Although it is often referred to as a "snuff" product, Zerostyle Mint is more like a smokeless cigarette containing a cartridge of tobacco and flavors. It is shaped like a cigarette, though with a mouthpiece. In a note posted on its website, JTI said that in order to respond promptly to consumer expectations, the company would continue to aim for production capacity increases so that it could roll-out Zerostyle Mint across Japan within the fiscal year ending March 2012. And in a development that perhaps points to JTI's wider ambitions for this product, the company said that Zerostyle Mint would be made available at duty free shops in Narita and Tokyo international airports in late February. Meanwhile, JTI has said that it is fully redesigning three products out of the 12-product Seven Stars brand, one of the biggest brands in Japan. The tastes and aromas are to be changed, packagings are to be changed, and even the names are to be changed. Seven Stars Menthol Box will become Seven Stars Deep Menthol Box; Seven Stars Black Charcoal Menthol Box will become Seven Stars Solid Menthol Box; and Seven Stars Black Impact Box will become Seven Stars Solid Box. The redesigned products will be rolled out gradually from late this month. Enditem