JTI to Sell Ploom Heated-Tobacco, No-Smoke Products

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 12/09/2011

Japan Tobacco International and Ploom said today that they had entered into an exclusive, long-term co-operation agreement under which JTI will commercialize Ploom's new generation of 'smoking alternative products' outside the US. 'Founded in 2007 and based in San Francisco, Ploom designs and develops pocket-sized smoking devices that heat tobacco contained in pods to a constant temperature, vaporizing nicotine and flavor without burning the materials or producing smoke,' said a note posted on JTI's website. 'Ploom was originally developed by Adam Bowen and James Monsees while graduate students at Stanford University. '"Ploom has a unique product, in-house engineering and excellent technical and design capabilities," said Monsees, who is CEO of Ploom. "We are very pleased to partner with JTI as their deep expertise, global distribution networks and capital resources will enable us to enter our next phase of growth and capitalize on global expansion opportunities."' The press note indicated that the Ploom management would remain in place and would continue to operate Ploom as a separate company. Enditem