Premier Manufacturing: Brands Built on Integrity

Owned by a cooperative of proud American farmers using the best U.S.-grown tobacco blends among their competitors, Premier provides high-quality, value-priced cigarette brands for the adult consumer. C-stores across the country are buying in.

Commitment to Quality

Premier Manufacturing, Inc. is the consumer products division of U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC), an American grower-owned marketing cooperative based in Raleigh, NC.

500+ member farmers throughout the Southeast

Members maintain GAP Connections Certification Standards

Ensures sustainable, ethical agricultural practices

Robust Partnerships

Premier’s support staff prides itself on meeting customer goals with seamless execution in achieving the highest regulatory standards.

• Provides sales/service support across the U.S.

• Develops POS materials for high visibility

• Creates custom sales & merchandising programs

• Maintains strong relationships with top distributors

Trackable process includes all aspects of manufacturing under one roof Tobacco processing & stemmery Primary blending / Cigarette finishing

A Cut Above the Rest

All products made in USA & 100% guaranteed

Premier products use only top-end tobacco blends.

The finest flue-cured tobacco in the world

• All U.S. grown

• Environmentally sustainable

• Compliant with every regulation

The best blend among competitors

• Highest concentration of flue-cured tobacco

• Partners with top national and regional retail chains

• Vibrant color

• Blends provide exceptional aroma and flavor experience

Manufactured on industry-leading equipment

• Laser perforation

• Inked code dating

• Latest high-tech advancements

“You will see that polyusers often switch between combustible cigarettes and either moist smokeless tobacco or modern oral nicotine based on whether they are at work or at play,” offered Matthew Hanson, chief financial officer/chief growth officer of Chicagobased Black Buffalo.

Black Buffalo launched in convenience stores last year as a modern oral nicotine product designed to deliver the “ritual and experience” of moist smokeless tobacco in long-cut and pouches, but without the tobacco leaf.

“Adult nicotine consumers appreciate products that allow for frictionless experiences or moments of consideration,” Hanson said. “Many products now offer discreet use, which allows adult consumers to enjoy them in more settings, such as professional, commuter and travel.”

Nicotine pouches are one of the most popular products (behind e-cigarettes) to have inspired polyusage. “Smokeless tobacco users are more likely to mix in oral nicotine pouches,” noted Alex Morrison, senior business analyst at Cadent Consulting Group. “Women also opt for pouches at significant rates — females comprise about 25 percent of pouch users.”

Even more popular, e-cigarettes form the basis for most poly-purchasing, particularly by younger users, according to Morrison. He pointed to a recent study published in the National Library of Medicine that cited young adults are more likely to have lower risk perceptions for most alternative tobacco products. Furthermore, the study suggested that the uptake of e-cigarette usage may, in part, be explained by experimentation, which Morrison likens to polyusage.

Next-Generation Suggestions

So, how can convenience stores best market to dual or poly product users?

“The best advice is unexciting, but always be in stock with the right items,” Cadent Consulting’s Stuart said. “A lot of the polyusage today is being driven by new items that are viewed as risk-reducing relative to traditional tobacco products. The hottest trend we are seeing is in tobaccoless nicotine pouches, but this can change on a dime as we have seen in the last few years with JUUL and other e-cigarettes.”