TI DIGEST ARMENIA Cigarette Production up 9.5 Percent
SOUTH AFRICA BAT to Buy Out Twisp johannesberg—British American Tobacco (BAT) has received approval from the South African Competition Commission for the acquisition of Twisp, a leading South African vaping products company. The transaction is expected to complete in early Q4 2019. Twisp is the largest, multi-channel distributor of vaping products and flavors in South Africa. It has close to 70 dedicated stores nationally in prime locations, nationwide retailer distribution and a modern e-commerce platform, and has become the number one destination for adult consumers looking for potentially reduced-risk products in South Africa. BAT leads the vaping category in Europe and has a strong presence in the US. This acquisition allows BAT to expand its geographical presence in a key market with Twisp’s portfolio of innovative potentially reduced-risk products. It also expands BAT’s existing consumer engagement strategy through ownership of an increasing retail footprint. Twisp’s retail outlets will increase BAT’s existing retail footprint of 110 outlets in the UK, around 100 outlets in Germany, and 636 outlets in Poland. Kingsley Wheaton, Chief Marketing Officer, British American Tobacco, said: “Twisp in South Africa brilliantly complements our well-developed existing New Category retail footprint in Poland, the UK and Germany.” This footprint is of strategic importance to BAT’s future, says Top: A sampling of Twisp’s Signature eliquid flavours. Above: The first Twisp store opened in Wheaton. “It allows us to develop Montana Park, Pretoria, South Africa in 2016. direct-to-consumer relationships, gain substantial consumer insight and the ability to fast pilot and test new product lines from our New Category brands. “Consistency in this retail footprint will be critical for consumer navigation, and the roll-out of a homogeneous retail branded proposition has already commenced in Europe.”
10 TOBACCO INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2019
yerevan—Armenia saw an increase in tobacco production in the first seven months of 2019, the latest official statistics show, according to a report from Panorama, the Armenian news service. The country produced a total of 17 million 69.5 thousand units of cigarettes from January to July, up by 9.5 percent from the same months of 2018, when the output stood at 15 million 582.4 thousand units. As a result of the growth, the cigarette production share in Armenia’s processing industry made up 14.4 percent in the reporting period. According to statistics, more than 50 percent of Armenian men and almost four percent of women above 16 years of age are smokers.
AUSTRALIA World Record Price Per Pack sydney—The average pack of cigarettes in Australia has reached a world record of $35, thanks to a recent 12.5 percent excise tax hike, according to the Daily Mail Australia. The federal Government has now hiked tobacco excise for seven consecutive years, with an average pack expected to cost $40 a pack by 2020.
CHINA Juul Vapes Disappear from Chinese Websites beijing—Juul Labs sales were halted on two websites in China shortly after the launch of the products in that country, according to press reports. No explanation was given, and no indication was given as to when they might return. These websites were the only marketing avenue for Juul in China. “While Juul products are not currently available on e-commerce Web sites in China, we look forward to con-
