Two of the nation's largest cigarette makers are asking a federal court to stop the Food and Drug Administration from relying on recommendations made by an advisory panel on issues such as menthol cigarettes.
Lorillard Inc. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. filed the suit Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington. The suit alleges financial conflict of interest and bias by several members of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.
The panel is tasked with advising the agency on various tobacco-related issues. It is set to release a report in March on the public health impact of menthol cigarettes.
Lorillard, based in Greensboro, N.C., makes the top-selling Newport menthol brand. R.J. Reynolds, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., sells brands like Camel and Pall Mall Red.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Smokeless Tobacco Use Sees Upward Trend
Smokeless tobacco products are continuing to grow in popularity, even at a time when the cigarette market appears to be contracting.
According to an industry report released by World Street Fundamentals, the smokeless tobacco market has been growing between 2 and 3 percent every year since 2003. Smokeless products include moist snuff, chewing tobacco and dry snuff. The competition between the smoked (including cigarettes, cigars and roll-your-own) and the smokeless tobacco markets has been heating up as companies have begun to market smokeless tobacco as an alternative to cigarettes in situations where adult tobacco users cannot or choose not to smoke. Changing consumer mindsets, government regulation and taxation will continue to be an ever-present influence on tobacco sales, resulting in widespread shifts within the marketplace, the report stated.
In the report, World Street Fundamentals highlights two national tobacco manufacturers: Reynolds American Inc. and Star Scientific Inc. Reynolds American was highlighted for its two business segments: RJR Tobacco, which includes cheap Camel cigarettes and Pall Mall cigarette brands, and Conwood, which includes its moist snuff brand. Star Scientific was highlighted for its proprietary technology for producing low-TSNA tobacco, which is used in its dissolvable smokeless products Ariva and Stonewall.
According to an industry report released by World Street Fundamentals, the smokeless tobacco market has been growing between 2 and 3 percent every year since 2003. Smokeless products include moist snuff, chewing tobacco and dry snuff. The competition between the smoked (including cigarettes, cigars and roll-your-own) and the smokeless tobacco markets has been heating up as companies have begun to market smokeless tobacco as an alternative to cigarettes in situations where adult tobacco users cannot or choose not to smoke. Changing consumer mindsets, government regulation and taxation will continue to be an ever-present influence on tobacco sales, resulting in widespread shifts within the marketplace, the report stated.
In the report, World Street Fundamentals highlights two national tobacco manufacturers: Reynolds American Inc. and Star Scientific Inc. Reynolds American was highlighted for its two business segments: RJR Tobacco, which includes cheap Camel cigarettes and Pall Mall cigarette brands, and Conwood, which includes its moist snuff brand. Star Scientific was highlighted for its proprietary technology for producing low-TSNA tobacco, which is used in its dissolvable smokeless products Ariva and Stonewall.
It looks good on paper but bricks and mortar tell a different story
Paper maker Mondi, which is also listed in London, posted a more than fourfold rise in full-year profit, lifted by stronger demand, and says it expects further growth this year, though at a slower rate.
Foreigners were net buyers of SA bonds in the week ended February 18, buying R618-million worth of paper, according to data released by the JSE. Foreigners sold R162-million worth of shares during the same week.
Shares of SacOil gained nearly 4% after the gas and oil explorer said it would issue more than 46million new shares, or a 7.4% stake, to the Public Investment Corporation, which runs the government pension fund.
Simmer & Jack shares jumped by more than 1%, outperforming the weaker JSE All Share index, after the junior gold mining company said third-quarter output rose 34%.
Shares in Metair Investments gained more than 5% after the company said it expects full-year headline earnings per share to rise 183-196 cents, versus 67 cents in the previous year.
Imperial, which runs car rental, car dealerships and logistic businesses, posted a 44% rise in first-half profit, helped by a recovery in consumer demand, but warned that a strike by truck drivers is likely to hit its second-half performance. (See page 6)
SA's largest listed property firm, Growthpoint, boosted its half-year payout to investors by 8% as occupancy levels picked up due to improved economic conditions.
Exxaro, which mines for coal, mineral sands and base metals, doubled its full-year profit on higher prices and sales.
Statistics SA said producer inflation, which represents domestic output, slowed to 5.5% year on year in January from 5.8% in December.
Truworths, SA's biggest listed clothing retailer, posted a 19% rise in first-half profit as lower interest rates boosted consumer spending.
Shoprite, Africa's biggest grocer which caters for the lower end of the retail food market, posted 13.6% rise in first-half profit as cash-strapped consumers flocked to its supermarkets.
The Bad
Wilson Bayly Holmes Ovcon posted a 19% drop in half-year profit, hurt by the slowdown in construction after the World Cup boom, and cautioned about the outlook for 2012.
SA's third-largest construction firm said diluted headline earnings per share totalled 676.3 cents in the six months to December compared to 836.7 cents in the same period last year.
Pre-tax profit at Mauritius-based luxury hotel group Sun Resorts sank 44.3% in 2010, hit by the eurozone crisis and heavy discounting in the island's tourist industry.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave in to demands for a parliamentary probe into a multibillion-dollar scandal over sales of telecoms licences for kickbacks.
The Hindu newspaper called the scandal, in which the state auditor said up to $39-billion was lost in revenues, "the biggest scam in the history of independent India".
The Sensex index of Indian stocks is down around 11% this year, and foreign direct investment is down 27% this year.
Murray & Roberts fell to a half-year loss and said it will sell some assets in the Middle East and Australia as it fights to ride out an industry-wide slump. SA's second-biggest building firm by market value reported a diluted headline loss per share of 124c in the six months to end-December, from a profit of 200c per share a year earlier.
Shares of Grindrod tumbled more than 3% after the shipping firm reported a 12% fall in full-year profit. Grindrod was hurt as the stronger rand ate into overseas earnings and increased competition put pressure on freight rates. (See page 7)
JSE-listed shares of British American Tobacco fell more than 4% as investors fretted over declining cigarette volumes despite the world's second-biggest cigarette maker having resumed a share buy-back and giving an upbeat 2011 outlook. BAT, which also trades in London, makes Kent, Dunhill, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes. Underlying cigarette volumes are still in decline and likely to stay weak in 2011. BAT has suffered as smokers switch to cheaper - and sometimes illicit - cigarettes.
British retail sales growth slowed more than expected in February to its weakest since last June, but firms ramped up prices at their fastest in 20 years, adding to worries about inflation, a survey showed on Thursday.
Shares in Massmart fell nearly 2% after the retailer forecast a tough second half as consumers struggle with the slow recovery.
Foreigners were net buyers of SA bonds in the week ended February 18, buying R618-million worth of paper, according to data released by the JSE. Foreigners sold R162-million worth of shares during the same week.
Shares of SacOil gained nearly 4% after the gas and oil explorer said it would issue more than 46million new shares, or a 7.4% stake, to the Public Investment Corporation, which runs the government pension fund.
Simmer & Jack shares jumped by more than 1%, outperforming the weaker JSE All Share index, after the junior gold mining company said third-quarter output rose 34%.
Shares in Metair Investments gained more than 5% after the company said it expects full-year headline earnings per share to rise 183-196 cents, versus 67 cents in the previous year.
Imperial, which runs car rental, car dealerships and logistic businesses, posted a 44% rise in first-half profit, helped by a recovery in consumer demand, but warned that a strike by truck drivers is likely to hit its second-half performance. (See page 6)
SA's largest listed property firm, Growthpoint, boosted its half-year payout to investors by 8% as occupancy levels picked up due to improved economic conditions.
Exxaro, which mines for coal, mineral sands and base metals, doubled its full-year profit on higher prices and sales.
Statistics SA said producer inflation, which represents domestic output, slowed to 5.5% year on year in January from 5.8% in December.
Truworths, SA's biggest listed clothing retailer, posted a 19% rise in first-half profit as lower interest rates boosted consumer spending.
Shoprite, Africa's biggest grocer which caters for the lower end of the retail food market, posted 13.6% rise in first-half profit as cash-strapped consumers flocked to its supermarkets.
The Bad
Wilson Bayly Holmes Ovcon posted a 19% drop in half-year profit, hurt by the slowdown in construction after the World Cup boom, and cautioned about the outlook for 2012.
SA's third-largest construction firm said diluted headline earnings per share totalled 676.3 cents in the six months to December compared to 836.7 cents in the same period last year.
Pre-tax profit at Mauritius-based luxury hotel group Sun Resorts sank 44.3% in 2010, hit by the eurozone crisis and heavy discounting in the island's tourist industry.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave in to demands for a parliamentary probe into a multibillion-dollar scandal over sales of telecoms licences for kickbacks.
The Hindu newspaper called the scandal, in which the state auditor said up to $39-billion was lost in revenues, "the biggest scam in the history of independent India".
The Sensex index of Indian stocks is down around 11% this year, and foreign direct investment is down 27% this year.
Murray & Roberts fell to a half-year loss and said it will sell some assets in the Middle East and Australia as it fights to ride out an industry-wide slump. SA's second-biggest building firm by market value reported a diluted headline loss per share of 124c in the six months to end-December, from a profit of 200c per share a year earlier.
Shares of Grindrod tumbled more than 3% after the shipping firm reported a 12% fall in full-year profit. Grindrod was hurt as the stronger rand ate into overseas earnings and increased competition put pressure on freight rates. (See page 7)
JSE-listed shares of British American Tobacco fell more than 4% as investors fretted over declining cigarette volumes despite the world's second-biggest cigarette maker having resumed a share buy-back and giving an upbeat 2011 outlook. BAT, which also trades in London, makes Kent, Dunhill, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes. Underlying cigarette volumes are still in decline and likely to stay weak in 2011. BAT has suffered as smokers switch to cheaper - and sometimes illicit - cigarettes.
British retail sales growth slowed more than expected in February to its weakest since last June, but firms ramped up prices at their fastest in 20 years, adding to worries about inflation, a survey showed on Thursday.
Shares in Massmart fell nearly 2% after the retailer forecast a tough second half as consumers struggle with the slow recovery.
Fewer cigs in a pack... price stays the same
Crafty companies are now putting only 19 ciggies in packs instead of the usual 20, equal to a FIVE per cent reduction in size.
But when the Pall Mall brand first tried the trick the price was cut from £4.25 to £4.22 - a saving of only ONE per cent.
Since then Pall Mall has hiked the price back to £4.67 for 19 cigarettes, with some shops charging up to £5.21.
And while multi-buy cartons warn there are fewer fags than normal, there is no wording on the 19-pack.
Ronson Superkings are also being sold in 19s in a multi-pack of five, giving 95 fags for £23.60.
The cuts are the latest example of a tactic known in the US as the "Grocery Shrink Ray".
Hundreds of shopping items including Penguin chocolate biscuits, Yeo Valley yogurts and KP nuts have been cut in size.
Consumer champion Martin Lewis, of moneysavingexpert.com, said: "It is a stealth price rise.
"Consumers are irked by companies not being honest."
Lucy Yates, of Consumer Focus, said: "Shrinking size but not price could damage trust in brands."
Pall Mall's makers British American Tobacco claimed consumers preferred stable prices over size.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Pop Art On Pall Mall? Charlie Anderson First Solo Exhibition in London
Anderson is to hold his first solo exhibition and sale in London at the Royal Opera Arcade Gallery between Monday, 28th March and Saturday, 2nd April 2011.
Primarily based in Edinburgh, Charlie Anderson is a painter whose work explores the historical role of painting and its place in contemporary art. By juxtaposing information and imagery taken from all aspects of contemporary life, he develops new and critical definitions, often with a satirical twist.
His paintings are reminiscent of the weathered, layered effect of street advertising and billboards, which he re-creates through the sole use of paint.
While not denying the talent or popular and commercial appeal of Banksy, Lichtenstein and others, Charlie rejects such simplistic labels as Pop Art, Urban Art or Graffiti Art and feels that his own work speaks to the eye of a more demanding and discerning collector: One who recognizes and values the classic skills of the artist.
“It is important to recognize the classic skills of the artist; such as drawing and painting. In my view, being edgy, observational or humorous is, in and of itself, simply not enough” said Charlie.
“My exhibition in London, the epicenter of the Art World, is an opportunity for me to define what I mean. I value and relish the opportunity and hope people will come and see my work.” he added.
Amongst his recognitions, Charlie won the British Airways Degree Show Prize and was awarded the Meyer Oppenheim Prize by the Scottish Academy.
Institute of Directors Expands Its IoD Office Solutions at 116 Pall Mall
The Institute of Directors’ fully managed office solutions service -- IoD Office Solutions -- has been so successful since its launch in April last year, that it is expanding its services throughout 2011. By the end of the year, many more companies will be able to avail themselves of Address and Mail Forwarding, Virtual Office, Hot Desk Office or Platinum Office from the IoD’s prestigious Pall Mall Silver SW1 address, all at highly competitive rates and with no set up costs or long term commitments.
All the new offices will be fully equipped with award-winning, ergonomically designed furniture including the Resolve Canopy which helps define space, modulate privacy and provide acoustic benefits by reducing noise distractions, and Aeron chairs with their innovative posture-fit design. The telephone switchboard has also just been updated to the most advanced system available.
"In today’s tough economic climate, managed offices are an attractive solution to businesses in that they provide flexible working and are a great way to reduce costs and avoid long term financial commitments," says Andrew Main Wilson, IoD Chief Operating Officer. "I think the success of IoD Office Solutions which has prompted the current expansion is not only down to the office’s first class facilities but also because we treat all clients like VIPs and ensure they are provided with absolutely everything they need."
IoD Office Services is an ideal solution for those who often travel and so have no need for conventional office space; for those who are looking to test the market before committing to permanent office premises; or those who wish to expand from a professional city centre location.
All the new offices will be fully equipped with award-winning, ergonomically designed furniture including the Resolve Canopy which helps define space, modulate privacy and provide acoustic benefits by reducing noise distractions, and Aeron chairs with their innovative posture-fit design. The telephone switchboard has also just been updated to the most advanced system available.
"In today’s tough economic climate, managed offices are an attractive solution to businesses in that they provide flexible working and are a great way to reduce costs and avoid long term financial commitments," says Andrew Main Wilson, IoD Chief Operating Officer. "I think the success of IoD Office Solutions which has prompted the current expansion is not only down to the office’s first class facilities but also because we treat all clients like VIPs and ensure they are provided with absolutely everything they need."
IoD Office Services is an ideal solution for those who often travel and so have no need for conventional office space; for those who are looking to test the market before committing to permanent office premises; or those who wish to expand from a professional city centre location.
Pall Mall developer urges agencies to work harder on investment
AN IRISH developer is urging Liverpool’s economic development agencies to up their game in order to ensure a huge office scheme is a success.
Ashley Moore claims he is making “good progress” in securing funding for his Pall Mall project, which would create 230,000 sq ft of Grade A office space.
Mr Moore is echoing concerns expressed last week by Rumford Investments director Mike Stares, in LDP Business, about a lack of inward investment into the city.
Mr Moore is a director of 30 Pall Mall, which wants to start building its scheme this year.
It forms part of a wider plan for the area in Liverpool’s central business district which would eventually see 1m sq ft of space created.
Mr Moore told LDP Business that the city’s public and private partners must also develop a more targeted and proactive strategy to market the project to potential occupiers from outside the city region.
He said: “This is a uniquely attractive and marketable opportunity in a city that has a fantastic business offer, but it needs to be presented to the market in a much more coherent and positive way.”
Mr Moore believes that it is vital that the city not only ensures that it has adequate supply to meet new requirements, but it also needs to ensure that it can attract significant new occupiers to the city.
He added: “We are making good progress securing funding for our development at 30 Pall Mall, but ultimately we will need to find an occupier.
“Of course, it’s important that the city continues to improve and refresh its supply, but this has only a limited benefit so long as the same occupiers are simply moving from existing to new accommodation.
“The big challenge is to bring new players into the city that are creating new jobs and generating additional wealth.”
Mr Moore is meeting with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Vision in the coming weeks to discuss how private and public sector partners can work together to best present Liverpool’s case to prospective new occupiers.
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