Altria to Expand Snus Test

RICHMOND, Va. -- Altria's Philip Morris USA plans to expand this fall its test of Marlboro Snus, a smokeless, spitless tobacco currently in test markets in three cities—Dallas, Indianapolis and Phoenix—according to a report in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

The announcement was made by Michael E. Szymanczyk, chairman and chief executive Altria Group during the Barclays Capital Back-to-School Consumer Conference, the report stated.

Philip Morris also will launch a menthol version of its discount L&M brand, while another Altria company, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, will introduce wintergreen-flavored Copenhagen moist snuff, Szymanczyk said. The new variety could boost the brand's 23-percent share of the smokeless tobacco market by 9 percentage points, Szymanczyk said during the event.

Philip Morris and U.S. Smokeless "are planning initiatives to take advantage of the rapid growth in pouches," Szymanczyk was quoted as saying, adding the expansion of Marlboro Snus was part of that effort.

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