Philip Morris USA is entering the smokeless tobacco market with the launch of a pasteurised, smoke-free and spit-free tobacco pouch product called Taboka in one test market, in the Indianapolis area, reports tobacco analyst Bonnie Herzog of Citigroup. This product will not need to be refrigerated.

This product will not need to be refrigerated.
"Obviously to us, as we been suggesting for quite some time, this is just the beginning for Philip Morris and depending on the success of this new product which will be available in July 2006, we expect the company to organically launch a full range of other smokeless tobacco products," she says. "Tobaka sounds like it is close to UST's product, Revel considering that it is spit-free and is a pouch product."  It is expected to retail close to a pack of Marlboros and will contain 12 tobacco pouches per container (compared to 20 in Revel). It will be tested as both a regular tobacco flavour and menthol and is being manufactured in Richmond, VA using Burley tobacco and flavourings. (cg)