Moist-snuff shipping volume at American Snuff, the second largest manufacturer of smokeless tobacco products in the US, rose 7 per cent in the third quarter, said parent company Reynolds American.
Shipments rose to 102.2 million cans while market share increased 1.1 percentage points to 31.6 per cent, the company said. American Snuff makes the Grizzly and Kodiak brands.
RJ Reynolds cigarette volume in the three months ending 30 September. declined 6.8 per cent to 18.7 billion sticks. The tobacco company’s market share decreased 1 percentage point to 27.2 per cent.
Operating profit at RJ Reynolds, excluding USD 63 million for "Engle" progeny court cases, rose 2.6 per cent to USD 587 million. Engle cases refer to a Florida court decision disallowing a class-action suit on behalf of about 100,000 smokers against tobacco companies, but allowing suits from individual plaintiffs. (ci)