Lorillard’s electronic-cigarette acquisition blu eCigs continues to grow and now accounts for almost half the US retail market, the company said.

Third quarter market share at 49 per cent compares with 44 per cent through nine months of 2013. Acquired by Lorillard in 2012, blu eCigs posted sales of USD 63 million in the three months ended 30 Sept, Lorillard said.
Traditional cigarette sales rose USD 117 million to USD 1.76 billion, a gain of 7.1 per cent. Cigarette operating profit declined USD 27 million to USD 458 million, in part due to a USD 79 million payment to settle a Massachusetts legal claim by the family of a deceased smoker.
Cigarette volume rose 3.5 per cent in the three months ended 30 Sept. Growth at key brand Newport was 4.9 per cent.
Lorillard said extensive marketing helped boost its blu eCigs brand. In October the company expanded its e-cigarette business to the UK by acquiring SkyCig.