Industry Beat
Electronic cigarette brand NJOY has raised $75 million in funding, NJOY CEO Craig Weiss announced. Investors include entrepreneur and investor Sean Parker; and Douglas Teitelbaum, Principal of Homewood Capital. Teitelbaum will join NJOY's Board of Directors.
Altria's subsidiary, Nu Mark LLC, plans to enter the e-vapor category with the introduction of MarkTen e-cigarettes into a lead market in Indiana this August. Nu Mark also plans to expand distribution of Verve® discs to additional stores in Virginia in the second half of this year.
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, a subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc., is bringing its VUSE Digital Vapor Cigarette to retail outlets throughout Colorado starting July 1. The company says that VUSE is assembled in the U.S., and based on consumer feedback, incorporates manufacturing processes that ensure a consistently reliable cartridge. VUSE will be sold in a rechargeable format.
Butch Youmans, of The H.T. Hackney Company (formerly H.B. Paulk Company of Opp, AL), died Saturday, May 25, 2013 in Birmingham, AL. Funeral services were held May 27. Memorials may be made to the Miracle League of Covington County, or Pancreatic Cancer Research (www.pancan.org).
Supply Chain Services of Oakdale, MN, has published a white paper that discusses the ways direct store delivery, route accounting and proof of delivery can improve business operations and customer relationships in the primary delivery functions of load and route planning, physical delivery and route reconciliation, the company reports. For information on downloading the white paper contact (866) 205-4310 (Ext.
Electronic cigarette maker Logic Technology recently announced that Keith Ablow, M.D., will be conducting an expanded clinical study of Logic e-cigarettes in his practice to determine their effects on reducing or eliminating tobacco product usage. Previously, Dr. Ablow reported that three individuals had ceased smoking when given e-cigarettes as part of a smoking cessation regimen. The study, to be conducted over a 12-week period, will offer patients who use traditional cigarettes the option to try e-cigarettes.
NJOY has announced that musician Bruno Mars has joined the company as an investor. Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Mars comes to the company after switching to electronic cigarettes as an alternative to traditional cigarettes. "I've been using NJOY Kings instead of cigarettes these days and I'm sticking to it," said Mars, a 13-time Grammy Award nominee. "I believe in the product and the company's mission," said Mars.
Twist Body Brands
After a successful partnership in the first three rounds of the IZOD IndyCar Series season, including primary sponsorship for Mike Conway 's entry in Long Beach, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) and blu eCigs are expanding their involvement together. blu eCigs will become primary sponsor of the No.
e-Swisher has reached an agreement to extend their partnership with The Motorsports Group (TMG) to be primary sponsor of the No. 40 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Reed Sorenson in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, beginning with the Memorial Day weekend event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25.
