RAI Rolls Out Nicotine Gum Nationwide

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- After testing in two markets, Reynolds American Inc. is bringing a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) gum to the national stage.

Niconovum USA Inc., an operating company of Winston-Salem-based RAI, is beginning to roll out Zonnic this month. Zonnic will be available at major convenience-gas retailers in this first wave of expansion.

Zonnic is being sold in packages of 10 pieces in mint, fruit and cinnamon flavors in two different nicotine strengths for about $3.70 per pack, compared with the national average price for premium cigarettes of $5.80 for a pack of 20. Other nicotine gums that are sold in packs of a minimum of 20 pieces for about $10 and are offered in packages of up to 300 pieces, according to The Associated Press.

"We want to invite people who have made the decision they want to quit to find the best solution for them to achieve that goal," Tommy Payne, president of Niconovum USA Inc., said in an interview with the AP. "We're quite serious about it and hopefully we'll be successful with it."

The move comes two years after the product went on sale in Iowa and Omaha, Neb. with strong retail results.

Niconovum is a separate operating company of RAI, which acquired Niconovum AB in December, 2009. Niconovum AB was formed in 2000 in Sweden, and has been marketing innovative NRT products in Sweden since 2008.

Niconovum's role in RAI's transforming tobacco vision is in building a successful harm reduction enterprise specializing in NRT products.