(Smoke)less Is More

Moist smokeless and electronic cigarettes post huge gains, but cigars struggle

Given all of the buzz around electronic cigarettes this past year, one might think they rule the other tobacco products (OTP) category. Despite their tremendous growth, though, e-cigarettes still have a long way to go to catch up with smokeless products, which lead the segment.

Aside from the uptick in "vaping," other trends have emerged in the category. For example, cigars are seeing a migration from multipacks to singles and doubles. Smokeless — a consistent bright spot in the category — continues to shine and drive most of the growth in OTP.

Meanwhile, the tobacco industry is still waiting patiently on the sidelines for potential Food and Drug Administration regulations.